To the editor:

On June 1, 2025, the Mehlville School District held two separate graduation ceremonies for Oakville and Mehlville high schools. The program listed graduates and recognized those graduating with honors. However, neither high school recognized the valedictorian or salutatorian. 

This has been the policy implemented by the Board of Education in 2017 while Dr. Chris Gaines was superintendent. When parents heard of this new policy, there was considerable backlash from parents objecting to this policy. As a compromise to appease the parents, the policy was postponed by the Board of Education until 2021. 

This policy of not recognizing the valedictorian and salutatorian is insulting to all students, particularly those who worked to achieve the highest honors. This would be the same as the top two achievers in the Olympics receiving bronze medals. 

Additionally, when Gaines became superintendent in 2015, the composite ACT “American College Testing” scores of the Mehlville School District were in the 22-23 range. While Gaines was superintendent from 2015-2023 there was a steady decline in Mehlville ACT scores. Now, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Mehlville Composite ACT score is 19.6. The average Missouri ACT score is 19.9 and Lindbergh’s is 23.6. 

I call on Mehlville School District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Haug (since 2023) and the Board of Education to recognize the valedictorian and salutatorian and significantly improve ACT scores at Mehlville. The Mehlville taxpayers have been supportive, but it is time for improvement by the Mehlville administration and school board. 

Terry Hildebrandt

Oakville