ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Francis Howell school board's final meeting of 2023 drew a firestorm of public comment Thursday night as the board voted to remove Black history and literature classes from its three high schools next school year.
The Francis Howell Board voted Thursday night to rescind approval for use of "Social Justice Standards: The Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework" in Black History and Black Literature courses.
A majority of the board voted to rescind approval of Southern Poverty Law Center project teachings in curriculum materials which will be effective July 1.
Board members voting in favor said it was necessary to make a decision now as students begin registering for classes in January.
"I am mad," said one Francis Howell school parent at the meeting. "Every board meeting this year seems to find a new way to lower the bar. I'm absolutely disgusted at the last minute removal of the 'Anti-Bias Framework' from the Black lit classes."
"It is obviously a thinly veiled attempt to undermine those classes."
One Francis Howell student says the school board is disregarding a safe school environment with the decision.
"(The School Board) is silencing us," said the student. " They are choosing to ignore real issues."
The Francis Howell School Board have faced a litany of controversies over the past few years. Just last month in November, the school board was considering potential transgender bathroom policy for the school district, which faced criticism from parents and students .