Kevin Martin leads two school boards, one of which has seen controversy
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
STLCC Board of Trustee Chair Kevin Martin’s involvement as the President of the Board of Education at the Ferguson-Florissant School District is now raising some eyebrows in the local education scene after that Board announced a $7.7 million budget shortfall that will lead to cuts to resources and staffing. This comes after that same Board had already slashed $1.4 million from their budget in late February.
There are financial reasons for the shortfall. In a letter to parents obtained by The Montage and published by KSDK, the district claims that years of declining enrollment since before the COVID-19 pandemic, higher costs, changes in state funding and a reduced amount of local tax revenue contributed to the issue. Another big issue is the depletion of their “fund balance” without yet having a strategic plan to address the shortfall.
Martin told The Montage that the shortfall did not come out of nowhere, noting that these claims from the district as well as turnover in the district’s financial and human resources offices the past few years helped lead to the oversight.
“While these challenges had been discussed, the extent of the shortfall became more apparent as we continued to monitor our financial situation over time,” Martin said. “While the district did anticipate some financial challenges, the full scope was more significant than expected, and we did not have a fully developed contingency plan in place to address it.”
When pressed on the lack of a strategic plan, Martin said that the board recognizes that a more proactive, strategic plan could have been developed earlier to better prepare for such financial challenges.
“It is the Board as a whole who is only allowed to take action and not a single member,” he said.
The shortfall, as well as an investigation into the district’s former superintendent over sexual harassment allegations that led to his dismissal in mid-March, happened under Martin’s watch. That former superintendent, Joseph Davis, even formally accused Martin of discrimination, something Martin himself denies.
“While I cannot delve into the specifics of the allegation made by former Superintendent Joseph Davis, I want to emphasize that I take such claims seriously and am committed to fairness and transparency in all of my actions,” Martin said. “As a leader, I strive to create a positive and inclusive environment in every role I hold. I can personally say that they are completely unfounded and untrue. I would never make such statements, and those who know me both professionally and personally would agree.”
One person who does agree is Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who believes the allegations to be unfounded. He said that Martin is very focused on providing access and equality to all students, and that engagement from the Board that Martin is the chair of has led, in part, to STLCC’s student body having more enrolled minority students than white students this fall.
“I have never seen Kevin Martin exhibit any kind of discrimination toward people,” he said. “I was shocked by those comments. Of course, I’m not there. I mean, you have to be there to understand what’s going on. But yeah, I was shocked [to hear of the allegations]. I just disbelieve that. I don’t believe that.”
What does this mean for STLCC?
These events have left some members of the STLCC community questioning if a similar incident, specifically a budget shortfall, may happen under the college umbrella.
Chancellor Pittman says that there’s no reason to worry, citing his strong working relationship with Martin.
“Kevin, he’s a very good trustee. He’s a very good board chair,” Pittman said. “His primary focus is on students. He wants the college to continue to improve in the years ahead, […] to provide students with as portable and high-quality access as we can to the programs we offer. And he’s driven by that, as is the rest of the board. I have nothing but positive things to say about Kevin, and I feel blessed that we have him as trustee.”
Martin himself says that he understands the concerns of the STLCC community, especially given the press coverage this has received.
“I take those concerns seriously and am committed to addressing them with the Board. We are in no way a similar position as the Ferguson-Florissant School District,” he said. “When I first got on the Board, we had to make some difficult financial situations, which has placed us into a promising and healthy budget we have today.”
While continuing to emphasize that he understands concerns, he said, “It is natural for the community to feel uncertain when budget issues are raised, and I acknowledge those concerns. However, I want to stress that we are working diligently to ensure that STLCC remains financially healthy and that any steps taken are in the best interest of the college and its students. I do not believe these concerns are unfounded, but I also want to reassure everyone that we are addressing the issue head-on.”
Martin’s full plate
There is no law prohibiting Martin from leading both the Ferguson-Florissant School District Board of Education and STLCC Board of Trustees chair simultaneously. The two institutions are not direct competitors, so ethically, there remains no issue either. However, Martin’s simultaneous role in serving on both boards is not his only involvement with education; he’s still the Principal of Northeast Middle School in the Parkway School District.
Martin says that taking on these roles at once is not something he takes lightly.
“I am deeply committed to education and serving my community, and these positions offer me the opportunity to make a broader impact in multiple areas,” he said. “Balancing these responsibilities requires time management, delegation, and a great support system. I am fortunate to work with strong teams at each of these organizations, and we all work together to ensure that our shared goals are achieved.”
He added, “By serving on both of these Boards, I have been able to advocate for partnerships to strengthen opportunities for the community.”
By his observation, Pittman said he thinks that Martin can juggle all of it, again citing Martin’s efficiency as a Board of Trustees member.
“I believe he can handle it,” Pittman said. “He has a high level of energy. He’s very, very smart; he takes the time to read our policies and understands how the college operates. And, you know, he is a big proponent for keeping our policies updated every year. It’s kind of hard to keep up with him sometimes.”
“He’s responsive,” Pittman continued. “If I were to get on the phone and call him right now, he probably, mean, he’s probably in the middle of a class or doing something as principal, he’ll have called me back in the next hour or two, you know? So he’s very accessible.”
More from Ferguson-Florissant
Representatives from the Ferguson-Florissant and Parkway School Districts were also contacted for this story. While the latter district did not return a request for comment before the press deadline, the former did.
Onye Hollomon, director of Communications for the Ferguson-Florissant School District, said that “the Ferguson-Florissant School District has confidence in Dr. Martin and the Board as they work together to strengthen the district’s financial stability and overall direction. Their work has consistently remained focused on making sure students remain at the center of all decisions.”
She continued, “The District has already taken steps to address the financial shortfall and is actively working on short-term and long-term strategic plans. This has included temporary spending and hiring freezes, a review of staffing and expenditures, and increased community engagement to gather feedback from families, staff, and community members to guide our decision-making.”
Reinforcing Hollomon’s statement, Martin said that moving forward, the Ferguson-Florissant school board is committed to making difficult, but necessary decisions to ensure the long-term stability of the district.
“This past week,” he said, “the Board approved various drastic cost-saving measures that came from various feedback methods from our stakeholders. We continue to aim to have a clear plan and communicate those decisions to the public and our community as we move forward. We understand how important these decisions are and are dedicated to transparency and accountability throughout the process.”
Regarding Martin’s dual role in the K-12 world, Hollomon said, “Dr. Martin’s role as a middle school principal in Parkway has always been fully disclosed and is not considered a conflict of interest. In fact, we see it as an asset. He brings firsthand experience as an educator and administrator to his role on the Board, and he remains committed to serving the Ferguson-Florissant community with integrity. He is not the only one on the board who is also a current educator (teacher or administrator). Many school board members across the state and country hold educational positions in other districts.”
Lastly, Hollomon addressed the allegations levied against Martin by Davis.
“We are aware of the allegations, and Dr. Martin has stated publicly they are completely unfounded and untrue. While the District can not comment on specific personnel issues or pending litigation, the District stands by its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment where students, teachers, and staff feel a sense of safety and belonging. Dr. Martin continues to be an advocate for all of our students and staff. Our board members continue to reflect and uphold this commitment in their service to the community.”
Martin’s future plans
Martin’s current term on the STLCC Board of Trustees expires next April, and he said he does plan to run for another term.
“I believe in the mission of STLCC,” he said. “And I am committed to the work we have started, particularly with Dual Credit and STLCC Transform. I have heard from many individuals their strong desires to continue to see me serve the community. I am always open to conversations about the goals we all share for the future of STLCC. I welcome constructive feedback and remain dedicated to working collaboratively for the benefit of the college, Ferguson-Florissant School District, and this community.”
