To the editor:

Mehlville Board of Education members recently voted to hire the Missouri School Boards’ Association, or MSBA, to assist in their search for a new permanent school superintendent.

The cost to the taxpayers? About $15,000 and some change.

One school board member who voted in favor of hiring the MSBA was Mr. Larry Felton. It so happens Mr. Felton is also a member of the MSBA governing board. Mr. Felton could have excused himself from the vote. He chose not to do so. Why would Mr. Felton intentionally create a situation that at the very least creates the perception of a conflict of interest? Why would he do that?

Will Mr. Felton somehow benefit personally from his vote?

Has he shared any evidence to suggest that his vote was in the best interest of the district? Certainly the taxpayers of the school district deserve answers to these questions. At this point, the only thing the taxpayers know for sure is that Mr. Felton sits on the MSBA board, and he voted to give that organization their money.

Please email Mr. Felton at feltonl@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net or call him at (314) 467-5023. Let Larry know what you think of his commitment to transparency in spending your tax dollars.

Rich Franz

Concord

Editor’s note: Mr. Franz is a former member of the Mehlville Board of Education.