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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has named a former St. Louis-area school official to the State Board of Education.

Nixon announced the appointment of Vic Lenz Friday. Lenz, a Republican, is the former board president for the Lindbergh School District and immediate past present of the Missouri School Boards Association. He was assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the district from 1988 to 2003. He also worked as a teacher, counselor, administrator and principal from 1966 to 1988.

Lenz's term runs through June 2019 and must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Lenz replaces Sybl Slaugter, whose term has expired.

 

Several schools just north of Alton, Illinois were placed on lockdown today.

Officials with the Southwestern Community School District #9 sent a letter to parents last night telling them that they discovered a possible threat to students. There was an increased police presence at several schools and backpacks, large bags, and coats were not allowed on the campuses today.

Schools that saw heightened security included Southwestern Middle School, Southwestern High School, Brighton North Elementary, Brighton West Elementary, Medora Elementary and Shipman Elementary.

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would allow designated school personnel to carry concealed weapons in school buildings.

The Senate voted 26-6 Thursday to pass the measure. It now heads back to the House for further consideration.

The bill would allow school employees to voluntary become "protection officers" if they have a valid concealed weapons permit and undergo training for the position.

The legislation would also lower the minimum age required to obtain a concealed weapons permit from 21 to 19. It would also allow firearms of less than 16 inches to be openly carried even in municipalities that have ordinances against it.

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri House members have approved legislation that would require simplified report cards for schools.

The report cards would include scores on state performance measures with a translation into a letter grade for the individual standards and their components. The report cards would apply to public schools and charter schools with classes beyond second grade. They would be available starting December 2014.

Principals could provide up to 250 words of context or background on the scores. Schools that receive an overall score of less than 70 percent would need to submit a plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education explaining what will be done to improve.

The House passed the measure 128-23 on Thursday. It now goes to the Senate.