Missouri Takes Control

The Missouri state board of education has taken over the Wellston school district, unaccredited since June 2003 because of poor academic performance. A three-person administrative board was named to govern the 525-student district, beginning July 1. The Wellston school board asked a Cole County judge to issue a temporary restraining order barring the takeover, but the motion was denied and a hearing on a challenge to the state board’s decision was postponed on July 7.