Family Messages

Dear Maplewood Richmond Heights School District Community,

For the second consecutive year, your investment in public education is evident and highlighted in MRH’s Annual Performance Report score. Your tax dollars are directly supporting learning experiences that place our district among the top performers in Missouri, and we are deeply grateful. Under the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP-6), our 2024–2025 Annual Performance Report (APR) shows that MRH earned 98.5% of the total APR points, making us the highest-scoring K–12 district in the state of Missouri. This accomplishment reflects our shared commitment, dedication, and partnership under the vision of our Board of Education. Through the continued collaboration of our staff, students, families, and community, we once again saw improvement in our state performance.

Highlights from 2024–2025 include:

• Earning 100% of possible points for student growth
• Sustaining a pattern of APR improvement over three years
  (84.3% in 2023, 97% in 2024, and 98.5% in 2025)

The 2025 APR includes weighted points for both performance and continuous improvement. MRH earned 138 of 140 possible points in the performance category and 59 of 60 possible points in the continuous improvement category, resulting in the final weighted score of 98.5%. The full 2025 reports, along with the District’s strategic plan, are available on the MRH website under “Data, Assessment & Accountability.”

As we celebrate, we also remain focused on the work ahead. We are committed to using our APR results, alongside our local benchmark assessments, to identify trends, illuminate areas of need, and refine our instructional practices so that every student has access to an equitable, high-quality education. This ongoing improvement is not possible without the expertise and commitment of our teachers, staff, and the support and partnership of our families and community.

Our students have demonstrated incredible commitment to learning, and our staff has demonstrated their ownership of the instructional practices implemented in their classroom communities that improve outcomes for every learner. Congratulations to our entire MRH community, students, families, teachers, staff, and community partners. Your collective efforts have made this achievement possible. Together, we will continue to educate learners who are leaders, citizens, scholars, and stewards, regardless of the path they choose, whether entering the workforce directly or pursuing post-secondary education.

In partnership,

Dr. Bonita E. Jamison, Superintendent
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District

August 19, 2025

Dear MRH Families,

The start of a new school year should bring joy, excitement, and the stories your children share about new friends and experiences. Unfortunately, these first days have instead brought frustration for many families of school bus riders, including long wait times, missed stops, and in some cases, students being placed on the wrong bus or dropped off at an incorrect stop. I want to sincerely apologize for these disruptions and the stress they have caused.

The safety of your children is, and will always remain, our highest priority. We also recognize that reliable transportation is essential to maintaining your trust in our district. When errors occur, they understandably create concern, and I take full responsibility for ensuring they are addressed.

Please know that we are working diligently to resolve these issues, and our transportation team is reviewing and adjusting routes to improve efficiency, ensure accuracy, and prevent errors moving forward. You should see improvements throughout the remainder of the week, and we will continue to monitor operations closely until we can ensure safe, timely, and dependable transportation service for all students.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these transportation concerns. If you have any questions or concerns about routes, pickup or drop-off times, or other transportation matters, please contact Jessey DeVaney at (314) 446-3952 or by email at jessey.devaney@mrhschools.net. He will be happy to assist you.

We are fully committed to regaining your confidence by delivering the level of service your family expects and deserves.

In partnership

Bonita Jamison, Superintendent of Schools

Greetings, MRH Families:

I hope you are enjoying a restful and joyful summer! 

During the 2024-2025 school year, MRH began exploring changes to student cell phone use across our schools. This work was in response to questions and concerns raised by our families and members of our community. It was further fueled by growing national awareness around the impact of smartphones and social media on youth mental health, spurred by the release of The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt.

Recently, Governor Mike Kehoe signed legislation requiring all public school districts to implement a ban on student cell phone use during the school day, effective for the 2025–2026 school year. The law allows for limited exceptions, including emergencies and students with documented needs through an IEP or 504 plan.

In the coming months, we will review and refine our practices to ensure alignment with the new requirements. We are also continuing to evaluate related educational programming at MRH to better support student well-being in the digital age.

In the fall, each building leader will host conversations with students, families, and staff to review expectations, answer questions, and ensure a shared understanding of what this shift will look like in each school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we strive to create learning environments that support focus, connection, and well-being for all students. We look forward to welcoming your children back to our campuses in August.

In partnership,
 

Dr. Bonita E. Jamison
Superintendent of Schools

Thank You, MRH Families and Community! We did it!  

I am deeply grateful for your overwhelming support in the passage of Propositions B and E with an astounding 83% and 81% approval rating, respectively the highest approval ratings in the past twenty years. The results from Tuesday’s election speak volumes about the strength of our community and your belief in the future of our schools. We are a community of care! Whether you opened your door to a canvasser, asked a thoughtful question, listened to a canvasser’s story or shared your perspective in small, but meaningful conversations with a neighbor or friend, you were demonstrating what it means to be part of a bigger community effort. Your engagement helped bring these propositions to life, and I can’t thank you enough.  

Thanks to your staunch support, we can now:

● Stay competitive with teacher salaries

● Address much-needed deferred maintenance

● Invest in a new track and field

● Update furniture and learning environments

● Fund important projects across the District

Finally, the passing of Propositions B and E would not be possible without the commitment and support of our Board of Education and the tireless efforts of our Keep MRH Strong PAC led by MRH parent Sandra Richason. This is what community looks like. This is MRH. Thank you for continuing to stand with us.

With gratitude, Dr. Bonita E. Jamison