I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of the warm wishes sent my way regarding my future position as the Mehlville School District superintendent.

I am absolutely honored to have this opportunity and I intend to give back in kind to a community that has treated me so well over the years. I’ve been a South St. Louis County resident for nearly all of my life. I’ve served in education 23 years, nine of which have been spent right here in Mehlville.

I’ve been around for the ups and the downs, I’ve seen what works and most importantly, I’ve seen what doesn’t work. I’ve listened and I’ve learned.

I’m proud of this school district. I’m proud of our students and our faculty, and I’m proud of this community. I do not take my future position lightly and I will always commit to doing the absolute best we can with what we have.

I would like to ask the Mehlville community for a favor during our journey together. I would embrace the opportunity to address individual community member concerns prior to such thoughts being brought to the community’s attention.

I will gladly keep my office open any day of the week, even weekends or evenings if needed, to listen and to discuss your thoughts.

I will also be ready and willing to meet community members at any one of our schools to personally provide a tour in an effort to show what goes on in our buildings on a daily basis. In many cases, I plan to seek out individuals and invite them to participate in such a meeting.

If your time with me does not answer acceptably to your concern, your opportunity to express your thoughts through a different avenue will still be an option. It is my interest to help the Mehlville School District further become one with this community. Our administration and our schools have nothing to hide and I am entirely comfortable operating my office and our schools in a transparent manner.

Again, I am proud of our schools and this fine community. I personally accept the responsibility of uniting all our efforts through the common ground we have.

I possess a sincere belief in this unity and this is my type of community engagement. I promise to work hard, I will listen, I will collaborate, I will engage and I will lead.

Thank you and please know you can contact me at (314) 467-5007.

The Mehlville Board of Education voted 6-0 last week to name Eric Knost the school district’s new superintendent, effective July 1.