St. Louis Schools Watch
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School Board Candidate Fundraising Update: Comes the Darkness
By Susan Turk
March 27, 2019—St. Louis--A political action committee named Civil PAC, which received a $20,000 check on March 19th from a group called Public School Allies with a Falls Church, Virginia address, paid for a city-wide mailer for school board candidate Adam Layne. The campaign literature arrived in mail boxes last week.
Civil PAC appears to be a committee of one, namely Joseph Wilson, who identifies himself as its treasurer. Who Public School Allies are appears to be untraceable. It has no internet presence and 6312 Seven Corners Center #354 Falls Church , VA 22044 is the address of a UPS store in the Washington DC suburbs. It is disturbing that a SLPS school board candidate would stoop to resorting to dark money to win the election. But here we are. [NOTE FROM SLSPROJECT: There is more information on 'Public School Allies' gathered via 7th Ward Woman, thread posted here]
This will be a low turnout election and some low information voters will likely be impressed by the only mailer they receive for a school board candidate. According to the required 8 day before an election campaign finance report, Civil PAC filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, about $10,000 was spent on the mailer so there was enough money left over to put another one in the mail before the election next week.
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Last Minute Write-In Candidate enters the Race—McCready Bows Out
Incumbent School Board Member Katie Wessling filed with the Board of Election Commissioners last week to be an official write-in candidate in the April 2 school board election. Wessling’s term is up but she did not file to run for re-election. Having served for three terms, after being elected two months before the SAB was appointed to run the district in 2007, she had decided it was time to retire from the board.
Wessling reported that she changed her mind and filed to run as a write-in candidate after the March 13 school board candidate forum. Many constituents contacted her after the forum and told her that they were unimpressed by the candidates, were not going to vote for any of them and wished she were running. So, in the hope that if she ran as a write-in candidate, they might also vote for a second candidate, she filed. Wessling, an SLPS parent, is encouraging people who vote for her to also vote for David Merideth.
Meanwhile, Daniel McCready has dropped out of the race. He has not attended any candidate forums. His name will still be on the ballot however.
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Legislative Watch
HB604, the School Turnaround Act has been perfected in the MO House and will move to the Senate. It had been held up before the Legislature’s spring break by a log jam created by the unwillingness of the House to pass this year’s charter school bill, HB581. HB581 would allow charter schools to open in any county with more than 30,000 residents even if there were no under-performing schools in their school districts. It is essentially a bill to spread charter schools state-wide. Many rural Republican state representatives oppose the spread of charter schools to their districts. There has been an unprecedented amount of arm twisting going on this year to push the bill through. Many bills were held hostage as a result, HB604 among them.
HB604 creates a School Turnaround Fund and a School Intervention Fund which would pay for private outside consultants to advise school districts about how to “improve” low performing schools. It is enabling legislation for the Consortium Partnership Network. Instead of the SLPS having to use GOB funds or the SLPS Foundation having to raise private money to fund the CPN, they would be able to tap into state money to pay for it. So, it’s another way to put public money into private hands.
As a local educator who spoke to the Watch on condition of being quoted anonymously said, “This is the type of legislation that will allow out of state education snake oil salespeople, aka consultants, to come in and take away scarce resources from our students. Targeted intervention schools need greater resources to provide wrap around services for students which will help remove barriers to their learning which in most cases will lead to improved student achievement.”
The whole concept of the CPN is questionable. Students in low performing schools need more resources, and smaller class sizes. Any money allocated for consultants would be better spent on hiring more teachers and support staff to provide under-performing students with the enhanced attention that they need and deserve.
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Summary of the March 13 School Board Candidate Forum
So there was a candidate forum March 13 at Central VPA HS. Dan McCready and Tracee Miller did not attend. McCready has dropped out of the race although his name will still appear on the ballot. Miller sent a surrogate to read an opening statement after which she left. Take aways from the opening statements were; Adam Layne advocated for more holistic support for students; David Merideth who knows the district’s problems as an alumni and a parent activist and concluded the best way to resolve them was to run for school board. He will work for later start times to enable students to get more sleep, a known factor for improving learning and achievement. Louis Cross, also an SLPS alumni, has 40 years of experience starting off as a gym teacher and guidance counselor. He also served as a principal and superintendent of a now closed charter school, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Dr. Barbara Anderson, another SLPS alumna, spent a 30 year professional career in SLPS and served as principal of Lexington Elementary, a successful neighborhood school. She would emphasize that SLPS is the best choice that parents could make for educating their children. Former Board Member Bill Haas, running to regain a seat on the board, insisted that the teacher’s union agenda is to terminate Superintendent Kelvin Adams’ contract, said he was running because his feelings were hurt when he lost last fall and he wants to improve achievement and support Dr. Adams. The person reading Tracee Miller’s statement gave biographical remarks about her teaching in SLPS for a couple of years and studying for a PhD in education and wanting to push for accountability and choice.
The first question was about what the candidates would do to prepare for training for serving on the board since the sitting school board members are going through extensive training preparing for governance.
Adam Layne replied that he was serving on a charter school board (Kairos Academy which opens the autumn of 2019) and they had undergone training. David Merideth replied that he had undergone board governance training during his military career. Louis Cross replied that he had been president of Local 420 and vice president of the St. Louis Labor Council so he was well prepared. Barbara Anderson said she would take governance classes (all elected board members are required to take 16 hours of training from the Missouri School Boards Assn.) and would look to her fellow board members for guidance.. Bill Haas replied that his 16 years of experience on the board served as a lot of governance training. He said the board would benefit from his experience and expertise.
The candidates were asked what they would do for schools in neighborhoods where population and enrollment were declining.
Cross said programs that people are interested in were needed such as home economics and industrial arts. Anderson said we should ask parents why enrollment is dropping, listen to them and that schools should be provided with wrap around services and programming that is attractive to parents as well as ensure all schools are staffed with highly qualified teachers. Haas replied that it is hard to maintain schools in an area where the population is declining. He suggested turning them into community schools, installing washing machines and social service agencies in the buildings to strengthen the neighborhood. Layne replied they needed to work with developers. Merideth, a real estate agent, agreed about working with developers but also stressed the need to rebuild neighborhood schools by publicizing them to change the community’s impression of the schools.
The next question asked whether candidates had positions with charter schools and why they would want to serve on the SLPS board if they did.
Anderson reported that she is not working for a charter school. Haas reported that he had taught for 2 charter schools, Confluence and Imagine but that he did not think that should be held against him. Layne,who did not repeat that he serves on a charter board, dodged the question saying just that he was for quality schools. Merideth replied that he is not on any charter schools boards but that one of his eleven children attends a charter school because SLPS was not meeting his specific needs. Cross said he is not currently on any charter school boards but that he had served as a principal and a superintendent of a charter school, that it was a good learning experience. He found out why charter schools fail.
The next question asked whether the candidates would favor closing SLPS schools for replacement by charter schools.
Haas said no and that whenever a charter opens, SLPS should open a school across the street and out perform it. Layne said no. Merideth said he was not in favor of opening more charter schools or closing public schools. He said charters shouldn’t exist if they don’t perform. Cross said SLPS schools shouldn’t close in favor of charters and that private schools shouldn’t be allowed to transform into charters. Anderson said no, that she didn’t believe in anything that takes funding from SLPS or anything that takes away from traditional neighborhood schools.
The next question asked whether a board member could serve 2 masters, public schools and charter schools.
Layne said he did not serve the schools, “I serve the students.” (This question appeared to be aimed squarely at Layne and he dodged again.) He continued to defend his Kairos charter as one that would have 100% certificated teachers even though it was only required to have 80% certificated and criticized the SLPs for not allowing the principals of its SIG (low performing) schools from utilizing needed funding. He also said he agreed to serve on the charter board because African American males are underrepresented on charter boards and because he believed in the model for the school. Merideth said that if he were working in a charter school and actively recruiting for a charter that he would not be doing his job as an SLPS board member. Cross reiterated that he is not on a charter board. Anderson said one shouldn’t serve two masters and went off on a riff about neighborhood schools. Haas said he doesn’t serve two masters and went on to talk about his concern about third grade reading scores, the need to place a second qualified teacher in primary grade classrooms and the need to find funding for that.
The next question pertained to maintaining the district’s budget and the candidates spending priorities.
Merideth said his priority would be allocating the $5 million it would take to have enough buses to only need two start times so that the earliest bell time would be later than the current one for high school students. Data has proven that learning is negligible during the first period in the morning. Starting later would raise academic achievement. Cross said he would defer to Dr. Adams to determine areas needing more allocations but he thought lower grades reading, math and support systems would be priorities. Anderson agreed with what Cross said adding full time nurses, counselors and social workers. Haas echoed Merideth’s call for later start times and supported Dr. Adams’ wish to pay math, science and special education teachers more than required by their contract with the union, a dispute currently in arbitration. Haas takes Dr. Adams’ word on the need to pay more for hard to fill teaching positions. Layne said he would allocate funds to strengthen schools in jeopardy of closing, supplying them with wrap around services and counselors so the schools don’t fail.
The next question pertained to children with IEPs (individual learning plans, special education students), what to do to make sure they aren’t failing and make sure they receive required services.
Cross spoke about providing children who needed it additional time for learning as determined by staff. Anderson spoke about over labeling children and the need to use alternative learning strategies to avoid over labeling. Haas countered that many student need IEPs and have a hard time getting them. He reverted to talking about the need for intensive reading instruction to build vocabulary and improve third grade reading scores. Layne said that IEP meetings are often rushed and must be slowed down, involve more people and provide more support. Merideth reported that four of his children have IEPs. He said more special ed staff and support for special ed teachers is needed. Merideth is a foster and adoptive parent with trauma informed training. He stressed the need to address the child’s needs and take some of the load off the teachers.
The nest question asked what the candidates thought about the best SLPS strategies worth keeping.
Anderson replied team teaching, small class sizes and in school suspension rooms. Haas said he was not sure how to answer the question until he heard Anderson speak. He continued that the more he heard David Merideth speak, the more he liked Merideth’s candidacy. Then he answered the question with in school suspension rooms. Layne said the autonomous running of buildings, trusting school leaders, structuring the school day so that students have some free time as is done in Metro and Collegiate high schools so that students have time to visit counselors and develop student leadership skills. Merideth said he would rely on staff and Dr. Adams to determine what is working. But he also said they should expand offering free dinner meals in the schools which serve as after school homework centers. He also agreed with Layne on blocking time for students to visit counselors. Cross replied with gifted programming, magnet schools, clustering regular schools to do some of the things done in magnets, accelerated programs and more assistant principals in schools with more than 400 students.
The next question asked about making students STEM ready, especially girls and expanding apprenticeships.
Haas said STEM was important but immediately returned to his talking point about third grade reading scores so basically he dodged the question. Layne said he was a big fan of expanding apprenticeships.
Merideth said he believes STEM is important. Two of his children graduated from Gateway STEM HS and three more are currently enrolled. He thought there should be more emphasis on robotics. He also said Gateway STEM HS was the best example of SLPS’ current use of apprenticeships. Their students can graduate with certification in several fields. He suggested partnering with trade organizations to expand apprenticeship programs.
Cross spoke about the successful partnership SLPS has with Washington University where Wash U students work with Compton Drew Middle School students on robotics and coding. He thought this could be duplicated at other schools. He suggested greater utilization of Fontbonne and Webster Universities to impact more schools.
Anderson, a graduate of O’Fallon tech HS, the predecessor of Gateway STEM HS, said STEM was important and needed to be duplicated. She is a strong advocate for vocational education especially for “young ladies.”
The next question pertained to seeking money to fund the school district from outside groups, should the district sell vacant school buildings (they do whenever possible) or form initiatives with private groups and foundations?
Layne replied that vacant buildings could be reopened as resource centers. The north side needs development. Tax abatements should be applied to redevelop them.
Merideth replied that tax abatements cost the city $200 million last year and that corporations don’t need them. The loss of revenue from abatements drives enrollment down. He advocated using vacant buildings for community centers. Cross spoke about meeting with groups who want to get into business working with our kids. Grants should be used to allow that to happen in vacant schools.
Anderson agreed that if school buildings are going to waste, they should be sold or developed. She is against tax give aways which rob children who need resources. She also said she was wary of many who want to donate money but where there are strings attached Haas said vacant buildings are an issue. He is against tax abatements which took $60 million from the SLPS last year. Most abatements go to the Central West End which doesn’t need them. He mentioned the district not having enough money to buy Chromebooks for all students like the Ritenour school district where he substitute teaches does.
Closing Statements
Haas said he was different from the other candidates in that he had served four terms on the school board. He emphasized that nothing was more important than early childhood reading. Then, as previously reported in the Watch, Haas mentioned that he was running for two offices at the same time because he was also running for President of the United States in 2020. Haas said, “That’s crazy but it is good to hold onto your dreams. If I have to leave in two years, you’ll understand and I’ll try hard not to take Dr. Adams for Secretary of Education.” Haas continued that people should vote for him because Dr. Adams in not going anywhere while he, Haas, is there. The fix is in, otherwise. Dr. Adams is terrific and we need to keep him.
Anderson reminded those present that she had spent nearly her entire life in SLPS, knowing it from the bottom to the top. She believes in educational autonomy. “Educators need the power to decide what works best for children. Cookie cutter strategies don’t work.”
Cross said that he is the right choice because of his over 40 years of experience. He has been a leader in every capacity. He wants a quality education for every child. He also gave Dr. Adams credit for having the expertise to make success happen.
Merideth said, “I am not an educator. My job is to hold the district accountable as a parent.” He went on to say that his military career had prepared him for the board by training him to find efficiencies without effecting personnel. His priority would be increasing enrollment by selling SLPS at neighborhood meetings. The charter schools do this. “We need to be there and sell ourselves,” he said.
Layne closed with a repeat of his biography. He is not from St. Louis, attended the Boston public schools, then attended an independent school, a private school. He considered himself to have been lucky to have done that. He compared his heavy backpack to his neighborhood friends who had no books. He mentioned the need to provide support, to advocate for educational equity. He reported that he is only 30 years old so does not have 30-40 years’ experience but has passion to transform outcomes. If not elected he said he would still work in education to increase enrollment, increase support and quality, give families a voice and engage with civic leaders.
From SLSPROJECT: See also, reporting on the forum from St. Louis American
From SLSPROJECT: See also, reporting on the forum from St. Louis American
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The editor encourages readers to forward The Watch to anyone you think would be interested. Our city and our schools need as much public awareness and public engagement as we can muster at this time.
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Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to SLS_Watch@yahoo.com
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Calendar
March 30, 2019, Saturday, Better Budgets better Schools School Board Candidate forum, O’Fallon Park Rec Center., 1:00 p.m.
April 2, 2019, Tuesday, School Board Election. Remember to vote!
April 9, 2019 Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, 801. North 11th St. room 108, St. Louis, MO 63103.
April 18 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108
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