Residents and union leaders press the board on Prop W and district finances

Several public commenters used the Sept. 24 meeting to press the board on fiscal transparency and the Nov. 3 vote on Prop W.

Ben Brokhammer (speaker 14) said he found inconsistencies and missing years in the district's posted budget documents and that district staff had dismissed his concerns as clerical errors; he told the board he had shared the matter with the state auditor and with local media. "Trust hasn't just been eroded, it's been destroyed," Brokhammer said, arguing the public needs accurate financial information before considering additional tax measures.

By contrast, Megan O'Brien (speaker 15), co'president of the Webster Groves NEA, thanked the board for a local resolution about the A'through'F framework and said the teachers' union "is unequivocally endorsing Prop W" to support teachers and students. Laurie Buchanan (speaker 16), co'chair of Citizens for Yes, described planned canvassing and volunteer outreach to persuade voters to approve Prop W, citing a multi'million dollar budget gap the group says the measure would address.

Those public comments framed later board discussion about the district'level budget, tax rates and personnel decisions.