Opponents of the takeover approved today by the State Board of Education still have cause for hope.
Officials in St. Louis Public Schools are still fighting for the provisional accreditation status that would stop these outside efforts to single out the City’s public schools among the many other underperforming districts in the region and across the state.
As Deputy Superintendent John Martin explained to a group of parents and stakeholders last month, the district has evidence that it has met the sixth standard needed for provisional state accreditation.
In order for a school district to be fully accredited, it must meet nine of 14 standards set by the state Board of Education. To be provisionally accredited, as SLPS has been for several years, it must meet six of those standards. The state announced a few weeks ago, that SLPS had so far met only five.
Today’s action by the State Board, which occurred despite very little local support, is based on the district losing its accreditation. Later this month, DESE will determine if that is indeed the case.
Dr. Martin said that SLPS has evidence that the district has met the sixth standard, a measure of the percentage of high school graduates that go on to college.
Martin said the district contracted with a private firm, for a fee of just $450 per high school, which tracked down recent graduates and confirmed their enrollment in institutes of higher learning.
It is now up to the state board to accept this new data, or instead ignore it and move on with stripping the district of its provisional accreditation.
That “makes all the difference in the world,” said Martin.
If SLPS does maintain its provisional accreditation status, the 3-member “transitional board” will instead be an “advisory board”. A decision on accreditation may be made as soon as February 28.
Meanwhile, Pub Def has learned that at least one state legislator is beginning work on legislation to change the statute that would allow the State to uniquely intervene in St. Louis City’s school district.
Has anyone heard about the Gant Purdy story the Riverfront times is working on? It has do with some house that he and Gant use to party at back in the day.
Posted by Anonymous | 18. Feb, 2007, 5:46 PMEven after the State Board of Education acts, the St. Louis Board of Education will still exist, right? Although the 7 members will lose their powers to set district policy and spend district money (and will probably lose their staff, phones, and offices), they will still be “the School Board.”
What do you think they ought to do with their time?
Posted by Anonymous | 18. Feb, 2007, 6:15 PMNope, didn’t hear that one. Did you hear the story they are working on about O’Brien’s affairs?
Posted by Anonymous | 18. Feb, 2007, 7:20 PMAnonymous said…
Even after the State Board of Education acts, the St. Louis Board of Education will still exist, right? Although the 7 members will lose their powers to set district policy and spend district money (and will probably lose their staff, phones, and offices), they will still be “the School Board.”
What do you think they ought to do with their time?
2/18/2007 6:15 PM
Two new members will be elected—maybe the candidates should be asked—will you be participating in the lawsuit against the state board?
Posted by Anonymous | 18. Feb, 2007, 8:08 PMHouse on Sarah Street!
Posted by Anonymous | 18. Feb, 2007, 10:56 PMAnonymous said…
Has anyone heard about the Gant Purdy story the Riverfront times is working on? It has do with some house that he and Gant use to party at back in the day.
2/18/2007 5:46 PM
Anonymous said…
House on Sarah Street!
2/18/2007 10:56 PM
Can’t this wait? Maybe you can see that there are some really important issues going on. These posts are quite juvenile. This is an issue for adults to handle.
Posted by snead hearn | 19. Feb, 2007, 8:39 AMRE–money in the district
Most people would agree that poor kids take more money to educate than non-poor. The non-poor don’t want to pay the extra amount it takes to educate the poor for, in part, in my opinion, the non-poor believe that that poor are poor due to reasons that are often self-inflicted. Dropping out of school and having babies when they can’t support them are two easy reasons to come up with. Another reason that the non-poor don’t want to pay more is that there is little guarantee the poor will be better educated and have better outcomes. To my knowledge no district, across the country, has done a consistently good job of educating poor students. On top of all that, the SLPS does not do a tremendous job of educating its non-magnet students, poor and non-poor. I know there are exceptions to the above (though not with the school district educating poor students), and it is my opinion painting rather broadly.
Some of the non-poor have moved to other districts where they don’t have to, as much, pay for the poor. Some of the non-poor have moved for more nefarious reasons.
My solution? Scrap the property tax attachment to education. Individual districts could tax themselves as an ‘extra’ but the state would be charged with providing education, regardless of what individual districts collect in taxes. That may mean giving up some local control, but it is a trade I would be willing to make.
Posted by armstrong | 19. Feb, 2007, 9:34 AMarmstrong said…
RE–money in the district
2/19/2007 9:34 AM
Armstrong,
This looks like a plan. Slay could then give all the tax abatements he wants to businesses. However, I’m not sure how changing the funding source would lead to eliminating local control. I like a plan that calls for a special tax AND allows for a democratcially elected BoE.
Posted by snead hearn | 19. Feb, 2007, 11:08 AMDear Anonymous,
You are right–teaching is a calling–a noble calling. Do not be confused, however with a political stance, which you feel may be inconsistent with the ‘teacher personna’ which you have embraced. For too many decades , the public has a stereotyped view of teachers–one that encompasses selfless practicioners incapable of political dissent. That would be ‘unladylike’. The public has embraced this personna from the mold of the Catholic Nuns. I have great respect for Catholic Nuns. They do great and important work. They also have the suppport of the Church and have accepted lives of poverty. Secular teachers have been expected to follow this mold, and those who disagree or have to audacity to FIGHT INJUSTICE RATHER THAN PASSIVELY ACCEPT, have had their dedication and credibility questioned and attacked. I wonder how many business leaders or politicians have accepted the same selfless mold?
As for questioning the dedication of teachers choosing to fight for democracy–I would wonder–why do you have such animosity towards democracy? The situation is simple and the main points are as follows:
1.)democracy was made into a mockery when the public vote for school board was nullified resulting in a disenfranchisement of all city voters;
2.) this is a terrible civics lesson to our children–they have learned that democracy is only for the rich and that government powers can strip them of their rights at any time;
3.) this will not help improve the schools; schools require adequate funding to ensure smaller classes and more direct attention; schools require a return to reasonable discipline and zero tolerance for violence; schools require equal effort on the student’s part by STUDYING NOT TEXTING ON THEIR CELL PHONES; schools require innovation NOT SCRIPTED PROGRAMS CHOSEN BY POLITICAL HIRELINGS DETERMINED TO EARN KICKBACKS; MOST IMPORTANT–SCHOOLS REQUIRE DEDICATED TEACHERS TO FILL THE ENTIRE STAFF AND NOT HAVE UNQUALIFIED SUBS OR UNQUALIFIED PROVISIONAL PERSONNEL TO HANDICAP THE TEAM.
Furthermore, the public needs to remember that if the results of a small election such as a school board can be set aside and nullified by political whim and NOT LEGAL RIGHT–then the results of ANY ELECTION INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL CAN BE EQUALLY PUT IN JEOPARDY. REGARDLES OF YOUR BULLY TIRADE ‘ANONYMOUS’–NO LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE OR JUDICIAL ARM OF GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO SET ASIDE THE RESULTS OF A FAIRLY DETERMINED PUBLIC ELECTION AND THEREBY DISENFRANCHISE THE PEOPLE. THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND EVIL. PERHAPS YOU ARE HAVING FUN COMPOSING THIS FROM YOUR PR FIRM HIRED BY SLAY AND SCHOEMEHL? I KNOW A PR HACK WHEN I READ ONE. ALL YOU CAN TOSS AT US IS THE ‘BIG LIE’ AS ORIGINATED BY HITLER’S GANG. THIS IS TYPICAL POLITICAL DIRT.
AS FOR MY COMMENTS NOT BEING ‘PRETTY;’ I DON’T CARE. PRETTY ISN’T IMPORTANT–DEMOCRACY IS.
J. GADFLY
Posted by Anonymous | 19. Feb, 2007, 11:43 AMThe reason that I would be willing to give up local control is that I think that the state, whether it Blunt, Carnahan, whomever, would want a large say in how the money is spent because they are the ones collecting it from the taxpayers of the state. They have the power/money, I would hope that they see that they have the responsibility as well. I don’t want the state to throw up its hands and say, “Gee, I didn’t know THAT was going on,” whatever that is.
What I propose is pretty much a fantasy, but, if I live long enough, it may happen.
Posted by armstrong | 19. Feb, 2007, 12:02 PMarmstrong said…
The reason that I would be willing to give up local control is that I think that the state, whether it Blunt, Carnahan, whomever, would want a large say in how the money is spent because they are the ones collecting it from the taxpayers of the state. They have the power/money, I would hope that they see that they have the responsibility as well. I don’t want the state to throw up its hands and say, “Gee, I didn’t know THAT was going on,” whatever that is.
What I propose is pretty much a fantasy, but, if I live long enough, it may happen.
2/19/2007 12:02 PM
We have to dream! Mine would include responsible State oversight (vs. what we got from D. Kent King) but local BoE control. The public schools MUST be insulated from government meddling and yet also accountable to the taxpayers.
Posted by snead hearn | 19. Feb, 2007, 12:47 PMIt is not the staff in the schools that are at fault. Most all the teachers I have taughted with in the schools are doing what is best for there students. The problem comes from people like Brian Harris who don’t want to build up the people he works with but instead tear them down so somehow he can think he looks better. Brian, you are a part of the problems in this district. Please leave so the rest of us can make progress.
Posted by Anonymous | 19. Feb, 2007, 12:54 PMThe original story for this blog was “Still Cause for Hope”. As you all know, it explained how we are now awaiting word on the 6th accreditation standard, etc..
Just curious, on a scale of 1-10, how much confidence do you all have that the state will grant us the 6th standard? 1 being no possible chance without divine intervention and a 10 being absolute certainty.
My vote is a 2 (and I don’t believe in divine intervention).
Posted by jim heger | 19. Feb, 2007, 1:12 PMTo Gadfly,
I agree with what you say about teachers, but. . .
I see the analogy of democracy being stunted through a different part of our nation’s history–getting blacks educated in the south. The people of, say, Georgia had voted to keep blacks out of the college. The Supreme Court and constitution said you can’t do that. Well, what about the people who voted? Their rights were being trampled.
I see the state of Missouri being the federal government, saying, ‘look, SLPS, you are not doing what you are supposed to do, educate kids, are you haven’t done it for some time. The kids have a [state] constitutional right to be educated and it is up to me, the state, to provide it. I know you had an election and you say ‘things will be different this time’, well, I’ve heard that before and that song and dance ends today.’
If the people of Georgia can have their elections nullified for not living up to the constitution, so can the people of St. Louis. I understand the people of Georgia were most likely total racists, but a racist’s vote should count as much as a non-racist’s.
Posted by Art Linkletter | 19. Feb, 2007, 2:01 PMArt Linkletter said…
I see the state of Missouri being the federal government, saying, ‘look, SLPS, you are not doing what you are supposed to do, educate kids, are you haven’t done it for some time. The kids have a [state] constitutional right to be educated and it is up to me, the state, to provide it. I know you had an election and you say ‘things will be different this time’, well, I’ve heard that before and that song and dance ends today.
That is not a bad analogy–but–the timing is suspect. The firing of a coach who was stealing (and possibly physically abusing at least one child)—which led to the resignation of the so-called reform superintendent Williams would not have happened without the free election of board members to replace Slay’s chosen people. We have all witnessed Slay’s song and dance over the last few years—–I seriously doubt the federal government would have overturned elections in Georgia in order to preserve the status quo of political power.
Jefferson City is giving back to Slay what he was losing in elections. And make no mistake—they have a political agenda that has little to do with improving the education of St. Louis students.
Posted by Anonymous | 19. Feb, 2007, 2:31 PMJust curious, on a scale of 1-10, how much confidence do you all have that the state will grant us the 6th standard? 1 being no possible chance without divine intervention and a 10 being absolute certainty.
When I realized that bourisaw was having to go back 5 years, not 2, I thought they will do whatever it takes to deny the accreditation.
But board member Reverand Archie—-appointed by Slay when Whitmore-Smith was shot down—-must have astonished Governor Blunt with his tough questioning and vote against the takeover. He was a private school administrator and board member—fundamentalist religion—but he is also a black man—maybe he felt a gut reaction to the racism at work in this. If there are two of the five members who voted for the takeover who do not have the stomach for this blatant disregard for integrity—maybe there will be a 4-3 vote in Bourisaw’s favor.
I give the chances a 2.
Posted by Anonymous | 19. Feb, 2007, 2:40 PMArt Linkletter said…
I see the state of Missouri being the federal government, saying, ‘look, SLPS, you are not doing what you are supposed to do, educate kids, are you haven’t done it for some time. The kids have a [state] constitutional right to be educated and it is up to me, the state, to provide it. I know you had an election and you say ‘things will be different this time’, well, I’ve heard that before and that song and dance ends today.’
This SOUNDS good and READS well but the idea that the “song and dance ends today” is where this theory breaks down. Mr. Slay did us a favor by listing some urban school districts where there has been a State takeover (sometimes followed by privatization as in Baltimore). If you research public education in those districts you’ll see more of the same song and dance. In fact, we needn’t look any further than Wellston Public Schools to see that the State has proven it’s incompetence. The State has no viable solution. Our current BoE and Superintendent have pressented the most viable solution in years. I say let them have a go at it. What difference will it make to MO if they takeover soon or wait 18 to 24 months?
Posted by snead hearn | 19. Feb, 2007, 3:29 PMArt Linkletter said…
I see the state of Missouri being the federal government, saying, ‘look, SLPS, you are not doing what you are supposed to do, educate kids, are you haven’t done it for some time. The kids have a [state] constitutional right to be educated and it is up to me, the state, to provide it. I know you had an election and you say ‘things will be different this time’, well, I’ve heard that before and that song and dance ends today.’
This SOUNDS good and READS well but the idea that the “song and dance ends today” is where this theory breaks down. Mr. Slay did us a favor by listing some urban school districts where there has been a State takeover (sometimes followed by privatization as in Baltimore). If you research public education in those districts you’ll see more of the same song and dance. In fact, we needn’t look any further than Wellston Public Schools to see that the State has proven it’s incompetence. The State has no viable solution. Our current BoE and Superintendent have pressented the most viable solution in years. I say let them have a go at it. What difference will it make to MO if they takeover soon or wait 18 to 24 months?
Posted by snead hearn | 19. Feb, 2007, 3:30 PMI know if I were Veronica O’Brien’s husband and had a crazy acting wife like her,I would have women on the side and frequently travel on “business” trips so I would not have to be around her,biding my time until my children get a little older to file for divorce and get away from her crazy acting self!
Posted by Anonymous | 19. Feb, 2007, 6:38 PM2/16/2007 6:36 PM said that teachers directly influence students in the classroom. Please remember that when you find that students who don’t perform well on the MAP test meet college entrance requirements and go on to matriculate on college campuses all over the country, because that is exactly what is happening.
I prepare students for life. In real life, your financial statement and how well you are educated beyond highschool determines much more than the MAP test.
So, is children the focus of all the district’s and the state board’s efforts?
I think not; if we fixed education, no one could sell school reform.
Let’s see who gets the next contract.
Posted by Anonymous | 20. Feb, 2007, 8:24 AMAnonymous said…
2/16/2007 6:36 PM said that teachers directly influence students in the classroom. Please remember that when you find that students who don’t perform well on the MAP test meet college entrance requirements and go on to matriculate on college campuses all over the country, because that is exactly what is happening.
I prepare students for life. In real life, your financial statement and how well you are educated beyond highschool determines much more than the MAP test.
So, is children the focus of all the district’s and the state board’s efforts?
I think not; if we fixed education, no one could sell school reform.
Let’s see who gets the next contract.
2/20/2007 8:24 AM
This is true for all schools, public and private. I’ve spoken with quite a few parents and students from a broad cross section of school districts and have found that schools without exception are teaching students how to pass tests like MAP, ACT and SAT.
And as you stated, there is much more to learn in school than facts. I find that most schools are ignoring student development in providing an education.
Posted by Anonymous | 20. Feb, 2007, 8:59 AMhope? -10
Once the politrixters in this town decide they want something, they go for it.
The voters rejected riverboat gambling, they repeatedly put it on the ballot until people STOPPED lQQking and it passed.
If accreditation were behind this crap, there are numerous district that don’t have as many points as SLPS who would be better candidates for a takeover and yet, they pick SLPS (and mind you, they serve fewer students)
This is about disenfranchisement to achieve the goals and interests of a selected few elites.
Slay selecting a member to serve on a board would give him an opportunity to get around the voters of St. Louis who are tired of his meddling and orchestrating of the chaos.
Posted by Anonymous | 20. Feb, 2007, 9:16 AMAnonymous said…
hope? -10
Once the politrixters in this town decide they want something, they go for it.
The voters rejected riverboat gambling, they repeatedly put it on the ballot until people STOPPED lQQking and it passed.
If accreditation were behind this crap, there are numerous district that don’t have as many points as SLPS who would be better candidates for a takeover and yet, they pick SLPS (and mind you, they serve fewer students)
This is about disenfranchisement to achieve the goals and interests of a selected few elites.
Slay selecting a member to serve on a board would give him an opportunity to get around the voters of St. Louis who are tired of his meddling and orchestrating of the chaos.
2/20/2007 9:16 AM
YES! Don’t forget Prop. B, the concealed weapon law that people across the State voted down overwhelmingly.
This is all about less money in the government treasury and more money in the pockets of private, for profit businesses who may or amy not care about well educated students. They probably thought the minorities in St. Louis would be pushovers and that controlling the largest district in the state would make the rest fall in line.
The citizenry of St. Louis are proving to be more formidable than they thought.
Posted by Anonymous | 20. Feb, 2007, 9:30 AMThe media has this mantra which goes—-in addition to the constant failures of the last thirty years—we have this embarrassing circus of bickering board members. Anything would be better.
Well, a lot of that bickering came as the result of newly elected board members doing something that Slay’s people would not have done—-they dealt with the problem of Floyd irons. In spite of the media’s constant calls for more accountability, when creg Williams, and by extension Mayor Slay were held accountable, all hell broke loose.
Soon after Williams was gone, Veronica O’Brien, still allied with Purdy, Downs and Jones, was calling for a federal investigation into Irons beating of Timothy Bacon—a week later, Bacon was murdered, O’Brien was worried that her family would be next, and a month later, she wanted nothing to do with her former allies.
The republicans viewed this as a golden opportunity to advance their far right political agenda—and the publ;ic relations part has been very easy for them.
Thanks to a chickenshiite, docile, unaccountable media.
Posted by Anonymous | 20. Feb, 2007, 1:21 PMNow the last posting makes sense. People said O’Briens family was threathen and the police ask her to drop out of sight. Maybe the republicans gave her safety. A police officer told a friend that a guy had put a hit out on her. Don’t know, but somethings going on and I don’t believe she is crazy.
Posted by Anonymous | 21. Feb, 2007, 1:46 AMCause for hope? Hope to get the dead weight out of SLPS. Bourisaw is a joke. The lady is out of her league and it is clear she thinks she is a star. Get this lady out and bring Williams back to fire her.
Posted by Anonymous | 21. Feb, 2007, 11:57 PMAnonymous said…
Cause for hope? Hope to get the dead weight out of SLPS. Bourisaw is a joke. The lady is out of her league and it is clear she thinks she is a star. Get this lady out and bring Williams back to fire her.
2/21/2007 11
actually, Williams did come back after he quit or was forced out—Antonio reported it—-Since O’Brien now favors the takeover, and told Jaco she thinks Williams could come back—you might be able to get Floyd Irons to coach and Williams to work as superintendent for Blunt’s new ceo—Donayle Whitmore-smith.
O’Brien Denied Restraining Order
By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, August 11, 2006 at 5:02 PM
School Board president Veronica O’Brien was denied a restraining order today against fired Vashon basketball coach Floyd Irons and his friend and supporter, Demetrius Johnson.
O’Brien had alleged that the two — along with several other protestors — threatened her and her 11 year-old child at one of many recent protests at her home in the Central West End.
But Judge Michael Stelzer, son of 8th Ward Committeeman Jack Stelzer, today denied O’Brien’s petition after hearing testimony from witnesses including city police officers and even former Superintendent Creg Williams, who came back to town to testify on behalf of his friend, Irons.
Posted by Anonymous | 22. Feb, 2007, 1:45 AMFloyd molested boys, including his nephew who attended CBC High School. He cheated and he stole. When he was terminated, he told his girlfriend Craig Williams. Williams got emotional and withheld reports that were requested because he felt as long as he was sleeping with Irons he didn’t have to adhere to the board because of Iron’s influence and longevity in the community. Those supporters of Irons and Williams should be asking themselves why Vashon’s basketball players didn’t get an education but remained eligible to play basketball.
Oh I get it, it doesn’t matter if you can’t read if you have nice shoes, championship athletic wear and trophies (even if the companies did agree to give Irons a kickback for giving them the contracts)
Oh and the list of boys who survived his molestation is much longer than the list of people he has had killed.
Too much speculation? Birds of a feather…………….
His organizing supporter, Demetrius Johnson, rapist who fathered a child by a woman he supposedly never touch who reported to school officials that he raped her at McKinley HS but it was kept quiet in the name of Footbal.
WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE FEATHERS!
Posted by Anonymous | 22. Feb, 2007, 8:28 AM