South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Forward motion

Knost reflects on first year at helm of school district
Eric Knost
Eric Knost

For Mehlville Superintendent Eric Knost, complacency is taboo.

And that is why his first year at the helm of the district has been focused on forward motion and unity — in the district and in the community.

“I still have this vision of unity in our community with this school district unlike anything that anybody’s ever experienced in Mehlville …,” Knost told the Call.

One of the steps Knost took to bridge the gap between the community and the district this past school year was hosting town-hall meetings.

The meetings — he has conducted three so far — had no agenda and were designed for the community to bring its concerns to Knost.

The meetings were “very well” received, but Knost said he would have liked to see attendance increase with each meeting.

The next town-hall meeting has not yet been set, though Knost expects it to occur in late September or early October.

As a whole, Board of Education Vice President Elaine Powers told the Call district officials, with Knost’s leadership, want to focus on transparency.

“I think we’ve made progress there in terms of some changes to the website, putting the dashboard up, getting (the district’s) vision points out there,” Powers said. “The town-hall meetings, I think, were successful.”

Additionally, the superintendent has reiterated “over and over again” that he is available by publishing his direct office number — (314) 467-5001 — and reminding people he wants to hear from them — good or bad.

Knost said when he knows people in the community are upset, he looks them up to discuss their concerns.

“I view those efforts that can become bigger and can become detrimental to the school district as little wildfires burning and scattered throughout,” Knost said. “I’m a realist. I know those wildfires are always going to exist. I know when you have success you’re going to have critics, (and I) can’t afford to let any of those wildfires … connect together, and that’s been my constant effort.”

In the past, Knost observed the mindset of not reaching out “because you don’t want to bring more attention,” but the superintendent said he has “always felt that that wasn’t an effective approach.”

A lot of what the district accomplished this year were ideas Knost already had in mind, but he said the “foundation” had to be there for getting people behind a vision for the district that was different from the past.

“The district was constantly talking to the community about needs and how other districts do things we can’t do because of what they have …,” he said. “And I really felt the approach needed to be, ‘Look at the great things we’re doing with what we already have …'”

In determining the district’s successes, Knost monitors the response from the community.

“Those are the barometers that mean the most to me, the emails, calls, people approaching me and offering up really positive things to say,” Knost said. “The feedback that I get from the community is really very important to me …”

Board President Venki Palamand told the Call Knost has exceeded Palamand’s expectations as superintendent.

“He isn’t just occupying a position for three or more years. He is looking to make a meaningful, positive, long-term impact on the district,” Palamand said. “He and I share that long-term vision.”

As one of two remaining board members who voted to name Knost superintendent, the other being Board of Education Secretary Larry Felton, Palamand said the board felt Knost understood the community and “was ready to lead the district.”

Powers said the district has accomplished a lot during the past year with Knost’s leadership, noting the creation of a five-year facilities plan.

“The development of the five-year facility plan I think was huge in terms of setting vision for the district and giving us kind of a road map,” Powers said, “and, granted, that map might change as we move forward, but it gives us a starting point.”

She also pointed out additional recognition the district has received for its character education awards and increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses.

“Those kinds of things, I think, show a commitment from the board, as well as administrative leadership, to really make sure we’re investing in the students …,” Powers said.

Knost spent this past year making the public aware of his vision and working to show the district is able to do the “very best we can with what we have.”

“I do believe that it would be impossible to find another school district with our socioeconomic diversity with the money we spend, which we know is on the small side in comparison, and with the same success with student achievement,” Knost said. “I truly think we are unmatched in the state, and if we are matched, I don’t think anyone is doing it better than we are.”

But overall, Knost said he hopes people realize that he lives and breathes his job.

And that he does it because he loves it.

“It’s a challenge. It’s stressful. It takes a lot of energy, a lot of time, but I enjoy all those things,” he said, “and I enjoy mapping things out. I enjoy looking at issues and trying to turn them into opportunities, and I just love it when I see the district realizing forward motion and I think we’re doing that …”

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