Resident Calls Out Teacher Absenteeism, Urges District Review of No‑Cost Reforms

Carl Servey, a resident, addressed the Francis Howell School District Board of Education during the patron comments period on July 17 to raise concerns about employee absenteeism among teachers.

Servey said district data for 2022 showed more than 19,000 teacher days absent, which he translated to an average of about 14.5 absences per teacher annually and roughly 114 teachers absent on any given school day. He said those absences mean students are more often taught by substitutes and urged the board to adopt measures to reduce absenteeism; he said he had previously sent a three‑page proposal and urged the current board to retrieve an email he said was sent on Dec. 2, 2023.

Servey said his discussions with district staff member Mrs. Simpkins were constructive and that he believed some of his suggestions would not require additional district spending or reductions in teacher benefits. He asked the board to consider the objective of reducing absenteeism to increase time students spend with their regular teachers.

Ending: The board received the public comment; no formal action or staff response was recorded on the record at the July 17 meeting beyond the public‑comment opportunity.