tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87441945737168723302024-03-13T15:56:28.230-05:00sls projectSLS Project is an info space for courses taught in the Anthropology Dept. at Washington U. in St Louis (Prof. Bret Gustafson). Confronting St. Louis and MO politics has made me a bit outspoken. Opinions are my own, not the university, not the students, not the department.
On St. Louis: @slsproject
On energy politics: @energy_politics Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger845125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-80360588206767254202019-09-13T13:04:00.001-05:002019-09-13T13:04:44.844-05:00Confluence charter schools purchase Grand Center properties<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/confluence-charter-schools-purchase-grand-center-properties/article_a5d3f310-bfe7-54fb-a6dc-d0f89ea8bdc9.html">Confluence charter schools purchase Grand Center properties</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-20155892307922626162019-04-17T13:29:00.000-05:002019-04-17T13:29:12.383-05:00Update on SLPS: The End of the SAB and the Return of the Elected Board, via Susan Turk
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Susan Turk,</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Congratulations Are In Order!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 16, 2019—St. Louis--This morning the Missouri State Board of Education voted unanimously to approve termination of the transitional school district superimposed on the St. Louis Public School District at the end of its current term, June 30, 2019. As a result, on July 1, 2019, the elected St. Louis Board of Education will return to governance of the St. Louis Public Schools after twelve long years.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven recommended the termination of the transitional district because the Special Administrative Board which has governed the SLPS for the duration has accomplished the purposes for which it was established. Vandeven spoke about four concerns which motivated the State Board to revoke accreditation and institute the transitional district in 2007. The four concerns were financial status, accreditation history, student performance and leadership instability. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Vandeven reported that while the SLPS had a $24.5 million deficit representing a negative fund balance of 5.79% in 2007, SLPS now has reserves of $78.6 million or a positive fund balance of 22.24%. Having less than 3% reserves puts a district in financial stress and allows the State Board to dissolve a school district. Their Annual Performance Reports and accreditation status has improved and stabilized and leadership has been stable. Improvement was noted in the dropout rate, 13.9% in 2007-8 to 8.2% in 2017-18 and the graduation rate, 55.9% in 2007-8 versus 78.2% in 2017-18, among other factors.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Prior to 2007 there had been no less than 6 superintendents in the preceding 5 years as compared to Dr. Kelvin Adams serving as superintendent since November 2008.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The elected board was credited with having undergone 50 hours of extensive training in preparation for regaining governance. State Board Vice President Victor Lenz declared them ready to resume governance. Commissioner Vandeven reminded the State Board that they had two statutory options, either continuing the transitional district and the SAB or returning the elected board to governance, There is no statutory allowance for a hybrid board of both elected and appointed members. At least one state board member, Peter Herschend, had spoken of a preference for a hybrid board option previously.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">State Board President Charlie Shields asked State Board VP Victor Lenz to make the motion to terminate the transitional district and return governance to the elected board effective July 1, 2019. Shields then asked Board Member Mike Jones to second the motion. After they did so, Shields asked, Jones, Lenz and Board Member Peter Herschend to offer remarks, which they did.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mike Jones, who never lacks for eloquence, heaped praise on the SAB. He spoke about how hard it is to govern. He said there should be special recognition for their success. That theirs was a story about how to do things the right way, which should be documented. Jones also addressed the elected board members present, Dorothy Rohde Collins, Susan Jones, Donna Jones, Dr. Joyce Roberts and Natalie Vowell, telling them that they did not represent the community but the 22,000 children in the school district who can’t represent themselves. He implored them to listen to the advice and concerns of the adults in the community but not to take orders from them, to make up their own minds about what is best for the children and trust their own judgment. He said that the hardest part of leadership was making the least worst choice sometimes. He also told them to figure out how to do what the SAB did. He ended with a riff on becoming a team and trusting one another.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Dr. Lenz also praised the SAB, and spoke about the need to trust each other and the superintendent. He acknowledged that the 12 year length of the SAB’s governance was unusual and advised them to learn the difference from people who were giving good advice versus giving them orders.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Herschend revived the old meme of the 5 superintendents who served during a 2 year period. He criticized that Board as a board that was trying to operate as opposed to make policy. He claimed that was the difference between failure and success, told them their most important job was the selection, maintenance and evaluation of the district’s leadership. “If you do that well, the district will succeed,” he said. “If you fail, it will revert to where it was.” He implored them to care about the kids and ended by saying they were being handed an opportunity to create a flagship district that others in the country would look up to as an example.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Shields added that in Missouri we believe in local control which is why we have state standards but not a state curriculum. So there is a commitment to elected governance. He said governance by an appointed board was always meant to be temporary. He told them he had never seen a process where people were better prepared for the challenge and said he expected them to do a fabulous job. A voice vote on the motion was then taken and all said, “Aye”.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was anticlimactic. It was surreal. I should have been happy. But the bovine excrement being served up spoiled the moment.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, the data they were using to explain their reasons for taking over the district came from the 2007-2008 school year. That was the end of the first year the SAB governed the district. It is difficult to cull data from 12 years ago on dese,<a href="http://mo.gov/"><span class="s2">mo.gov</span></a>. Software incompatibility prevented this reporter from accessing the data but memory reminds that achievement data was lower after the SAB’s first year than it had been under the last year of the elected board’s governance. Perhaps that is why it was tempting to use as an illustration. Then again, superintendent at the time, Dr. Diana Bourisaw was insistent that SLPS data supported the district keeping its accreditation. Perhaps using the 2006-2007 data as compared to the lower 2007-2008 data would have been embarrassing. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Second, although Commissioner Vandeven expressed concern that student achievement did not show improvement, that was barely touched upon. In truth, the ELA proficient and advanced score of 22.8% and math proficient and advanced score of 18.4% from 2017-18 can be brushed aside as inconsequential because of the annually changing tests over the past 4 years. But, during the tenure of the elected board and even some years during the SAB’s governance, achievement on the MAP has been as high as 35% on ELA and 28% in math. Academic achievement has suffered under the SAB. But this may be a blessing in disguise for the elected board. Achievement scores can only rise from where they currently are.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And third, it was difficult to sit through praise of the SAB’s success and criticism of the elected board when Darnetta Clinkscale sits on the SAB. She was president of the elected board during the period of time that the district ran through those 5 superintendents. How could one board be excoriated and the other upheld as the epitome of boards when she participated in both? Cognitive dissonance ran rampant. But it has been this way through this entire 12 year period. The SAB has been the good board and the elected board has been the bad board and damn any evidence to the contrary.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is good that the elected board is returning to governance. But 12 years have been lost. That’s an entire generation of students. Back in 2003, when a multiracial group of parents from the Parent Assembly coalesced around the idea that electing parents to the Board Of Education could have a positive impact on student achievement, they could not conceive that our civic leaders would react to their electoral success by advocating that the governor implement a state takeover of the SLPS. Twelve years later, with achievement scores dismal, we will finally get to see whether a board informed by parents can make a difference.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The editor encourages readers to forward <i>The Watch</i> 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.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 18 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><b>April 23, 2019 Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., meeting of the Board of Education, 801. North 11</b></span><span class="s3"><b><sup>th</sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b> St. room 108, St. Louis, MO 63103.</b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-57818116079084244642019-04-05T08:12:00.001-05:002019-04-05T08:12:16.555-05:00Recap of SLPS Elections, April 2019, by Susan Turk/St Louis Schools Watch. Thoughts on dark money, the lost lawsuit against charters, and possible return to elected board governance this month
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">By Susan Turk</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 4, 2019-St. Louis—<br />
April 2, 2019 BOARD OF EDUCATION RESULTS<br />
Total Votes 32992<br />
ADAM LAYNE 7179 21.76%<br />
DAVID MERIDETH 5254 15.93%<br />
LOUIS CROSS 2544 7.71%<br />
BARBARA ANDERSON 6033 18.29%<br />
WILLIAM HAAS 3653 11.07%<br />
TRACEE MILLER 6294 19.08%<br />
DAN MCCREADY 1614 4.89%</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Write-in Votes 421 1.28%</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, Adam Layne and Tracee Miller have won the election for two open seats on the school board, which only goes to prove that in a low turn out election, money makes a tremendous difference. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Layne adopted the same strategy used by Charli Cooksey when she ran four years ago. She benefitted from a $30,000 contribution from Leadership for Educational Equity, a Teach For America affiliated entity, which enabled her to disseminate three city-wide mailers the week before the election and win. Teach for America encourages its former corps members to run for school boards across the country. Remember that Layne worked for Cooksey at the now defunct InspireStL program and succeeded her as its executive director. Now he will succeed her onto the school board. Her large out of state funder was a known entity which contributed directly to her campaign. His windfall was laundered through a political action committee, Civil PAC, and its source, Public School Allies, is untraceable. Given the extremes to which Layne’ went to conceal the identity of his supporters to win his seat on the board, he will bear scrutiny throughout his tenure.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Aside from Cooksey and Layne, Miller is also a veteran of T4A. Miller benefited from a $1,000 contribution from Leadership for Educational Equity. But she raised an additional $6,000 on her own which she used to buy ads on Facebook. She utilized the same strategy which Natalie Vowell found successful, campaigning on social media.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">None of the other candidates made an effort to raise much even after it was apparent that Layne, Miller and McCready were benefiting from a Sinquefield sponsored push poll in early March.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Nor did it help that AFT Local 420 endorsed three candidates, diluting the votes of people who look to them for guidance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SLPS lost a lawsuit last week. They had sued all of the charter schools in the city hoping to recover $50 million in sales tax dollars approved by voters in 1999 to enable the end of the federal desegregation case and subsequently sued for and shared with the charters. since they won a lawsuit to get access to that funding source. The district was hoping to stop the charters from receiving future disbursements from that tax revenue as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1">The State Board Of Education will be meeting in an as yet to be determined place in St. Louis on April 15</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1"> and 16</span><span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1">. It is expected that during that meeting, they will approve the return of the elected school board to governance. Once the elected board returns to governance, hopefully citizens will again attend their meetings. Nothing enables direct oversight of elected officials like attendance at their public meetings.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The next Board of Education election will be April, 2021 for three seats. Perhaps SLPS parents should consider starting their own political action committee to raise funds for city wide mailers for the next board election campaign. Two years ought to be enough time to raise $20,000. With the victory of two T4A corps veterans this election cycle, there are sure to be more of them running next time. It’s never too early to plan for the future.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The editor encourages readers to forward <i>The Watch</i> 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.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Questions for <i>The Watch</i>? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to </b><a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s3">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><b>April 9, 2019 Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, 801. North 11</b></span><span class="s2"><b><sup>th</sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b> St. room 108, St. Louis, MO 63103.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 15-16, 2019, Monday and Tuesday, State Board of Education Meeting somewhere in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 18 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you have never subscribed because friends have forwarded <i>The Watch</i> to you, please consider subscribing now. Internet newsletter mailing and management services are not free. <i>The Watch</i> has always concentrated its efforts on getting you the news and analysis of the SLPS that you value rather than on keeping itself in the black. But in order to pay our bills, we do need your subscription. For a dollar a month, you will get news, opinion, and analysis that you won't see elsewhere in the media. Please write a check today.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>The St. Louis Schools Watch</i> was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.</span></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-24524311825490152872019-04-01T09:34:00.003-05:002019-04-01T09:34:38.676-05:00More on Tuesday's St Louis Schoolboard Election (via Susan Turk): Write-in candidate, a correction to prior reported endorsement, and more on the dark-money...
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">April 1, 2019--St. Louis--Retraction: In our last issue, we erroneously reported that incumbent board member and write-in candidate Katie Wessling hoped that people who voted for her would also vote for another specific candidate. That was incorrect. Sitting board members never endorse school board candidates.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Editor</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">__________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Candidate Forum Last Licks</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The March 25th candidate forum differed from the March 13th forum in that Tracee Miller took part. Some of the questions covered the same ground as the earlier forum so rather than supply repeat answers, this report will showcase different things that were said. Since Miller missed the first one, there will be an emphasis on her but only because her answers are new material.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In her opening statement Tracee Miller told us she was born in Indiana and majored in English and secondary education in college. She did not feel ready to teach when she graduated and became an editor. Her next job was teaching in SLPs at Gateway Middle School. She did not mention that was as a member of the Teach for America program.) She realized that policy issues stymie success so she left SLPS and went to work for Blueprint Schools Network in an academic programming position. But, she had problems with the bureaucracy. She concluded that partner programs were not being monitored properly and they were actually stealing from the classroom. She concluded that communities know what’s best for their students. Top down decisions don’t work.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The first question tackled how SLPS addressed the challenge of homeless and housing insecure students. Barbara Anderson replied that counselors and social workers should address homelessness. The board can’t secure housing. Louis Cross replied that staff don’t always know when a student is homeless. That finding out has to be improved. The SLPS has the premier students in transition program (homeless services). Bill Haas emphasized how Dr. Adams was doing everything he could to help students in transition and reiterated that he wanted to be elected to protect Dr. Adams’ job because he believes the teachers’ union wants to have him fired. Adam Layne replied that housing insecurity usually indicated other problems, such as food insecurity, unreliable transportation, and capacity to ensure cleanliness all of which are barriers to education. He suggested using vacant school buildings as resource centers and working with aldermen to make this happen. David Merideth reported that the district has six to eight thousand students who don’t have a home. There are lots of ways to help and we have to find a way to work with them. Every school has to have a social worker, and nurse to help teachers understand the impact of trauma on children. Federal programs can help fund social workers, he said.. Tracee Miiller recounted her personal story of trying to get help for a homeless family. She said it was hard to reach the district administrator whose help she needed by phone and that when finally contacted, was only given a shelter list that she already had and when was not helpful because all the spots were full. She said every school needs a social, worker, counselor and nurse and wrap around services.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Asked about charter schools, Haas said no one begrudged parents wanting the best education for their children deciding to send them to charter schools.. SLPS has the most difficult to educate and less money to do it with. He said the accreditation and financial rules are different and SLPS needs to be so good that no one needs to send their children to charter schools.. Tracee Miller said that we need to educate all children. There should be collaboration between schools with different resources. Schools should work together to address student needs. Charters are not going away so there should be meaningful collaboration.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question asked how board members would stand with parents and community supporters of the schools.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Haas reported that he attends parent assembly meetings (now called the Parent Action Council). That they are not well attended, few schools are represented and that he would work to get all schools represented. Layne said that parents have power but feel that they don’t, that parents are banned from some schools because they advocate too hard and that sends a bad message. There has to be a parent leadership group, parent involvement is a big plus for the board which should go into the community and schools to listen to parents. Merideth said that as a parent he would continue to work with the Parent Action Council and PTOs. He commended the board for being in schools. He added that we need to reach out to parents to rebuild connections and trust. Miller reported that she was banned from her godson’s school. This dissuades parents by not letting them fulfill their roles. The district doesn’t do home visits anymore. You can’t reach administrators by phone and the district doesn’t poll parents to determine their needs. They schedule meetings when parents can’t come and don’t announce them in time for parents to schedule to attend. Anderson talked about the family fun night she scheduled when she was principal at Lexington Elementary, how they taught parents about their children’s lessons and were rewarded with more parental engagement.. She also opened the school for community meetings. Cross said he would piggy back on what Dr. Anderson said because parental engagement and cooperation efforts are the best way. He noted that many parents work two jobs so it takes lots of effort to get parents involved. He noted that Dr. Anderson’s strategies worked and added the need to cluster schools to spread improvement.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question addressed inequities between magnet and neighborhood schools in terms of resources and outcomes and how board members would increase equity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Layne gave a surprising answer. He said that students without IEPs have more money directed to their education. He insisted that IEPs make it look like they are getting more money but that is not the case. He mentioned that gifted students comprise only 24% of the programming and that the money spent on the 77% (those were his numbers) need to be looked at because we need to take a strategic look at the budget. (Before the SAB ran the district, annual reports were produced and made public which showed the amount of money spent per pupil per school. The gifted elementary was usually one of the lowest funded. School budgets are augmented by Title I, ESOL special education and summer school programming little of which was spent on gifted education. Layne also consistently equates magnet school funding with gifted education. He does not appear to know that there are only 4 gifted magnet schools out of twenty-four schools gifted schools. Nor does he appear to know that of the assumed $10 million in sales tax money that was supposed to fund magnet programs after the 1999 federal desegregation lawsuit settlement approximately one third of that revenue goes to the charter schools because of a lawsuit they filed claiming a piece of it. If Layne thinks disproportionate money is spent on gifted or magnet programs, he ought to consider where the revenue for the charter school whose board he sits on will get its funding before he attempts to deprive children in SLPS magnet schools of funding.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Merideth stressed the need to refocus on neighborhood schools, something he has said repeatedly and to help them get more grants. (His youngest attends pre-K at Sigel.) Miller spoke to the need to educate parents and students about the options magnets offer, She said many parents are not well informed about the magnets or the application process. She also said some magnets do not offer the option they are supposed to but did not elaborate. Anderson said all schools should be magnet schools. That is an interesting idea. It would entail open enrollment throughout the district and require more busing which is expensive. The state does not fully fund transportation costs and penalizes the SLPS for not transporting students to the school closest to their homes, in other words, for having magnet schools. The state subtracts transportation dollars from the SLPS’ allocation because we have magnet schools. Anderson understands there are inequities and questioned why we could not give all students the resources to make their wishes come true. Cross, who supervised gifted education for seven years noted that when the SLPS was under federal supervision the magnets did receive larger budgets but that is no longer the case. He then mentioned the excellence of Laclede Elementary which is a neighborhood school when (Joyce Roberts was principal) and agreed with Anderson about making all schools themed magnet schools. Haas reminded everyone that the magnets were required by the desegregation case, that the board had tried to equalize funding and then returned to his focus on ensuring all students read on grade level by third grade.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Better Budgets Better Schools held a candidate forum March 30th at the O’Fallon Park Rec Center. They focus on the equitable distribution of school resources across the city and transparency in the budget process. They asked all of the candidates to endorse their call for a transparent budget development process in SLPS which allows for community and parental input, four public meetings per year that inform the public about the budget and the publication of electronic and paper reports on the budget with detailed and easy to understand information be made available to the public. Anderson, Layne, Merideth and Miller endorsed their goals and answered a candidate questionnaire before the meeting. Cross and Haas endorsed their goals during the meeting. The candidates’ answers to their questionnaire can be read at <a href="https://www.wepowerstl.org/better-budgets-better-schools"><span class="s2">https://www.wepowerstl.org/better-budgets-better-schools</span></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Analysis and Endorsement</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the candidates running this time are well educated regarding the issues impacting urban education. Most but not all are aware of the history of what has been done to the SLPS by political interference over the past twenty years. It is hard to distinguish between them on many issues concerning education alone. But there are differences that mark several of them as standouts.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Watch has always favored SLPS parents as school board candidates. Founded by SLPS parent Peter Downs, the Watch vision statement, is still published at the bottom of each issue. It states, “The St. Louis Schools Watch was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.” Nothing says parental involvement like running for a seat on the Board Of Education. David Merideth is a parent and a candidate who has impressed stakeholders across the city. He has been endorsed by Local 420, the St. Louis American, Action Reunion, St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Eighth Ward independent Democrats. Having had children attend both neighborhood and magnet schools, he understands the challenges and strengths all of our schools face. He emphasizes the importance of the district marketing itself by reaching out to the community at neighborhood association meetings. He will be an advocate for parents and a leader who will appeal to parents considering enrolling their children in SLPS. His youngest child is a pre-schooler so Merideth will be active in SLPS for years to come. He had demonstrated a collaborative spirit and a commitment to democratically elected governance of the SLPS. The Watch enthusiastically endorses David Merideth,.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Would that there were only two seats open this time. Last week the Watch learned that incumbent Board Member and SLPS parent Katie Wessling decided at the last minute to file to run as a write-in candidate. After serving three terms on the board for the duration of the time that the Board has been deprived of governance, it is sad that Wessling’s knowledge and commitment to educational equity could not have been put to use improving outcomes for our students. She served as president of the board of education for three of those years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Wessling is an attorney working with an organization which advocates for abused women. Her legal background has been an asset to the Board. We wish she had filed for re-election so that her name would appear on the ballot. Winning a write in campaign is difficult. She has not been able to participate in any of the candidate forums or garner endorsements. If you want to know more about her, she has a Face Book page.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to parents, the Watch has traditionally favored candidates who are educators and had a career in the SLPS. Two candidates are retired district teachers and administrators with decades of knowledge and experience in SLPS, Barbara Anderson and Louis Cross. Normally Local 420, St. Louis AFT only endorses enough candidates to fill the seats open in an election But this time, they have endorsed three candidates for two seats because they could not decide between Anderson, Cross and David Merideth so they endorsed all three.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Both Anderson and Cross understand what it takes to enable children to succeed. Anderson recently retired from serving as principal at Lexington elementary, a neighborhood school recognized for its success. She would serve on the Board as an advocate for ensuring the consistent deployment of highly qualified teachers and equitable resources throughout the district, But so would Louis Cross and Cross is favored by many in the community who feel strongly that there is a need for African American men need representation on the Board. Currently all seven board members are women. Cross has ben endorsed by Action Reunion and the St. Louis American. Anderson has been endorsed by the Eighth Ward Democrats.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Given the merits of Anderson, Cross and Wessling, the Watch feels constrained against endorsing a second candidate. This puts us in a compromising position. Any of them would strengthen the Board.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As to why we have not considered the other candidates, Daniel McCready has dropped out of the race although his name will appear on the ballot. As a KIPP charter school employee whose main concern was late busses, he did not have a compelling reason to run for school board.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Tracee Miller’s candidacy is problematic. She appears to have only had negative experiences with SLPS as a Teach for America corps member who taught in the district for three years, a program coordinator and advocate for her godson. One would expect someone running for school board to have more measured experiences with the district, something positive as well. That does not appear to be the case with her. She reported being banned from her godson’s school.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This reporter has known dozens of SLPS parents who over the years have made irritating pains in the neck, not to mention other parts of the body, of themselves while advocating for their children to school principals and district administrators, without getting themselves banned. Banning unfortunately happens from time to time but it is rare. A parent has to cross a line for that to happen. Not knowing the specifics of Miller’s case, it is not possible to judge whether she was treated fairly. However, experience instructs my judgment that one can make quite the pest of oneself and not get banned. It is possible and even necessary at times to be a forceful advocate for one’s own and even other parents’ children and get downright unpleasant in so doing and not get banned from district buildings. A board member has to be able to work with people to accomplish anything. Between leaving teaching when she was not allowed to implement her own curriculum in her class, and getting banned from her godson’s school, Miller may be indicating that she lacks collaborative skills.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">After working for SLPS, she in her own words, “moved into a position as a program coordinator with a national education nonprofit organization, where I managed math intervention programs in East St. Louis, St. Louis, Boston, and Holyoke Public Schools.” That was Blueprint Schools Network, which made a bad situation worse at Boston’s Paul S. Dever Elementary School. If you want to read more about that education privatizer’s impact in Boston see <a href="https://haveyouheardblog.com/as-the-school-spins/#more-7968"><span class="s2">https://haveyouheardblog.com/as-the-school-spins/#more-7968</span></a>. Miller currently works for the privatizing virtual school education powerhouse Khan Academy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">She acknowledged a large donation from Leadership for Educational Equity, an organization affiliated with Teach for America which funds T4A alumni running for school boards across the country. She did not report the total amount of two checks, $1,500 at the Better Budgets, Better Schools candidate forum when asked and claimed that it was a loan which she would repay. She did not report those contributions as loans on her campaign finance reports.. They are listed as direct contributions. That amounts to about a quarter of the $6,000 she raised from friends and relatives around the country which has allowed her to pay for ads on Face Book. On line campaigning is very effective with younger voters and may well get her elected which would be unfortunate. She has the passion but does not appear to have the temperament to be an effective board member.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Former Teach for America Corps Member Adam Layne sees no conflict of interest with his serving on the board of the soon to open Kairos charter school, which will draw students and resources away from SLPS while serving on the elected SLPS school board. He speaks with convincing passion about his reasons for serving on the charter school board. He has yet to articulate equal passion when discussing his reasons for running for our elected Board Of Education. A candidate running for the St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education, ought to hold the SLPS as their primary priority. That does not appear to be the case for Layne.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, Layne is being supported in his campaign for school board by $20,000 in untraceable dark money from a shadowy organization named Public School Allies. Allies don’t hide their faces. Last November Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected the injection of dark money in our political campaigns by passing the CLEAN ballot initiative. Why elect a school board candidate who does not share those ideals?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Bill Haas is also running. Haas objected to the Watch’s analysis of his candidacy when he ran in the November 2018 school board election. He accused the editor of malice and threatened a lawsuit. Consequently, it is difficult to write about him. Understand why no analysis of his campaign is offered for this election.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">There is an unusual amount of support from a variety of quarters for one candidate, David Merideth. There is no consensus for a second candidate and there is considerable money supporting two candidates whom the Watch would rather not see win. It is difficult to speculate as to whom would be the likeliest of Barbara Anderson, Katie Wessling or Louis Cross to win that second seat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">During budget presentations at recent SAB and Board of Education meetings, it has been made clear that it is expected the district will not be able to balance its budget starting next year because of declining revenue and that it will be necessary to either begin to draw down the fund balance—deficit spend—or to cut the drastically bare budget. Both Miller and Layne have suggested there is waste in the budget that can be found and reallocated. That would surprise SAB Chairman Rick Sullivan who bragged about his waste reducing abilities when he took office 12 years ago and to his credit, Sullivan has overseen district staff negotiate down vendors and service providers to lower expenditures. Whoever wins this election is going to join a board which in all likelihood will be returned to governance on July 1 only to find themselves in a tight budget situation which will require difficult decisions. Dreams of fulfilling the needs of all SLPS students will have to be put aside. They will serve at the mercy of a state legislature which is criminally negligent as far as guaranteeing adequate revenue to fund our schools and a city government which prioritizes subsidizing development to the detriment of our schools.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This is going to be a low turn out election. Don’t sit it out. Every vote is needed</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s2">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Calendar</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">April 2, 2019, Tuesday, School Board Election. Remember to vote!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">April 18 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-63667916600490288682019-03-28T11:38:00.000-05:002019-03-28T11:44:45.509-05:00St Louis Schools Watch: Inside scoop on upcoming STL schoolboard elections, 'dark money' and write-in candidates (via Susan Turk)<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Louis Schools Watch</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>________________________________________</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>School Board Candidate Fundraising Update: Comes the Darkness</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">By Susan Turk</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">[NOTE FROM SLSPROJECT: There is more information on 'Public School Allies' gathered via 7th Ward Woman, <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/7th-ward-woman-thread-on-dark-money-in.html" target="_blank">thread posted here</a>]</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Minute Write-In Candidate enters the Race—McCready Bows Out</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">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.</span> 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Wessling, an SLPS parent, is encouraging people who vote for her to also vote for David Merideth.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Legislative Watch</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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. <span style="background-color: yellow;">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.</span> 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Summary of the March 13 School Board Candidate Forum</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The candidates were asked what they would do for schools in neighborhoods where population and enrollment were declining.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question asked whether the candidates would favor closing SLPS schools for replacement by charter schools.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question asked whether a board member could serve 2 masters, public schools and charter schools.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question pertained to maintaining the district’s budget and the candidates spending priorities.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The nest question asked what the candidates thought about the best SLPS strategies worth keeping.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The next question asked about making students STEM ready, especially girls and expanding apprenticeships.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Layne replied that vacant buildings could be reopened as resource centers. The north side needs development. Tax abatements should be applied to redevelop them.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Closing Statements</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: large;">From SLSPROJECT: See also, reporting on the forum from <a href="http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/slps-board-candidates-debate-as-seven-vie-for-two-open/article_fa1dabe2-50be-11e9-bc36-bb02667f658c.html" target="_blank">St. Louis American</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">__________________________________________________________<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">......................................................................................................................................<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s2">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Calendar</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">March 30, 2019, Saturday, Better Budgets better Schools School Board Candidate forum, O’Fallon Park Rec Center., 1:00 p.m.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">April 2, 2019, Tuesday, School Board Election. Remember to vote!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">April 18 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The St. Louis Schools Watch was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-90998726126273399642019-03-28T11:35:00.001-05:002019-03-28T11:35:02.848-05:007th Ward Woman: Thread on 'dark money' in SLPS elections (Public School Allies, The City Fund, Adam Layne, etc.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Who funded the Civil PAC mailer for School Board Candidate Adam Layne? Dark money from a Falls Church VA UPS drop box. <a href="https://t.co/QHhtCPtLXx">pic.twitter.com/QHhtCPtLXx</a></div>
— 7th Ward Woman (@stl7thward) <a href="https://twitter.com/stl7thward/status/1109941594017402887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Public School Allies, Civil PAC's dark money source to support School Board Candidate Adam Layne, got its money from The City Fund, which advocates for 🚨privatization of public schools. <a href="https://t.co/0JajWeH3jz">https://t.co/0JajWeH3jz</a></div>
— 7th Ward Woman (@stl7thward) <a href="https://twitter.com/stl7thward/status/1109944424140816384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
More on School Board Candidate Adam Layne's dark money donor Civil PAC's parent organization and their agenda to privatize public schools. <a href="https://t.co/nYMbhG35fD">https://t.co/nYMbhG35fD</a></div>
— 7th Ward Woman (@stl7thward) <a href="https://twitter.com/stl7thward/status/1109948295940632576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Public School Allies is The City Fund PAC. It is not registered with FEC. It is not registered as a PAC with Virginia, the state with the UPS address listed on donation to Civil PAC which produced mailer for School Board Candidate Adam Layne. <a href="https://t.co/YWIJVWs0jE">pic.twitter.com/YWIJVWs0jE</a></div>
— 7th Ward Woman (@stl7thward) <a href="https://twitter.com/stl7thward/status/1109953605388390400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have now heard from fourth person that Civil PAC, which took dark $ from public school privatization pac for mailer to support School Board Candidate Adam Layne, belongs to <a href="https://twitter.com/iJPRJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iJPRJ</a>, political consultant, former aide to Mayor Slay, former State Rep. candidate.</p>— 7th Ward Woman (@stl7thward) <a href="https://twitter.com/stl7thward/status/1110230828485918721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-29444169743223350022019-03-28T08:40:00.001-05:002019-03-28T08:40:42.394-05:00How Better Together’s Plan Will Circumvent Democracy and Bankrupt St. Louis<a href="https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/how-better-togethers-plan-will-circumvent-democracy-and-bankrupt-st-louis/Content?oid=31064043">How Better Together’s Plan Will Circumvent Democracy and Bankrupt St. Louis</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-35827851306832185902019-03-14T11:09:00.002-05:002019-03-14T11:11:23.458-05:00Susan Turk on the Upcoming April 2019 SLPS School Board Election and Return to Democratic Governance: Is there a plot underway to capture the board?<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b>The April 2019 School, Board Election and the Return of the Elected Board To Governance</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">By Susan Turk</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">March 12, 2019</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b>Rick Sullivan Supports Return of the Elected Board</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">February 26, 2019--St. Louis—At tonight’s Board of Education work session, Board President Dorothy Rohde Collins announced that SAB President Rick Sullivan had written a letter to DESE supporting returning the elected board to governance of the SLPS. The State Board Of Education will hold its April 15-16, 2019 somewhere meeting in St. Louis. The exact location has yet to be determined. It is expected that at this meeting, they will vote to return governance to the elected board of education. When the Watch learns the meeting location, we will alert our readers.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b>Correction and More</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">In the February 18, 2019 edition of <i>the Watch</i> we reported on the status of Local 420’s effort to resolve a dispute over pay disparities. Based on a press release from Local 420, we misreported that they were going to court. They next phase was an arbitration, hearing. That hearing was held last week. Now the parties must wait for the decision of the arbitrators. It was reported on KWMU that Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams defended the district’s stance of disparate pay for employees. Dr. Adams claimed the contract with Local 420 allows the district to pay more to teachers in hard to fill positions. Whether all of the discrepancies can be explained as pertaining to hard to fill positions will be determined. A decision will probably come in a few months.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><b>Pushing for Teach for America and Pro-Charter School Board Candidates</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1">With the expected return of the elected board of education to governance over the SLPS this year, dark money has returned to school board election politics. On Sunday, March 3</span><span class="s2"><sup>rd</sup></span><span class="s1">, the <i>Watch</i> received several reports of a push poll regarding the school board election and related issues. A company named B&R Associates, which is not a registered corporation in the State of Missouri, was phoning city residents over several days and asking questions in such a way as to elicit positive answers about charter schools, school choice via the use of vouchers, and providing favorable quotes concerning the three school board candidates who are former Teach for America corps members and charter school proponents, Adam Layne, Tracee Miller, and Daniel McCready. The push poll also asked about support for a mayor appointed school board. One person called referred to the poll as a phone survey and reported, “The survey definitely wanted me to say that I was in favor of vouchers and "school choice."</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Polls with questions which slant potential answers are not taken to collect data. They are administered to form opinions. The question about appointed boards gave away one of the sources. Appointed boards are highly favored by former Washington University Chancellor Dr. William Danforth, who previously served as the settlement coordinator for the St. Louis Desegregation case and chair of the appointed task force which recommended the state takeover of the SLPS in 2006. Dr. Danforth will never concede the return of the elected board to governance.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Additionally, the <i>Watch</i> has learned that former Teach for America corps member and State Director of Policy for the Sinquefield funded Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri, Katie Casas, representing a new group funded by Sinquefield and the Danforth Group has been interviewing school board candidates attempting to get them to support charter school expansion in the city in exchange for their endorsement.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Casas left CEAM in 2018 to form her own Jefferson City lobbying firm, Nexus Group.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">With the impending return of the elected board, charter school interests see an opportunity to take over the elected school board to further their agenda. Between now and April 2, money will flow to these candidates. It is incumbent on citizens who support SLPS rather than charter school expansion to be alert to the infusion of money and how it will impact the campaign.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">The three Teach for American candidates are all from out of state and have lived in St. Louis for less than 10 years. They are all young and do not have children of their own. But they all have backgrounds in the growing private not for profit education sector of our national economy which is being funded by people like Bill Gates, the Waltons, and the Kochs, nationally among many others and Rex Sinquefield and the Danforths locally. These three candidates represent the interests of those who promote the privatization of public education. It would be a tragedy if any of them are elected to our soon to be empowered school board. The <i>Watch</i> usually waits to editorialize about school board candidates until after publishing their questionnaire responses. But the campaign activity that has already taken place warrants this early alert.</span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;">Link to another update and the candidates' responses to Susan's survey can be found <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-64723104652670679082019-03-14T11:02:00.003-05:002019-03-14T11:02:57.756-05:00Tracee Miller Response to SLPS Candidate Survey (via Susan Turk)
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Link to main article and other candidate responses <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Tracee Miller</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>April 2019 School Board Candidates Questionnaire</b></span></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Please supply a brief autobiography including relevant employment and academic degrees</b></span></li>
<li class="li2"><span class="s1"> </span></li>
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">I come from a very middle-of-the-road town and schools in Indiana, but from a family of teachers who inspired a love of learning at a young age. In the same way that some children fantasize about a dream home or car, she regularly spent afternoons imagining the perfect school. It wasn’t until I met my husband and visited his elite prep that I realized that my dream was a reality only for folks who could afford it. The distance between his academic experience and my own was vast, but the distance between mine and those of my SLPS students is infinite.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">I’ve lived in St. Louis since graduating from Mizzou, and have worked in St. Louis Public Schools as a middle school math teacher, and then as a contractor coaching teachers and managing academic intervention programs. I now work at Khan Academy where their mission is to provide a free world-class education to everyone everywhere. I have undergraduate degrees in English and Secondary Education, an MEd, and am currently a PhD student in Education Policy at UMSL.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running? If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why.</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">I believe that the elected board will return to power because the community will demand it. The Special Administrative Board does not represent the community in the same way as the Elected Board, and the Elected Board is committed to the community values of transparency, accountability, and accessibility. I am running for this position because I believe in the ability of the Elected Board to improve in its current decision-making capacity, to come back into power, and to make decisions that reflect the diverse community that we serve.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The candidate did not supply a response to this question.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS? Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS? Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the past served as a board member? If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">I am the godmother of a student who is a senior in SLPS, thought I did not attend school in the district myself. I worked as a 6-8 teacher and contractor in grades 2-12 in schools across the district. I have no served as a board member, but I have experienced the impact of board decisions from a wide variety of angles and look forward to addressing them so that others have an easier path than my godson has had as a student, and easier than I had in my multiple roles with the district.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</b></span></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">I understand the necessity, under Missouri law, to appoint this board, and respect their vote to return power to the Elected Board. I have not seen transparent decision-making or foundation change while this board has been in power, and I look forward to the possibility of change with the transition.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">There is no one-size-fits-all opinion of charter schools, and I believe that our focus should be on provide high-quality education to all students in the city.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school year. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected school board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The teachers, families, community, and school staff know their students best and this may provide an opportunity for low-performing schools to address the needs of their students in more appropriate ways than the current cookie-cutter decisions passed down by the district. That said, all schools should be held to the high standards and measures of accountability.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Ensuring that schools have the financial ability to invest in their students in ways that align with the student and community values will, in turn, empower them to more effectively involve the community in its operations and culture. For example, giving principals the power to hire their own staff will ensure cohesion among the adults in a school, will build a culture of understanding and excellence, and will improve confidence in the school’s ability to serve its children. As families feel connected to their schools and feel confident that their children are valued and receiving high-quality education, enrollment will improve.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</b></span></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">Part of this is answered in the above question about improving trust and enrollment. We must work to enact policy that improves the quality of SLPS, and actively advocating for money for public schools and students and against measures that take away high-quality options for students in public schools.</span></li>
<li class="li2"><span class="s1"> </span></li>
<li class="li2"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri legislature this year?</b></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>HB130 Sponsor: Carter</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>This bill specifies that the State Board of Education shall terminate the St. Louis City transitional school district if the district is classified as provisionally or fully accredited. Terminating the transitional school district shall return governance to the elected board of the school district. Since the SLPS is fully accredited this bill would have the effect of immediately returning the elected board to governance.</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>HB629 Sponsor: Quade</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires specified charter school applications that are approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) to not become effective until approved by the voters of the district in which the charter school is located. The bill requires that the charter approval be submitted to the voters of the district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than 60 days away, at a special election. A majority vote is required for approval of the charter school application.</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">I support the termination of the transitional state that SLPS is currently in, in accordance with Missouri law.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i>The candidate did not answer about HB629</i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Having taught at a magnet school, I found that many do not in fact emphasis their purported area of focus. However, many of our magnet schools have higher academic outcomes than other schools. Unfortunately, the application process for charter schools can be complicated, and the quality of education all SLPS buildings should be excellent. I believe that families and students should have options that fit with their values and desires for their children’s future, but the path to those options should be more readily available to everyone.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Many neighborhood schools have a negative reputation in the city; however, this is the result of policies that require one-size-fits-all policies that do not take differences between neighborhoods and students into account, as well as policies giving little choice to school staff (particularly principals and teachers) who know their students best. I believe that the path to high-quality neighborhood schools is within close reach.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>What ideas do you have to help students learn?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">All students learn differently, and have different curricular, instructional, and extracurricular needs. Our schools should be empowered to invest in what their students need, whether this is more support staff, higher-quality curriculum and resources, professional development (particularly on culturally relevant pedagogy and other topics that impact relationships and not only instructional strategies), and a focus on evaluation measures that support teacher growth so that they can, in turn, help their students thrive. If you ask me about what ideas I have to help students learn in different and specific contexts, I can, in most cases, give you an extensive description.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b> What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">There is too much at stake with standardized tests, from funding to people’s jobs to student futures. In addition, these tests have been shows be biased against marginalized populations. While I believe it is important to measure academic growth and performance, I strongly believe that MAP scores are not a holistic representations of student ability or growth, and that these tests in general create an environment in schools that prevents joy in learning rather than fostering it.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic</b>?</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">There are policies in place that encourage social promotion, as well as policies about how teachers must allocate grades and make determinations about passing students. I would encourage policy that promotes in-school tutoring for students, more support staff to ensure that students’ holistic needs are being met, courses designed specifically to prepare students for transitioning to college that include work study opportunities, and more investment in teachers and schools so that the improvement in overall quality of education in SLPS will impact this statistic.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>In the past the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception.</b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">As a member of the board, I would ensure transparency and accountability to the public. I am skilled at communicating and considering the perspectives of those who don’t agree with me, and would ensure that the board establishes goals, norms, outcomes, and retrospectives to meet our community’s expectations.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-43505910372526276222019-03-14T10:58:00.001-05:002019-03-14T11:01:18.059-05:00Barbara Anderson Responses to SLPS Survey (via Susan Turk)<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Link to </span><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">main article on SLPS Elections</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Barbara Anderson</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please supply a brief autobiography including relevant employment and academic degrees completed. (one paragraph},<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Born and raised in St. Louis, I am a graduate of St. Louis Public Schools, as are my husband, daughter, and granddaughter. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Harris Teacher’s College, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University. I also hold a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership and a Doctorate in Education from St. Louis University. I have been a student, parent, grandparent, literacy coach, and principal. These experiences give me a unique perspective as to what happens in our educational institutions on a ground /grass roots level. I have taught on the elementary, middle, and university levels throughout my professional endeavors. I am first, and foremost, an educator.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Why, then, are you running?</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I am first, and foremost, an educator. Having been a student, parent, grandparent, teacher, instructional coordinator, and building principal, I have a unique perspective as to what really happens on a daily basis in our classrooms. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why</b>. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The district has achieved full accreditation. It was originally stated that should the district achieve full accreditation, the elected board would transition back into decision making power. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">My understanding of the role of a board member is that that person is one of a group who is dedicated to a shared vision of solid and effective educational foundation for all students. Board members must have high expectations for all students and staff. It is expected that St. Louis Public Schools will be the framework for this expectation. (Inspect what you expect. Dr. Lynn Beckwith}</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the Public Schools?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Our granddaughter, Chanel Smith, a graduate of Clyde C. Miller, is our most recent graduate of St. Louis Public Schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I first attended SLPS at the age of four at Marshall Elementary, and graduated from O’Fallon/McKinley in June, 1970.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I was first appointed as classroom teacher in Sept., 1976. I retired from St. Louis Public Schools on June 30, 2012.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Have you, in the past</b> <b>served as a board member?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I have never served as board member.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The State Appointed Board was appointed according to state guidelines. Since the district has achieved full accreditation, it is time for board members elected by the community to transition into authority.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Charter schools are here to stay. I do not believe that charters are a cure all for our district. School choice is needed for parents to make educational decisions for their children. Parents must be convinced that the best educational choice for their children is St. Louis Public Schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school years. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">CPN is not a viable solution for failing schools. We must take a look at successful schools. We must duplicate/imitate what is working and eliminate what is failing. Instead of creating more divisions/programs, (charters/CPN), we must take a look at what is working and duplicate it. CPN is not a solution. CPN will simply ignore the real problems of attracting and retaining quality educators and instructional processes. Instruction is not about the program, it is about delivery by qualified professionals.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I do. We must stop playing the blame game, and drill down to what is going to move our students forward. We must present a district climate and culture that attracts the best and brightest educators. We must create a district that encourages post- secondary skill training. We must stop teaching our students that they cannot be successful unless they leave their communities. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">We must ask our parents why they choose not enroll their children in SLPS and honestly address their concerns.</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income, children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot emphasize enough the importance of making SLPS the first choice for education. Parents are always going to make the choice that best benefits their children. It is our job to make sure their choice is SLPS. Anything else is a farce.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri legislature this year?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">HB130 Sponsor: Carter</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This bill specifies that the State Board of Education shall terminate the St. Louis City transitional school district if the district is classified as provisionally or fully accredited. Terminating the transitional school district shall return governance to the elected board of the school district. Since the SLPS is fully accredited this bill would have the effect of immediately returning the elected board to governance.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The last time I checked, and according to the school signs I have observed, the district is fully accredited. I believe the requirement states that once accreditation is achieved, decision making should be returned to the authority of a duly elected community based board of education.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">HB629 Sponsor: Quade</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires specified charter school applications that are approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) to not become effective until approved by the voters of the district in which the charter school is located. The bill requires that the charter approval be submitted to the voters of the district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than 60 days away, at a special election. A majority vote is required for approval of the charter school application.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of convincing parents and caregivers that SLPS is the first and best choice for the education of their children. Trying to persuade parents that what looks good to you isn’t always good for you, is a losing battle. Parents want to make the best choice for their children’s education. We must convince parents that SLPS is the best choice. Any other battle is a losing one. The voting public must make appropriate decisions that will benefit student learners of all ages.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We must eliminate the disparity between magnet, charter, and neighborhood schools<i>. All schools should afford opportunities for visual and performing arts, technology, athletics, and career skills, as well as basic educational foundations</i>. I do not like the idea that students are led to believe that they must leave their neighborhoods in order to get a quality education.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The biggest disservice to learners today is that they are taught that they must leave their neighborhoods in order to be successful. Attending neighborhood schools has become synonymous with having no other options. This must change. The only way to rebuild our neighborhoods is to remove the negative stigma of remaining in communities, and rebuilding our neighborhoods and neighborhood schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What ideas do you have to help students learn?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to having fully certificated staff, a positive, nurturing, and safe environment, must be established for students, staff, and parents. Educators must feel free to make educational decisions for their students. Although it is recognized that some uniformity is required throughout the district, instruction involves risk taking and constant review and revision. The only person who can make those decisions accurately is the person involved in the instruction of those students daily. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Other ideas include flexible classrooms and grouping. Students who are engaged in teaching their peers are actually amazing teachers. Their self- esteem is also exponentially enhanced. </span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">A stable staff is vital.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"> Another strategy I used extensively, as a building principal, was to use the public address system as a teaching tool. The staff and principal would determine the most important messages to convey. School pledges, classroom rules and school rules of conduct are repeated daily. This sends the message to students that these messages are important. I actually became famous at the postal service office, and in the neighborhood, for my morning and dismissal announcements. Adult staff members were able to convey consistent messages to students because the message was delivered consistently, whether I was on site or not. It is also vital that students are recognized for following those rules. These actions confer to students that positive behaviors will be recognized and rewarded. School wide rules are few and far reaching. At the school to which I was assigned, we had three simple rules: come to school every day on time; complete class work and homework daily; and engage in good behavior at all times. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">We conducted black history trivia contests every Friday. These contests were designed to enhance writing, research, and reading skills. The contest winners got a chance to enhance their classroom libraries by selecting books of classroom interest. We also sponsored weekly writing contests. These winners would read their submissions. Another winning strategy was to engage in reader’s theater. One would be amazed at the practice that would engage students to make their performances on the public announcement system highlight their reading skills. We also had student readers to make daily announcements.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Every school should be able to engage in activities that enhance performance and comprehension skills for their sites.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s2"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that obstruction to instruction <i>should not be tolerated.</i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that In School Suspension rooms should be established in all elementary schools, and that those classrooms should be staffed by fully certificated personnel (preferably with special education training). Instruction should not be interrupted because of inappropriate behavior, and there should be better direction than “there will be no suspensions”.</span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Although it is vital to measure progress, I think we place too much emphasis on one shot measurements. I further have questions as to why SLPS changes requirements for success so often. Progress monitoring is a much more useful tool. The scoring of selected MAP sub-tests is subjective in nature. Perhaps another instrument should be explored? Missouri has one of the most challenging state mandated standardized tests in the country. I don’t like the pressure placed on staff and students for performance on the MAP. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The whole idea for maximized performance on state mandated standardized assessments is for learners to be so comfortable with subject matter that pressure is minimal. Standardized testing is problematic in educational circles. Ours is the only profession where students are promoted with deficits. Why do we blame teachers for the deficits of a poorly designed assessment instrument? I am glad this is not how airplane pilots are trained. Closer to home, would you like to be trained to drive an automatic car and have to pass the driver’s test with a stick shift? <b><i>What is wrong with knowing what you are supposed to know?</i></b> Yet this is the requirement we place on classroom instructors. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I would promote a policy of having a staff that is fully certificated for all professional positions in all buildings. <i>That would include an in school suspension room with a fully certificated teacher (preferably with SPED training).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I promote a policy that does not allow for overcrowding of classrooms. Even more effective, is to employ special education teachers in overcrowded classrooms, when high classroom numbers are unavoidable. Special education teachers are specifically trained to make individual education decisions based on individual student learner needs. We must pursue and develop district policy that addresses the needs of all learners.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I would explore current school calendars. One of the biggest complaints of teachers is that so much time is wasted at the beginning of the school year in remediation. In the urban setting, students no longer need time to perform seasonal agricultural activities. Schools are air conditioned now, so there is no need to shut down schools for temperature concerns.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the past, the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The only thing to be done is to conduct business professionally. There is no time for personal disagreements. Transparency, accountability, and accountability are vital for any functioning entity. The only group to change this dynamic is the voting public. It is our duty, as educators, to keep the citizens properly informed, and to engage in educational activities with the voting public</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-55411340098858096902019-03-14T10:43:00.000-05:002019-03-14T10:43:50.778-05:00Daniel Mcready SLPS Candidate Responses to Survey (via Susan Turk)<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Daniel McCready, SLPS Candidate Response to Survey (Via Susan Turk)</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Link to main article on SLPS (and other candidate responses) is <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Please supply a brief autobiography including relevant employment and academic degrees completed. (one paragraph)</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, I attended public schools K-12. I earned a BA from Denison University in Economics, Religion and Spanish. I taught 3rd and 5th grade math at Bond Hill Elementary, a Cincinnati Public School. I learned from master teachers an important lesson: kids need to love their teachers if they're going to learn.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">After attending graduate school at WUSTL, I fell in love with St. Louis. My wife and I bought a home in Benton Park West. I started working for KIPP Victory Academy immediately following graduation.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running? If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m running because my wife and I are building a life here in St. Louis and, like many city residents, we’re trying to decide what schools would make a good fit for our future family. Regardless of whether power is restored to the elected board, I believe that it’s important for St. Louisans to engage with educational issues, specifically how we ensure that the children of St. Louis have choice-filled lives. If my run for school board gives me a platform to discuss new ideas with engaged citizens, then I’ve already won.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the job of a school board member to enact policies that improve scholarly achievement across the district. I’d like to focus specifically on student culture, because children learn from people they love. It starts with collecting information on how children feel about their school, their teachers and their administrators.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS? Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS? Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the past served as a board member? If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no connection to SLPS. I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio and attended public schools K-12 there.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that the Special Administrative Board has allowed us as a city to hit the reset button on how our elected board should operate. That being said, the SAB was never expected to be permanent and should, now that the district is accredited, be dissolved.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that this is a question about quality, not quantity. Parents shouldn’t have lots of bad choices, they should have a handful of good choices that can create a pathway for their child to lead a choice-filled life. Bad charter schools should be closed as quickly as possible, because they don’t benefit families and they can damage functioning schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school year. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected school board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I would need more information about this before forming a substantive opinion.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The candidate did not answer this question.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it’s important for schools to quickly implement what’s working in other successful schools in the city, be they charter or traditional public schools. I also believe that building out the resources that neighborhood schools can provide families as hubs for healthcare, job-training, networking can be leveraged to attract new enrollees.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it’s important that assessments are able to be used by teachers to inform their instruction. It’s unacceptable that schools get standardized tests back months later, given modern technology. That being said, tests let teachers and parents know that children are learning what they are teaching. If designed well, they provide a road map for future growth.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The candidate did not answer any more questions.</span></span></div>
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</style>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-78273140564973540152019-03-14T10:29:00.000-05:002019-03-14T10:32:27.485-05:00Adam Layne responses to SLPS Candidate Survey (via Susan Turk)<style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Adam Layne responses to SLPS Candidate Survey (via Susan Turk)</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Link to main article <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Adam Layne is an education advocate who has been driving toward educational equity and excellence in the city of St. Louis where he began his professional career. Adam began his career in 2011, joining Teach For America and teaching Algebra I, Algebra II, and Trigonometry to students at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy on North Grand. In 2014, he stepped into a new role as the Scholar Support & College Access Director for InspireSTL, an education access and support nonprofit serving students in the city as part of a 10-year experience. While there, Adam built curriculum necessary for running successful mentorship, leadership, educational excellence, and college access programs. In 2016, Adam transitioned to becoming the Director of the InspireSTL program and during his time, 100% of students graduated on-time from high school with an over 90% college persistence rate. Adam currently continues to build culturally responsive curriculum in St. Louis for various programs, and also does diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for middle and high school students and staff. Adam currently is working on a research project at Washington University in their Academy on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Adam is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. He received his Master of Education in Secondary Education and Curriculum Development from UMSL. Adam lives in the 18th ward as a resident of the Lewis Place neighborhood.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#1 The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running? If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I am running because I believe that our young people have so much potential and are pivotal pieces to the positive transformation of our city. We, as board members, have the opportunity to address obstacles in education and maximize opportunities. Though it is not a guarantee that the elected board will gain back power and thus an increased ability to drive and impact change, it is crucial to ensure the right people are on the board to lead this effort. Now, more than ever, the residents of St. Louis need to be demanding of and intelligent about who we choose to represent our young people and our families. I believe the elected board should have power because that means that the residents of the city have power. The board members, chosen by the people, should represent the best interests of the people and work relentlessly for the people.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe there is one way the board will and should regain power other than simply being handed it by the State. Elected officials often are willing to deeply engage the public when they need votes. They’ll knock, send out mailers, put up signs, and make countless visits and trips around the city. When they get elected, however, that outreach stops abruptly. We go from prioritizing knocking on every door to expecting everyone to show up to a monthly meeting having not heard from us the other 29 to 30 other days of the month. As an elected board, we need to take that same energy we had during campaign season and apply it to after the election. We need to be in schools and go to communities to build advocacy and show we value the voice of the students and families of SLPS. We have to do our job to have the students and families of SLPS renew their confidence in us as a board. This will take work. I stand by this, and I hope to be the person to bring this to fruition with my fellow board members. If in June the state doesn’t believe we should regain power, we would have a strong base of families that would write letters or show up on the board’s behalf. Right now, I don’t believe we have that. No matter the outcome in June, our biggest priority as a board is determining how we instill confidence of an elected board back into the students, families, teachers, and staff of SLPS.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#2 What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that school board members have a dual responsibility: to govern and to advocate. As a school board member, we have a responsibility to examine and analyze the policies that govern our district for the purpose of ensuring those policies are the best to serve the families and students of our district. Also, with governance comes the responsibility of ensuring the superintendent is the most capable individual, able to lead in all district-wide matters, and is held accountable for the results of the schools in out district. Lastly with governance, the board is responsible for ensuring proper financial management of district funds. The second responsibility, advocacy, is just as important. We, as board members, should be voices for the people we serve. We have a responsibility to visible, to learn from our community, to give our constituents opportunities to be heard, and ensure that we take action on and value the voices of our community. I don’t see one as being more important than the other.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#3 Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS? Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS? Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the past served as a board member? If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I appreciate my connection to SLPS. While I have no children, I taught math at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and consider each of the hundreds of students I taught over the years to be my family. Aside from my direct years of experience in the classroom, I’ve had the pleasure of regularly walking the halls of every SLPS middle and high school over the years as the program I directed, InspireSTL, worked closely with teachers and building administrators to provide holistic services and support to middle and high school students in the city. I have many relationships in SLPS that I truly value and have always reinforced two truths: we have and endless supply of talented students in our district and an abundance of dedicated teachers and adults eager to serve them.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I have served on a board before. I currently serve on the board of Kairos Academies, a charter school opening in south St. Louis city that will provide personalized learning and individualized, 1-to-1 coaching to students. I did not graduate from an SLPS school as I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#4 What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I know who they are and what they’ve done, but my opinion of them stems mainly from the SAB meetings I’ve attended. I can speak to my impressions from those meetings. They occasionally ask tough questions and demand a certain level of accountability during the meetings I’ve attended, however I wonder about he follow through and commitment to equity for all St. Luis city residents as it pertains to education and educated communities. I will also say that while regaining accreditation doesn’t mean that every SLPS student is receiving a high-quality education and experience within our schools.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#5 What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">In my opinion, the biggest impact charter schools have had is in dividing the educational landscape in St. Louis. We have effectively made education “black and white” in the city with no opportunity to operate in the gray. I believe education in St. Louis cannot advance on a divided front. I hear arguments all the time that focus on the fact that charters in St. Louis overall are “not performing better”, but completely dismiss the fact that most public schools in the city are also underperforming. Pointing out charters are performing poorly doesn’t make public schools perform better.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I serve on the board of a charter school opening up in the city. I am also a former SLPS teacher who had an inflow of students after the Imagine Schools closed. The first reason I serve is because I looked across the charter boards in the city and I didn’t see representation for the majority of students who attend these schools. Yes, they made a choice, and I want to ensure they have representation when their voices need to be heard because representation matters. I know how uprooting an entire community can have negative repercussions on the ones affected the most. I also am aware of the more than $67 million (last figure I was aware of) the district has to allocate to charters in the city. I am also aware of the financial mismanagement that occurs in our district. If someone were to tell me that $67 million dollars recovered from charters would solve the problems of SLPS and create a quality education for every SLPS student, I would be the first person to start knocking on doors and collecting signatures. I believe we should come to the table together with real solutions to our education problems instead of spending on opposite sides of the fence.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">My second reason for joining the board of Kairos is that they are doing something actually difference and providing 1-on-1 coaching daily, which was a life-changing experience we provided at my nonprofit. There are too many charters in St. Louis claiming to do something different, and aren’t.. That is my biggest gripe with charters, that and it is entirely too easy to get a charter. I believe to fix this, we need community members to approve the addition of charter school in their region in conjunction with the board as well as have the community and board vet the candidates for governance and leadership of the charter school. So no, I am not in favor of opening a slew of new charters unless, after coming together at the table, SLPS deems a specific charter is necessary to serve the city’s needs. For example, if someone wanted to open a charter for specialized learning of students with disabilities and special needs, I would be for it because of the lack of transformational support for students with special needs.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What is most disheartening is that we pit families in the city against each other. We effectively disown parents who truly believe they are making the best decision for their children if they don’t choose SLPS. We even excommunicate them from the process of being part of the solution. I don’t believe in choosing side, I believe in the equitable and quality educational experiences for ALL students who call St. Louis home. Parents don’t want to send their kids 20 miles out of their zip code to sit in a classroom where they are seen as “other” just to get a great education. Parents don’t want to have to use their cousin’s address in Kirkwood to beat the odds. But parents also don’t want to look back one day and feel like the failed their child because they didn’t do anything in their power to give their child their best chance. Do I believe there is a grand plot to privatize education in the region? Probably. But that needs to be taken up with the Rex Sinquefields of the world instead of hating and blaming families and kids. That’s not on them, that is on us. We need to restore quality and thus faith in ALL of our SLPS schools and that is something I intend to work toward. It’s not enough to TELL them to choose SLPS, we need to prove to them why they should.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#6 The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school year. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected school board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think we, as a community, should decide whether or not this is the best decision for the students, families, and teachers of SLPS. Even though Meramec and Ashland have been chosen, I wonder the extent to which the community supports the initiative. Therefore, to me it makes sense for the decision to be made after governance is restored to the elected board who are the representatives of the people. Then allow the board to do it’s due diligence, vetting the opportunity the CPN presents and gathering the thoughts of the families that represent Meramec, Ashland, and the communities they are housed in. This information gathering and advocacy by a governing elected board in conjunction with more detailed information about the plan and strategies for the CPN are what I believe are required before a sound decision can be made.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#7 Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think public confidence depends on a number of factors. Before jumping to solutions, I would like to find out the root cause of the issue as opposed to assuming what the cause of the problem is. I think two main issues are that families don’t feel they have a voice in SLPS and also that families can’t affect change within SLPS. There are issues in any district, but when people feel powerless in addressing those issues, their confidence deteriorates. Agency in that way stems from the relationships they have with the district. At the end of the day, what matters is the relationship families have with the district. First thing we need to do is restore their voice by returning power to the board. The board is chosen by the people and that is a direct way of ensuring some type of representation. Second, we need to rebuild relationships and that means direct outreach from the elected board. We can’t just expect community members to show up at school board meetings, we need to meet them where they are give them a reason to show up. We can hold office hours at different schools, come and attend staff meetings to hear concerns of the staff and not just be present in schools our own kids attend, and provide childcare and dinner at board meetings to have more of a community feel. We can and should reimagine community participation. When families are looking for a school, they do their research and value, more than anything, what other parents and students are saying about the school. If the students and families attending the school don’t have great things to say, it doesn’t matter how many banners and ads we have asking people to choose SLPS. We need to do our part to create ambassadors who can say that they saw a board member come and listen at their school, or they went down to a board meeting and felt the community was heard, or that they can list a number of ways the district plans to improve the quality of education, ways that were constructed using the input of the community.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#8 The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I would oppose the legislation. I think charters capitalize on the ability to provide different choices and options because our district doesn’t. I would oppose this on the grounds that if the state wants to fun school choice and increase options, they can create a separate budget for it instead of using Title I funds. Aside from not using Title I funds, I believe increasing financial access to different types of schools is fine. It increases diverse populations and experiences for all. I see two issues. The first is that our public transportation system does not align with this ideal. If we really wanted diversity in all areas of our city and county, our public transportation system would reflect that. Second, if we really want to see this melting pot of education, we need to also focus on improving the quality of all schools, specifically SLPS. To me, it’s ridiculous and irresponsible to say we want to pay for students to go to well-resourced schools and not want to additionally fully resource underresourced schools and school districts.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#9 What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri legislature this year?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I support this measure. I believe power needs to be restored to the board and thus the people. I also believe that there needs to be more local and community oversight of any new charters. I would change the bill and say that charters should be approved by the local board as well before being sent to the state level. I think the state level approval doesn’t allow for the acknowledgement of how different neighborhoods and districts are across the state.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#10 What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I support the idea of magnet schools. I taught for three years at a magnet school within SLPS. My reasons are similar to the answer to question #8. Diversity of educational experiences allows our students to interact with more people that the ones in their radius. To be honest, I think students who live outside of the city have a negative view of the city that can only change through meaningful and joyful learning experiences within the city. To have true magnets, we need to commit to quality in our educator’s ability to cultivate culturally competent learning environments, and their ability to be culturally competent themselves.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If we want to truly take a step beyond, we should fully resource and create excellence in ALL our schools and when the quality of the school is superb, all students would be attracted to all the schools. We shouldn’t just pump money into magnets, using all our resources to attract a particular demographic.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#11 What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Even saying the term “neighborhood school” in St. Louis bears with it a negative connotation. Our neighborhood schools should be staples of our communities and strengths of our communities. When we tear down and strip resources from our neighborhood schools, we are indirectly expressing how we feel about the community the school sits in. I believe when we begin to reinvest and revamp out neighborhood schools, we will see better investment in our communities and stronger communities as a result.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#12 What ideas do you have to help students learn?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe all students can learn. The first thing we need to do is raise our standards. A commitment to quality and excellence needs to start earlier. We need to instill a love for education among our students by instilling that in our teachers and staff who work with them. How can out students be joyful learners if our staff are not joyful educators. We instill that joy in our staff by paying our teachers better and providing them with the resources they need.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe students learn best when they have some control of their learning and teachers have control of their content. Standardization often strips learning environments of both. I would love to bring teachers to the table, especially in professional development sessions where they discuss the flaws in the curriculum and scopes of sequence and talk about ways to make learning more effective outside of the standardized plan.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Experiential learning is something I also believe in. When students are able to tie their learning into the world around them, it promotes a healthier mentality around education. It also breaks up the monotony of the classroom. Especially for middle and elementary school students, learning by way of discovery should be promoted and not just in the form of an occasional field trip, word problems, or infrequent experiments in class. Experiential learning should be its own focus where we provide curriculum, support, and resources for schools and teachers to adequately execute.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think we need to revamp the way we discipline students. Students are coming in with a lot of troubling experiences, circumstances, and trauma. We need more counselors and less detention. We need to build in time for real therapists, and not just people who can change a student’s schedule, are used to talk and impart tools for students to be more successful in and outside of the classroom. A radical idea I’ve always had for the high school level is a change in the schedule. We have one and a half hour blocks, back-to-back, at most of our public schools. We could cut classes down by a half hour, freeing up 2 hours a day for students to rest, recharge, and seek help from quality counselors in their schools. We want our students to go to college where they will have the responsibility to manage their time, but throughout the first 18 years of their educational experience we adults structure their time down to the minute. We fear what would happen if we give our students a little freedom of choice within the day. Most of the top performing schools build in free time for students during the day. This type of autonomy allows students to manage their time and seek out help, and actually use resources. This will also help students see going to their counselor as a benefit and not as a punishment.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#13 What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe in assessment as a necessary tool in tracking student achievement and driving toward results. However, we’ve gone from using testing as a tool to using testing as the main objective. Teachers are forced to “teach to the test” as opposed to use their creativity and skills to increase content mastery and depth of knowledge with our students.. Coupling this with the fact that there is inherent testing bias especially for students of color who comprise a majority of our district, it is evident we need to rethink the way we test our students especially what we’re testing them on and the frequency to which we administer benchmarks.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#14 Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">My first year teaching math, a freshman student came up to me and told me should couldn’t complete her math assignment because she couldn’t read the directions. Our high school students are graduating unprepared, but the problem isn’t exclusively tied to their four years of high school. Students who struggle in high school have probably been struggling years before. The remedial classes students often take are in math and English. We need to work earlier (elementary, middle school) with students to build their number sense. Math continues to build off of itself, but even complex math is comprised of simpler parts. We need math teachers at the earlier levels who can push students and get them to think deeply about math concepts and not just complete problems. College math requires this. Some of my poorest performing algebra students were exceptional at basic computation and multiplication tables. I could tell they were ahead when it came to memorizing math operations, but topped out there and weren’t pushed further.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">As for English, we need to build better literacy skills. Other schools have summer reading lists and resources for students to deepen their reading comprehension, but that is not something we do on a wide scale. When it comes to high school, most grammar instruction goes out of the window. Student write essays and are graded for content as opposed to composition and syntax.. This does our students a disservice as those nuanced elements are tested on college entrance exams. Our worst students graduate not being able to read and our best students graduate barely able to write.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, we could have students sit in on college classes their freshman year of high school and get a detailed report of their gaps, in a qualitative way that shows the ways they need to develop in their math thinking and English proficiency so that educators can take a more targeted approach to educating them.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">#15 In the past the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe the board has been painted this way to dissuade the public that the elected board should return to power and reduce public confidence in the board. I think the board does an excellent job of listening to the people and doing its due diligence to serve the students, families, and educators of SLPS. I think my election to the board would help because I plan to be extremely vocal about all the great work the board is doing and the accountability we have as a board. I believe the best way to dispel myths is to show people the truth. I want to get out in front of the people, be accessible to the people, and bring everyone to the table so we can change education in our city together in such a way that the media won’t have a chance. This will only happen if we are all working together, united and well-represented.</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-1975242375563573952019-03-14T08:11:00.001-05:002019-03-14T08:11:05.069-05:00Louis Cross Response to SLPS Candidate Survey (via Susan Turk)<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Link to </span><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">main article on SLPS Elections</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Louis Cross</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Please supply a brief autobiography including relevant employment and academic degrees completed. (one paragraph},</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am a native St. Louisan. I attended SLPS and graduated from Sumner High School. Married 48 years to Gail Cross. We have two daughters, Lynn & Kelly.. Graduated with a BS in Physical Education & Psychology from Lincoln University. Masters & EDS in Guidance & Counseling from SIU Edwardsville. Received an Administrative Certification from Lindenwood University. I worked as a Physical Education Instructor, Guidance Counselor, Academic Coach/ Instructional Coordinator, Principal and Interim Superintendent for E. H. Lyle Charter Schools. 18 years adjunct professor at Lindenwood University.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am running because I have the expertise and knowledge to move the district forward in a progressive, positive direction, in a facilities management, academic excellence and financial stability. I am a forty year veteran of St. Louis Public school system serving in numerous capacities.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The appointed board has been in power for ten years and has requested to be removed from power and that the elected board be returned to their position of authority. They have done what they set out to do in restoring our school district to full accreditation for the last three consecutive years.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The primary role of each of the board members is to develop, policies and procedures to be carried out by the superintendent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the Public Schools?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS? Yes.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Yes.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Have you, in the past served as a board member? No.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Other connections that I have to SLPS include: Trustee, Public School Retirement System of the City of St. Louis.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The candidate did not answer this question.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The candidate did not answer this question.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school years. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The elected board should have complete governance over the Consortium Partnership Network (CPN). Attempts to diminish the power and control of segments of the CPN will not receive my support. Any attempts to limit the oversight role of the elected board members or attempts to limit the oversight role regarding the CPN or the selection of schools that are assigned will not be supported by my vote. It appears that the SAB developed guidelines to limit the elected board’s governance of the CPN partnership. This is unacceptable and disrespectful.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Improvement of the behavior and academic performance in SLSPS will enhance the confidence in our schools. Parents, who in the past, have sent their siblings to SLPS or now looking at Charter schools because of the lack of respectful behavior and low academic performance. A behavior team, which includes a full-time therapist, ISS monitor, teachers, social worker, counselor, and an assistant principal in all schools with 400 or more students , plus a therapeutic classroom for students who constantly disrupt the classroom. The team will develop strategies to drastically improve behavior Anas progress to improve academic performance.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income, children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In order to improve the SLPS, vouchers, educational savings accounts or tax credits and re-allocation of Title 1 funds away from low income children are counter productive and can_______</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri legislature this year?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB130 Sponsor: Carter</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This bill specifies that the State Board of Education shall terminate the St. Louis City transitional school district if the district is classified as provisionally or fully accredited. Terminating the transitional school district shall return governance to the elected board of the school district. Since the SLPS is fully accredited this bill would have the effect of immediately returning the elected board to governance.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I agree with HB130 legislation if the school shows the necessary improvement there should be no need for a transitional board.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB629 Sponsor: Quade</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires specified charter school applications that are approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) to not become effective until approved by the voters of the district in which the charter school is located. The bill requires that the charter approval be submitted to the voters of the district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than 60 days away, at a special election. A majority vote is required for approval of the charter school application.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The candidate did not address this part of the question.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Magnet schools are a fine addition to the SLPS landscape and have proven to be a truly effective tool in improving academic performance. SLPS should keep the Magnet School programs.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am all for neighborhood schools; but, in a great number of cases because of school closures, busing is the only viable option.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What ideas do you have to help students learn?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The district should provide a strong phonics program to improve reading and comprehension; also, adopt Singapore Math to improve Math scores.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Standardized tests and MAP testing are here to stay. Not only in Missouri but nationwide in some form. While there has been some controversy as to their effectiveness in gauging full academic aptitude and cultural biases, presently, it’s the only tool we have in assessing our students across the board.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Again, policies like phonics to enhance reading and Singapore Math to improve Math scores along with strong learning tools in all the core subject areas.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the past, the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Elected Board, of which I will be a member, will function on a highly productive level and represent the parents , students, community and all employees in a manner that will make them proud that they voted for all elected board members.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-64992274429956113592019-03-14T08:09:00.000-05:002019-03-14T08:09:32.981-05:00David Meredith Response to SLPS Candidate Survey (via Susan Turk)<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Link to </span><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">main article on SLPS Elections</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">David Merideth</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Please supply a brief autobiography including relevant employment and academic degrees completed. (one paragraph)</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am a 1991 alum of SLPS, father of 11 (4 current SLPS students and 4 SLPS alumni), retired Air Force Officer, and Realtor in the St Louis area. Since I retired, I’ve spent the majority of my time working with students and schools through PTO organizations and the district Parent Action Council. I have served on district committees to select new principals, improve communication, and evaluate current school start times. I was also one of 2 parent representatives on the SAB task force on future governance of our school district. I currently hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle University.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education may extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running? If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am running because I want to help ensure the transition of governance returns to the elected board. Having served on the SAB advisory committee, I saw the community support for this transition, and I want to use my drive to see it become a reality.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I believe a school board member’s main role is to ensure that school districts are responsive to the values, beliefs, and priorities of the local community. What I’d like to accomplish is a community run top-down review of the district. Then, with the ability to help shape the budget, be able to drive some of the large-scale changes that will best benefit our current student population.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Are you the parent or grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS? Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS? Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the past served as a board member? If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am a 1991 alumni of Central Visual and Performing Arts HS (CVPA). I have 4 children that have graduated from SLPS and 4 children still in the school district.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While I disagree with the tactics utilized to enable the SAB takeover of the district, I must recognize many of the improvements they have been able to implement. Yet, while it might have made sense to have an unelected entity oversee the district while it was still unaccredited, now that SLPS is fully accredited the residents of the city deserve to have the same right as every other accredited district to elect our own school board.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Charter schools currently account for almost 1 out of every 3 public school students in the city. They have performed a needed function helping to retain families with children in the city while SLPS was struggling. Currently, they are a drain on the resources needed for an integrated fully functional district. I don’t think any more charters should be allowed to open in the district until there are several changes made in their certification process and I would rather see the total number decline.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network which will be governed by its own appointed board and whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools. Meramec and Ashland elementary schools have been assigned to the CPN for the 2019-2020 school year. The CPN will be empowered to contract with private not-for-profit companies to manage these schools. If returned to governance, the elected school board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As the parent representative sitting on the CPN board until a parent from one of the 2 schools selected can be appointed, I can say this is a misunderstanding of what the CPN is. No private not-for-profits will be allowed to manage these schools. Both Meramec and Ashland will remain SLPS schools. A group was hired to help the teacher leadership team at each school develop their vision and goals and any changes they think will best serve their students and community. The documents establishing the CPN will state that given 1 school year notice the governing body of SLPS will have the authority to move a school back out of the CPN network and into the direct control of the district. Additionally, while the elected board might not have direct oversight of the CPN schools they do have a large role in governing them. The CPN board will consist of the president of the governing body of SLPS, the superintendent of SLPS, a parent representative of a school assigned to the district and an appointee of both the mayor and the president of the board of aldermen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The biggest thing to improve confidence is to rebuild our neighborhood schools and get out and talk to people about improvements made. Right now, if the only talk people hear is how bad SLPS schools are then no one really goes to compare them to other choice schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to our school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This will be a constant fight and we will have to take a hard look at our budget and find ways to deal with these issues. We need to find new and creative ways to utilize the large amount of empty space in some of our buildings to give us the increased funding to simply address the infrastructure issues many of our older buildings face. Rebuilding neighborhood schools can also help in that it will cut down on the bussing costs needed for the vast number of magnet schools the district operates.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri Legislature this year?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB130 Sponsor: Carter</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This bill specifies that the State Board of Education shall terminate the St. Louis City transitional school district if the district is classified as provisionally or fully accredited. Terminating the transitional school district shall return governance to the elected board of the school district. Since the SLPS is fully accredited this bill would have the effect of immediately returning the elected board to governance.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I fully support this bill and would change the language to apply this statewide. I believe a trigger for return of district control was intentional left out of the original legislation to make it harder for the city of St. Louis to regain governance of its schools.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB629 Sponsor: Quade</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires specified charter school applications that are approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) to not become effective until approved by the voters of the district in which the charter school is located. The bill requires that the charter approval be submitted to the voters of the district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than 60 days away, at a special election. A majority vote is required for approval of the charter school application.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is another bill I fully support and have spoken to Rep Quade about. Since charters have no oversight from the local communities there needs to be some way to gage need. Many times, if the effort to start a charter were put towards local school improvement it would have a greater impact for the entire community as a whole.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The magnet school program is a hidden gem in the city. It has really kept the district afloat during tough times. That said I think we have reached a point where we have too many choices. Additionally, the added costs for busing to magnets (both in the need for 3 bell times and bussing city-wide for each school) has impacted the district’s ability to made other upgrades and changes.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rebuilding neighborhood schools should be the future focus of SLPS. They can be the lifeblood of a neighborhood and are the foundation upon which the rest of the district can build. We have some neighborhood schools that are already showing tremendous success that I think we should strive to duplicate at all the others.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What ideas do you have to help students learn?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1 way to help students increase learning is to allow teachers to focus on teaching. With the most vulnerable student population in the region we must ensure we have specialists at every school to deal with non-educational needs. This would include a social worker and a nurse in every building. Additionally, we must maintain the extensive student meal plan currently in use. If our children are hungry they will not be able to learn.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While testing in general is good to help us evaluate where are students are currently at educationally, too much emphasis is put on them. With funding and accreditation directly tied to scores, we end up with cases where teachers simply teach to the test instead of being able to modify their lessons to best impact their students.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many of these remedial courses are the result of years of neglect. We must focus on these basics at a younger age and promote policies and efforts to improve basic reading, writing and math skills. If a child enters HS and can only read at a 5th grade level it is unfair to our HS teachers who must then try and catch them up enough to even qualify for college. There are many non-profits and universities I feel we could partner with towards this goal.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the past the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I spent 20 years in the military dealing with people with diverse backgrounds and beliefs and finding compromises. Additionally, as a parent of numerous SLPS students I’m deeply invested and committed to ensuring the board’s success.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-46979846067505968842019-03-14T08:08:00.000-05:002019-03-14T08:09:39.647-05:00Bill Haas Responses to SLPS Candidate Questionnaire (via Susan Turk)<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Link to <a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/st.html" target="_blank">main article on SLPS Elections</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Haas William (Bill)</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Please supply a brief autobiography. (one paragraph)</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm a semi-retired corporate lawyer with 20 years college and secondary teaching experience, currently a daily substitute for Ritenour Schools. I've served four terms on the St.Louis School Board. Among my accomplishments are the 9th grade dropout prevention initiative in 2001 or so which people credit with preventing our losing accreditation, working with Mary Armstrong to settle teacher negotiations in 2005 when the Slay slate of school board members was trying to break the union, initiating the audit of the St. Louis Schools from my friend Tom Schweich's Auditor's office, and this past school year initiating a pilot program of a second qualified adult in early child classrooms to improve reading scores, and other initiatives to improve early childhood reading.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SLPS is currently governed by an appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30 2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for which you are running because the state board of education has the authority to extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I ran in 2010, after 5 year hiatus from the board, because I thought we would be regaining governing then, and was disappointed that we didn't. I think the writing is on the wall that we'll be regaining governance by June of 2019 at the latest.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you believe the elected board will return to power, please explain why. The SAB is tired of governance, as is the community of their governance, and after their recent hearings, they recommended return of governance, and I think the state board is prepared to follow that recommendation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the role of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member? A board member sets policy (which means different things at different times), hires the superintendent, helps set goals for the district, and dialogues with the superintendent about means to reach those goals. The superintendent's role is to implement those plans to achieve those goals and generally administer the day to day operations of the district.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Are you the parent/grandparent of children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Did you attend and/or graduate from the SLPS?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Have you ever worked for the SLPS or are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the past served as a board member? I was a substitute for the district for the 1991-1992 school year, and again for the school years between 2007 and 2010 after I went back on the board. And was a board member from 1997-2005, and again 2010 to present.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you are not an SLPS parent, graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any other connection to the SLPS? n/a</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts about the Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Dont get me started. Ok, you've got me started. I think they're well meaning and have done the best they can. It seems obvious that the SAB has been run by Rick Sullivan and Richard Gaines. I think 10 years is too long to have been in governance, but that is not their fault. Student achievement was essentially flat under them and I'm not sure what to make of that because I have high respect for Dr. Adams, so I can only assume that achievement was not an issue the SAB excelled in promoting. I think I would fault the SAB most on thinking they had a monopoly on wisdom and what was best for the district and not involving the Elected Board in a continuous dialogue and advisory capacity. The district would have been much better off for that collaboration.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is your understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open in the city?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Charter schools hurt SLPS by taking away funds from the schools and make it harder to educate the remaining students left behind. On the other hand, charter schools seem here to stay, and our goal should be to lobby that they have to be subject to the same rules we are, with respect to acceptance and expulsion of students, and academics. And that the traditional schools are treated fairly with respect to finances. Money to the charter school might be phased in, and if a student is expelled, remaining money should be returned to SLPS. SLPS should not be complicit in establishing charter schools except perhaps with collaboratives like we may have with KIPP.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our goal should be to offer such excellent education that parents don't feel that they children will get a better education in charter schools than they'd get in the SLPS.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SAB is currently developing a not for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network whose purpose will be to govern the lowest performing schools, possibly half of the district. The CPN will be empowered to contract with charter school operators to manage these schools. The elected school board will have an as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is a complicated issue. At first I was against it even though it seemed like a done deal, until Dr. Adams told the board in response to my question that it was initially his idea. Tho he may have been required to say that even if it wasn't, I trust his judgment. We have the right to end it after a year or two, I believe. We need metrics to see if it works and then we should decide. But with such a complicated issue, I think it's important to have an experienced thoughtful person like myself on the board to evaluate and help oversee this new and different experiment and experience.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Do you have any ideas to improve public confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I've always said that the district ultimately will have the public confidence and enrollment we've earned and deserved. And that will start with 3rd grade reading scores. If we don't solve that, we're not going anywhere good. For the 20 year period I've been on the board, 40% of third graders are still not reading at grade level. As long as that is true the district and the community are not going anywhere fast. When I recently ran for congress, third grade reading scores, rural, urban, and everyone in between was my number one issue and priority. And the key to changing that is a second qualified adult in the classroom, a certified TA, and I believe there are two different kinds. For those student falling behind, and behavior issues, and as Dr. Adams says, it just changes the culture of the classroom. During the 2017 mayor's race, I asked Dr. Adams how much this would cost. The answer was $12 million/year, and I think we need to go back to the community for a tax increase (about half or less of what we went for before, I believe) to do this. This needs to be our number 1 priority, and the community's.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Missouri legislature usually considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools, using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to their school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO OPPOSE THESE EFFORTS AND THAT WONT BE EASY. ELECTING REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHARE OUR VALUES WILL BE NECESSARY. THE CLEAN MISSOURI REDISTRICTING BILL MIGHT HELP.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">During the 2018 legislative session, an unsuccessful bill would have provided for the election of St. Louis school board members by sub-districts rather than at large. School board candidates would have to live in and would only represent a geographical area of the city. It will probably be filed again next year. Would you support or oppose this legislation?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I think this is a complicated issue. One might think that this might lead to better and more fair representation, but people I respect oppose it, so that is my inclination, though I will also keep an open mind if this issue comes before the elected board that I'm on and we decide to take a position on it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on the following legislation being considered by the Missouri legislature this year?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB130 Sponsor: Carter</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This bill specifies that the State Board of Education shall terminate the St. Louis City transitional school district if the district is classified as provisionally or fully accredited. Terminating the transitional school district shall return governance to the elected board of the school district. Since the SLPS is fully accredited this bill would have the effect of immediately returning the elected board to governance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FOR! WHAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR ALL THESE YEARS; LONG OVERDUE.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">HB629 Sponsor: Quade</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires specified charter school applications that are approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) to not become effective until approved by the voters of the district in which the charter school is located. The bill requires that the charter approval be submitted to the voters of the district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than 60 days away, at a special election. A majority vote is required for approval of the charter school application.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUNDS GOOD FOR US</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet schools?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I like them. We seem to need more of them.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood schools?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I like them. I think we should have more of them. I think parents like them too.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What ideas do you have to help students learn?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It's about third grade reading scores and a second qualified adults in early childhood classrooms, as discussed above. I've also long been (since before I was elected in 1997) of computer based learning, especially for students behind in their grade level studies and have often advocated for us to make more use of this, but hardware and software are expensive, but we should find a way.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What do you think about the MAP tests and standardized tests in general?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I know people object to use teaching to the test, but if we have to teach to something, teaching to recognized skills is a place to start. Other values are important, but our kids have to learn reading and math, and we have to know where they're at so we know where to improve, and well-designed standardized tests need to be part of that. One component of improving early childhood reading has always been regular testing to determine who is improving and who falling behind and who need intervention to catch up.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Approximately 70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It'd be nice if we could recognize and improve this before they graduate. Better reading by third grade will certainly help, and programmed computer-based learning. Skills tests before been allowed to graduate are controversial, but I'd be open to it if students without the skills are given intervention to acquire them.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the past the elected school board has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Oh, my. The Post Dispatch and other media has not been fair to the public schools since the Post supported the Slay slate of candidates and couldn't get themselves to admit they were terrible (and The American since Donald Suggs supported the takeover), either in news or editorial, and don't believe anyone who tells you they're independent. Goodness knows I've become a pest trying to educate the Post on this issue, and have failed.. I think the elected board should concentrate on the achievement of our students, and when that is successful, the media will acknowledge that and the job we're doing. It's not about the people we elect, it's about what they do once elected.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-51196850219200328482019-03-14T08:04:00.002-05:002019-03-14T11:07:11.160-05:00Update on SLPS and Candidates (via Susan Turk) - March 13, 2019<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Bill Haas Running for President, Candidate Fund Raising and More School Board Candidate Q & As</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>By Susan Turk</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">March 13, 2019—St. Louis—At the League of Women Voters/ St. Louis Public Schools Foundation sponsored school board candidate forum this evening at Central VPA High School, candidate Bill Haas announced that he is running in the democratic primary for president of the United States. Haas will be holding campaign events in New Hampshire and Iowa during the last week of March. You can learn more about Bill’s presidential campaign at <a href="https://votebillhaas.com/"><span class="s2">https://votebillhaas.com/</span></a>. Bill welcomed the audience to help with his campaign.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The one drawback is that Bill also announced that if he wins the Democratic Party nomination and then the general election against Donald Trump, that he would very likely name SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams as his secretary of education. So, if Bill is re-elected to the Board Of Education on April 2nd and then wins the presidential race, that we would be losing both him and Dr. Adams in 2 years.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>School Board Candidate Fund Raising</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Forty day before the election campaign finance reports show that of the seven candidates running for school board in the April 2nd election, only one of them has raised significant money, Tracee Miller. The others hover around the $500 mark.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Miller has raised a whopping $5,100 mostly from friends and relatives out of state. Her largest campaign donor was Leadership for Educational Equity, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Teach for America corps members and alumni to grow as leaders in their communities. One of the ways they do this is by helping to fund former Teacher for America corps members to run for school board. They have donated $1,000 to Tracee Miller. This puts Miller in the position of being able to afford yard signs which have already begun to crop up around the city and campaign literature.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Candidate Questionnaires. </b></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Click to view their responses to the survey.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/barbara-anderson-responses-to-slps.html" target="_blank">Barbara Anderson</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/louis-cross-response-to-slps-candidate.html" target="_blank">Louis Cross</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/bill-haas-responses-to-slps-candidate.html" target="_blank">Bill Haas</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/adam-layne-responses-to-slps-candidate.html" target="_blank">Adam Layne</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/daniel-mcready-slps-candidate-responses.html" target="_blank">Daniel McCready</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/david-meredith-response-to-slps.html" target="_blank">David Meredith</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://stlouisschoolsproject.blogspot.com/2019/03/tracee-miller-response-to-slps.html" target="_blank">Tracee Miller</a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s2">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Calendar</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">March 14 2019, Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">March 25, 2019, Monday, Young Democrats School Board Candidate forum, Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 6:30 p.m.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">April 2, 2019, Tuesday, School Board Election. Remember to vote!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Please Subscribe to the SLS Watch.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you have never subscribed because friends have forwarded The Watch to you, please consider subscribing now. Internet newsletter mailing and management services are not free. The Watch has always concentrated its efforts on getting you the news and analysis of the SLPS that you value rather than on keeping itself in the black. But in order to pay our bills, we do need your subscription. For a dollar a month, you will get news, opinion, and analysis that you won't see elsewhere in the media. Please write a check today.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The St. Louis Schools Watch was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St Louis, MO 63118</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-19277298056812524992019-02-18T09:16:00.000-06:002019-02-18T09:16:55.162-06:00St Louis Public Schools: Salary Dispute between Teachers Unions and Special Administrative Board going to arbitration. Is a strike coming to St Louis? Update via St Louis Schools Watch, Susan Turk
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<span class="s1"><i>St. Louis Schools Watch</i></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">__________________________________________________________________ </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><b>City Teachers’ Union and District Management Set for Trial</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">By Susan Turk</span></div>
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<span class="s1">St. Louis -- February 12, 2019</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">An arbitrator for the Class Action Grievance filed by the St. Louis Public Schools Teachers’ Union in 2018 has ruled in the teachers’ favor, announcing the dispute over salary disparities is “arbitrable”. As a result, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 420, which represents more than 2,000 workers, will go to trial against the St. Louis Public School (SLPS) District as early as February 18, 2019.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">“These salary disparities involve public monies. Taxpayers ought to know that the state appointed Special Administrative Board (SAB) is cheating its employees. We have been asking them to stop for the past 18 months, to no avail. Finally, we are going to trial, and we are confident of victory,” said Sally Topping, President of the AFT Local 420 affiliate.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Arbitrators Gerald Fowler and Mark Suardi will decide whether nearly 1,000 employees must be given salary raises on par with others being paid more, yet holding the same years of service and/or educational level. The teachers’ union found pay discrepancies ranging from the average of $4,000 to as high as $17,000. Topping brought this to the District’s attention shortly after taking office in July 2017.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Since filing this grievance, Local 420 President Topping said that school district management has made blatant attempts to intimidate employees and deny their right to fair and equitable salaries and treatment. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">“The SAB has attempted to intimidate members by sending threatening letters and withholding their raises while at the same time increasing healthcare costs. Our Union mission is to fight for fairness. We have told the Arbitrators that we are ready for trial as soon as possible,” Topping said.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), representing 1.7 million members nation-wide, is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for students, their families and communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">The local affiliate of the AFT, St. Louis Local 420, represents more than 2,000 St. Louis Public School teachers and school-related personnel.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Soon after the SAB was instated in 2007, SAB members, especially Chairman Rick Sullivan expressed opposition to the traditional method of compensating staff by seniority. Sullivan wanted to reward staff based on merit. By 2011, the administration began unilaterally implementing pay policy which diverged from the policy statement, aka contract agreement they had with Local 420. The union is not trying to recoup pay discrepancies going back that far however. They are just asking for parity since 2017.</span></div>
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<span class="s2"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>School Board Election April 2</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Having just had a school board election in November of 2018 it is hard to believe there is another one coming up in April. But thanks to the machinations of the Missouri Legislature, there is.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Board Members Katie Wessling and Charli Cooksey are not running for re-election so their two seats both need to be filled. Seven people have filed for the two seats. They are, in the order they will appear on the ballot; Adam Layne, David Merideth, Louis Cross, III, Barbara Anderson, William Haas, Tracee Miller, and Daniel McCready.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Several of the candidates will be familiar. Adam Layne ran last November and came in 4</span><span class="s3"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1"> in a field of 7. David Merideth is an SLPS parent and member of the district Parent Action Council. Louis Cross is a retired SLPS school counselor and former president of Local 420. Barbara Anderson is a retired SLPS principal from Lexington Elementary School. William Haas served on the Board of Education for 4 terms<b>,</b> coming in 3</span><span class="s3"><sup>rd</sup></span><span class="s1"> in the November 2018 election, and is hoping to regain a seat on the board. Trace Miller taught for SLPS through the Teach for America Program but is currently employed by the online Khan Academy and Blueprint Schools Network, a turnaround company. Daniel McCready taught in the Cincinnati Public Schools through the Teach for America Program before moving to St. Louis and earning a masters in social work. McCready currently serves as a school counselor and social worker at the KIPP Victory Academy charter school on Arcade.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">There will be a candidate forum on Wednesday, March 13</span><span class="s3"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="s1">, location to be determined.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">_____________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Legislative Watch</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">HB361 would move all school board elections in the state to November in even years. That would dilute the attention of voters regarding school board elections. School board candidates would be competing with presidential, congressional, senatorial and state government races for attention including judges and propositions. It would also make it harder for school board candidates to raise campaign funds because of that competition. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Rebecca Roeber (R-34).</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">The argument for the bill is that more people would vote in school board elections. But they could be less well informed voters because of the competition with offices higher up the ballot, That may well be the true impetus for the bill, making it easier for candidates who are well funded because they are favored by wealthy interests to get voters attentions and win races, making it harder for concerned citizens and mere parents, to be elected to boards of education. Printing and advertising rates are also higher during the general election season. Also, it will be more difficult for candidates to raise money when voters have so many more candidates to consider supporting.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Having to campaign for school board during a heated presidential or gubernatorial or congressional race will not be easy. Similar legislation failed last year but this bill is moving. It has already had a hearing. Please contact your legislators about this bill.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The editor encourages readers to forward <i>The Watch</i> 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.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">............................................................................................................................................</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Questions for <i>The Watch</i>? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s4">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1">……………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Calendar</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>February 21 2019,</b> Thursday, monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>February 26, 2019</b> Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., regular monthly work session of the Board of Education, Metro HS, 4015 McPherson Ave,, St. Louis, MO 63108, 6:30 p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>March 13, 2019</b>, Wednesday, League of Women Voters SLPS Board of Education Candidate Forum, time and place to be determined</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b>April 2, 2019</b>, Tuesday, School Board Election. Remember to vote!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">………………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Please Subscribe to the <i>SLS Watch.</i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">If you have never subscribed because friends have forwarded <i>The Watch</i> to you, please consider subscribing now. Internet newsletter mailing and management services are not free. <i>The Watch</i> has always concentrated its efforts on getting you the news and analysis of the SLPS that you value rather than on keeping itself in the black. But in order to pay our bills, we do need your subscription. For a dollar a month, you will get news, opinion, and analysis that you won't see elsewhere in the media. Please write a check today.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">……………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>The St. Louis Schools Watch</i> was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Our mailing address is:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Common Sense Publishing</span></div>
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<span class="s1">P.O. Box 1983</span></div>
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<span class="s1">St Louis, MO 63118</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-60562410371863526112018-10-29T11:02:00.001-05:002018-10-29T11:02:24.537-05:00St Louis Public Schools Elected Board Candidates: More information on candidates from Susan Turk (October 25, 2018)<div class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode: char;">
<b><i><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></i></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">____________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode: char;">
<b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Three Candidates Who Did Not Respond to Our Survey</span></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By Susan Turk<br />
<br />
October 25, 2018--St. Louis— As we wrote in the previous issue, the November 6,
2018 school board election is potentially the most significant one since the
2007 state takeover of the SLPS and instatement of the appointed SAB. I write
this because it is widely believed that governance is going to be returned to
the elected school board in the near future. The SAB’s current three year
term ends June 30, 2019. Consequently seven people have filed to run for the
two seats in contention. The candidates are incumbents Donna Jones and Bill
Haas and five challengers, former SLPS administrator Joyce Roberts, Adam Layne,
Jared Opsal, Cydney Johnson and former school board member David Jackson. In
contrast, four years ago when there was no buzz about a potential elected board
return to governance, only Jones and Haas filed, and not having challengers,
were automatically re-elected.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the elected board will be returned
to governance. But one or two of the candidates appear to have sprung from the
corporate/not for profit community network tied into the Regional Business
Council. They would not be running were it not for behind the scenes assurances
that the elected board is being returned to governance. Civic Progress no longer
seems to be in the saddle. Many of those elite companies have been bought
by out of town or multi-national corporations, so they no longer sweat the
small change local power battles.<br />
<br />
Between the November 2018 and April 2019 school board elections, four new
people could be elected to the board of education. If all of them were
corporate community sponsored operatives, everything that the SLPS community
has struggled to maintain, during the eleven years of appointed board
governance, most of all an elected board representing SLPS parents, would be
for naught. If the elected board becomes a mere subsidiary of the RBC,
the aspirations of city students, parents, and teachers for much needed
community based school reform will die.<br />
<br />
Three school board candidates for the November 6, 2018 election did not return <i>SLS
Watch</i> candidate questionnaires; Adam Layne, Cydney Johnson and David
Jackson.<br />
<br />
They did send in answers to the 7<sup>th</sup> ward candidate
questionnaire which you can read at <a href="https://wordpress.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=febf37d8c53a262d3cca40d04&id=9f91da13a7&e=3fe73d6d79"><span style="color: #2baadf;">https://7thwardstlouis.wordpress.com/2018/10/07/school-board-candidate-views-goals-survey-answers-now-posted/</span></a><br />
<br />
<i>The Watch</i> has researched them and can report that <b>Adam Layne</b> is
a former Teach for America corps member who taught math in the SLPS at Clyde C.
Miller Academy for 3 years. He is currently the Director of Inspire STL.
He succeeded Board Member Charli Cooksey in that job. Inspire is a not for
profit company which identifies academically promising middle school students
in the SLPS and charter schools and provides them with resources to help them
succeed academically. Inspire provides tutors, counselors and whatever other
means of support may be needed for their student clients. Inspire assists
them in applying to rigorous college prep high schools and eventually
college. About half of their clients attend Metro and McKinley in the
SLPS but they also direct about half of their clients to private and parochial
high schools, Layne also serves on the board of directors for Kairos Academy,
the charter school which Mayor Krewson’s son Jack is planning to open for the
2019 school year.<br />
<br />
At a recent ward meeting, he stated that there were only 3 SLPS high schools
that parents thought were worth sending their children to, the small college
prep high schools, Metro, Mckinley and Collegiate. He stated that the other 12
high schools were not good enough, were not quality programs. That is an
outlook held by parents striving to send their children to elite colleges and
universities. He definitely has an elitist bias and does not believe that
parents choose to send their children to any of the other high schools. But
there are more than 5,300 high school students in the SLPS and many parents
would disagree with that assessment, especially parents of students in Gateway,
Soldan, Clyde C. Miller, and Central VPS, among others.<br />
<br />
Layne says he is opposed to the Consortium Partnership Network, but he believes
the intent of the people who are planning it is pure and he wants to learn more
about it. He has also expressed openness to having board members elected
by sub-districts.<br />
<br />
As of September 30<sup>th</sup>, his campaign had only raised $395.<br />
<br />
Layne is working for two ventures which drain students from SLPS making it
harder for SLPS to succeed. Both Inspire, and Kairos when it opens, remove
promising SLPS students making it harder for the district to meet accreditation
requirements and depleting funding from the district. Why then is
he running for the SLPS school board? At candidate forums he has
responded that he thought there should be a black man on the Kairos Academy
board and he was the only one. But he also said at the 8<sup>th</sup> ward
meeting that he thought Kairos needed an educator on their board and he was the
only one. Either way, if he were to serve on both a charter school board and
the SLPS board of education at the same time, it would be a conflict of
interest and he did not answer the question about why he is running despite the
conflict. He simply advocated for why he is on the Kairos board and the
good work that Inspire does.<br />
<br />
Layne may possibly be the beneficiary of last minute financial assistance from
Teach for America as Board Member Charli Cooksey was. She received
$60,000 in the final weeks of her campaign blindsiding other candidates and
enabling her to send out three citywide mailers attracting low information
voters to vote for her. Cooksey was the highest vote getter when she ran in
2017. If Layne receives the same late infusion of T4A funding, he may
very well win a seat on the board.<br />
<br />
<b>Cydney Johnson</b> has run for two other offices in the past year and a
half. He ran for 27<sup>th</sup> ward alderman in 2017 but was not
listed on the ballot for either the primary or general election and in the
August 2018 democratic primary for state representative in 76<sup>th</sup> house
district where he placed fourth among four candidates. For both races he
filed limited activity reports for his campaign meaning that he never raised or
spent more than $500 in a quarter. He started the current reporting
period with $300, took in $522 and spent $475 leaving him with about $351 on
September 30<sup>th</sup>. He also had an outstanding debt of $3,614.48.<br />
<br />
When this reporter interviewed Johnson by phone he seemed uninformed about
SLPS. His personal experience was with county schools through the
desegregation program and charter schools. Several of his younger
siblings currently attend charters. He has said that he thinks there should be
a young black man on the elected board and that he should represent that
demographic.<br />
<br />
He is an idealistic young man self-identifying as a democratic socialist.<br />
<br />
<b>David Jackson</b> served 2 terms on the elected board from April 2007
through April 2015. In 2015 he came in third behind the Teach for America
funded Chari Cooksey and well respected incumbent Katherine Wessling. He
attempted to regain a seat in 2017 but came in 6<sup>th</sup> in a field
of 7 candidates.<br />
<br />
Jackson did not complete a candidate questionnaire when he ran in 2017.
In declining he accused the editor of <i>The Watch</i> of being
biased and opinionated. After 24 years of SLPS activism, I admit to
having formed opinions based on observations. Despite those opinions, I
give the candidates a forum for expressing themselves directly to readers such
as yourselves whereby you can form your own opinions. Having forfeited that
opportunity, Jackson leaves you subject to what I report and analyze.<br />
<br />
Having known Jackson for eleven years, eight of which he served on the board, I
can say that he is a charming, amiable man who runs an orderly meeting.
But, he also demonstrates bullying tendencies. He called for the elected board
to “cease and decease” three months after he was elected because of the SAB’s
authorization. The date that the SAB would take over was well known during his
election campaign so why did he run if he was going to call for the cessation
of the board so soon after his election? Was it because his fellow board
members did not give in to his demand to immediately elect him board president?
Soon after his election in April of 2007, Jackson let it be known that he
intended to throw his hat in the ring for election as board president that June
at the annual election of board officers. Board members generally do not do
that. They become acquainted with board procedures and sometimes run for
board offices after being on the board for a year. Jackson was adamant
not only about running immediately, but winning the board presidency. He
threatened to resign from the board if his fellow members did not pledge to
elect him president. This precipitated a crisis because if a board member
resigns, the mayor gets to appoint the replacement. The rest of the board
did not want to give Mayor Slay that opportunity. Peter Downs, who had been
elected in 2006, was planning to run for board president in 2007. The
rest of the board supported his candidacy. Jackson forced negotiations and the
promise of being elected board vice president to assuage his ambition.<br />
<br />
Jackson was eventually elected board president in 2013. He clearly enjoyed the
prestige the title afforded him and frequently, commendably traveled to
Jefferson City at his own expense to lobby the legislature and the state board
of education about returning power to the elected board. But he did not
understand the need to organize the community to apply political pressure on
politicians. Jackson exhibited excessive confidence in his own abilities
to sway political opinion. Each time the SAB’s term was up for renewal he
was certain it would not be extended because he personally had lobbied those in
power to end it. Although Jackson has never been successful in
influencing the return of power to the elected board, he has never conceded
that he alone cannot be effective. His sole ambition appears to be to hold the
title of president of the board of education. To achieve that single minded
goal he supported his friend Bill Monroe’s candidacy for the board. The
prestige meant a great deal to him. He had a hard time accepting his election
loss in 2015 and went off the reservation, so to speak, harassing Board Member
Susan Jones after she succeeded him as board president trying to convince her
that she needed his constant advice and could not fulfill the responsibilities
of the presidency without his oversight. She finally blocked his repeated
calls to her cell phone.<br />
<br />
To honor him for his service after he lost the 2015 election, Board Member
Katherine Wessling proposed that the board provide Jackson with the honorary
title of community liaison for the board and the board approved it.
Within a month, Board Member Bill Monroe submitted a resolution to the board of
a four page job description for an executive community liaison who would
actually be a shadow board president. The detailed job description, had it been
approved, would have made it impossible for the president of the board to
perform her duties without Jackson’s involvement. It was never voted on.
Five months after Jackson was approved to be the board’s community liaison, he
began speaking publicly claiming to represent the board without their
instruction to do so and his title and position of community liaison were
revoked. Jackson subsequently demanded that the board retract that vote and
threatened to file a lawsuit against the board seeking monetary damages if they
did not, but did not carry through with the threat. Afterwards, however, he
frequently publicly remarked that he no longer supported the return of the
elected board to governance. It appeared that if Jackson was not a member of
the board and especially if he was not leading the board that its existence
served no purpose for him. This was reminiscent of his behavior calling
for the board to cease and decease immediately after the SAB was instated in
2007.<br />
<br />
The following is from Jackson’s Facebook page.<br />
<br />
“The Missouri State Board of Education has made it clear, on June 30, 2019 the
City of St. Louis Transitional School District and its governing authority, the
Special Administrative Board will cease and decease its operations and
governance of the school system and will convert back to the local Board of
Education for governance.”<br />
<br />
The above statement is completely inaccurate. Jackson’s statements are not
always based on facts.<br />
<br />
The facts are that the state board of education has not made a decision about
the future of the SAB and SLPS governance. The current term of the SAB ends
June 30, 2019 but the state board has not decided whether to reappoint the SAB
to yet another three year term or not. While there are indications that
the state board is considering returning the elected board to governance, they
have also stated reservations about doing so. While it is known that some of
the current SAB would like to retire, the state board of education has the
option of appointing new SAB members to replace them. A decision may be made
this winter.<br />
<br />
During the 2017 campaign’s League of Women Voters Candidate Forum, Jackson
exaggerated his influence with the SAB and Dr. Adams. Jackson took credit for
things the district accomplished that the elected board had no power over and
dismissed the role fellow board members played in things they did, as if he
alone was responsible for their accomplishments. He made similar claims
at the 8thward meeting last week. On his current campaign literature
Jackson takes credit for former DESE Commissioner Chris Nicastro’s decision to
retire in 2014. He seems to have an inflated opinion of the effect of his actions
on people and institutions.<br />
<br />
Jackson also disparages the SLPS for being fully accredited when about half of
the schools do not meet the criteria for individual accreditation by building.
Jackson has failed to understand that accreditation is a moving target.
Every five years, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education changes
the criteria for district accreditation. Under the current standards the
SLPS meets the requirements to be fully accredited whether Jackson likes it or
not. He is correct in being concerned that there is room for improvement
but given the punitive nature of the impact of losing accreditation his
protestation regarding the district’s accreditation status is not helpful.<br />
<br />
Jackson has not filed his campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics
Commission. City school board candidates are not required to do that but most
of them do. If they don’t the only way the public can become aware of
candidate fund raising and spending for school board races is to visit the city
board of election commissioners’ office at Olive and Tucker in person and ask
to read their campaign finance reports which are required to be filed
there.<br />
<br />
Most of the seven candidates are highly qualified to serve on the board of
education. Voters have a lot to consider this year. Please avail your selves of
all resources at your disposal to educate your selves before November 6<sup>th</sup>.<br />
The following link is for the League of Women Voters candidate forum from
October 24<sup>th</sup>.<br />
<span style="color: #2baadf;"><a href="https://wordpress.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=febf37d8c53a262d3cca40d04&id=cdc3fb2e42&e=3fe73d6d79" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/lwvstl/posts/2139883989379856</a></span></span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-46005524658763080422018-10-17T13:18:00.003-05:002018-10-17T13:18:58.760-05:00In the wake of Indigenous Peoples' Day recognition, Buder Center for American Indian Studies on the Importance of Recognizing that Our Institutions are all on Stolen Land...
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Acknowledging Native History in
Missouri<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By Molly Tovar and Chris Leiker<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take what you please for my Grand
Father since you ask me for it.… I have done all that you have asked … I give
almost all my land to my Great Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—Pawhuska, Chief of the Great Osages, November 10, 1808<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On an autumn day in 1808, elders of the Osage Nation gathered at Fort
Clark, a new outpost overlooking the Missouri River near what is now Sibley,
Missouri. The council assembled to consider a treaty with the young American
republic, a treaty requiring them to give up over 52 million acres of Osage
land east of the fort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The treaty was proffered with a threat: sign or become enemies of the
United States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Earlier in 1808, Osage interactions with encroaching settlers prompted Meriwether
Lewis to act. Then the governor of the Louisiana Territory, Lewis encouraged
neighboring nations to “wage war against [the Osage] … to cut them off
completely or drive them from their country.” The prospect of war certainly
colored the council’s deliberations on the treaty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Over 100 elders signed it, ceding most of what is now Missouri and half
of what would become Arkansas. In exchange, the Osage received the promise of
the republic’s protection, $1,200 in cash, and merchandise of similar value.
The compensation amounted to .005 cents per acre. In accepting the terms, the
Osage evaded annihilation by consenting to removal. Similar treaties were
presented to the Missouria, the Oto, and other peoples, with the same result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Acknowledging
History, Acknowledging Loss<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
In the Canada, Australia, and
elsewhere, institutions routinely open public events with indigenous
acknowledgment statements. “The purpose of these statements,” wrote Delilah
Friedler in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teen Vogue</i>, “is to show
respect for indigenous peoples and recognize their enduring relationship to the
land. Practicing acknowledgment can also raise awareness about histories that
are often suppressed or forgotten.”<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
Australian Parliament starts each workday with an acknowledgment. Northwestern
University, the University of Washington, and Arizona State University have
issued formal acknowledgments.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This fall, some 202 years after the 1808 Osage treaty, the Brown School
at Washington University began encouraging organizers to open</span> public events
by reading a short acknowledgement. The campus sits on land ceded in the
treaty, and the effort recognizes that the university community, as the
beneficiary of land acquisition, bears responsibility for preserving this
history and acknowledging harms. The <span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">effort
is designed to familiarize the community and visitors with Missouri’s
indigenous peoples, their cultures, and a history that reaches ten millennia
into the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Although organizers are free to
craft their own language or to forgo acknowledgment, sample statements are
available. The school has asked the university’s chancellor to encourage such
statements at the start of all on-campus events.<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">[Begin Text Box]<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sample Statements for Native Acknowledgment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Molly Tovar, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian
Studies, Washington University in St. Louis</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
1. [Organization name]
acknowledges that it is located on the ancestral lands of Native peoples who
were removed unjustly, and that this community is the beneficiary. We honor our
heritage of Native peoples and what they teach us about stewardship of the
earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.
We would like to acknowledge that [organization name] is located on the
traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Illini Confederacy.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="color: #222222;">We thank the Illini people for their hospitality
and support of our work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. The
process of knowing and acknowledging the ground beneath our feet is a way of
honoring and expressing gratitude for the people on this land before us. It
familiarizes <span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-highlight: white;">visitors
with the cultures and histories of Missouri’s indigenous tribes, as well as
with their ties in the St. Louis region.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4. </span>“I’d like to get started by acknowledging the
indigenous culture of Missouri.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 31.0pt;">
5. “We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of
the Illini people.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 31.0pt;">
6. “I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being
held on the traditional lands of the Illini people, and pay my respect to
elders both past and present.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 31.0pt;">
7. “I want to respectfully acknowledge the Illini people,
who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 31.0pt;">
8. “We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land
on which we gather is the occupied/unceded/seized territory of the Illini people.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 31.0pt;">
9. “I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are in St.
Louis, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Illini people.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">[End Text Box]<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">History’s Weight<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Histories typically
omit or downplay the seizure of Native lands and attending harms, but ancestral
ties persist, and the losses remain vivid in the hearts of Native peoples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2009, the Osage
Nation purchased the last of the once numerous prehistoric Native structures
that gave St. Louis the nickname Mound City. Captured by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Osage News</i>, the comments of then Chief John Gray illustrate the
impetus for acknowledging Native history in Missouri: <span style="color: black;">“Hundreds
of years of the Osage people’s past have simply been erased from the
landscape.… There is nothing we can do to bring back what was destroyed … but
the Nation can impact what happens to Sugarloaf Mound today and can help educate
Osages and the citizens of St. Louis about us and where they live.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-17013892101036208022018-10-17T12:37:00.001-05:002018-10-17T12:37:16.292-05:00Update on SLPS Schoolboard Elections - By Susan Turk
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
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<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">St. Louis Schools
Watch</span></u></i></b><b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">BOE Candidate Survey Responses for the
Nov. 6 2018 Election<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">By Susan Turk<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">October 10, 2018—St. Louis—The upcoming school board election is
potentially the most significant one since the 2007 state takeover of the SLPS
and instatement of the appointed Special Administrative Board. I write this
because it is widely believed that governance is going to be returned to the
elected school board in the near future. Consequently seven people have
filed to run for the two seats in contention. The candidates are incumbents
Donna Jones and Bill Haas and five challengers, former SLPS administrator Joyce
Roberts, Adam Layne, Jared Opsal, Cydney Johnson and former school board member
David Jackson. In contrast, four years ago on only Jones and Haas filed, and
not having challengers, were automatically re-elected.<br />
Of the 7 candidates, only 4 submitted responses to the <i>Watch</i> candidate
questionnaire but we have researched the other three and will report on them as
well.<br />
Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the elected board will be returned
to governance. The decision to terminate the transitional school district
superimposed on the SLPS and governed by the SAB is up to the discretion of the
state board of education. No sunset clause or criteria for termination of the
SAB and return of the elected board exists in state law. But a couple of the
candidates have oozed out of the woodwork so to speak to run, the woodwork
being the corporate/not for profit community network under the influence of the
Regional Business Council. Civic Progress no longer seems to be in the
saddle. So many of those elite companies have been bought by out of town
and multi-national corporations that, they no longer sweat the small change
local power battles.<br />
Between the November 2018 and April 2019 school board elections, four new
people could be elected to the board of education. If a majority of them were
to be corporate community sponsored operatives, everything that the SLPS
community has struggled to maintain, during the eleven years of appointed board
governance, an elected board representing SLPS parents, would be for
naught. If the elected board becomes a mere subsidiary of the RBC, the
aspirations of city students, parents, and teachers for much needed community
based school reform will die.<br />
With that in mind, the <i>Watch</i> presents the answers provided by
four of the November school board election candidates in the order they were
received. Due to length, they will be sent in two issues today and
tomorrow. Reporting on the three candidates who did not respond to our
questionnaire will follow. If you want to see and question the candidates
in person, the League of Women Voters and the St. Louis Public Schools
Foundation are sponsoring a school board candidate forum, Wednesday, October
24, 2018 at Metro H.S., 4015 McPherson Avenue, 63108 at 6:30 p.m.<br />
Please vote on November 6<sup>th</sup> and encourage everyone you know to
vote.<br />
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Bill
Haas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">November 2018
School Board Candidates Questionnaire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please supply a
brief autobiography. (one paragraph)</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
I'm a semi-retired corporate lawyer with 20 years college and secondary
teaching experience, currently a daily substitute for Ritenour Schools. I've
served four terms on the St.Louis School Board. Among my accomplishments are
the 9th grade dropout prevention initiative in 2001 or so which people credit
with preventing our losing accreditation, working with Mary Armstrong to settle
teacher negotiations in 2005 when the Slay slate of school board members was
trying to break the union, initiating the audit of the St. Louis Schools from
my friend Tom Schweich's Auditor's office, and this past school year initiating
a pilot program of a second qualified adult in early child classrooms to
improve reading scores, and other initiatives to improve early childhood reading.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The SLPS is currently governed by an
appointed Special Administrative Board, whose current term ends June, 30
2019. The elected board has limited responsibilities. While possible, it
is not guaranteed the elected board will return to power during the term for
which you are running because the state board of education has the authority to
extend the SAB for as many terms as they wish. Why, then, are you running</span>?<br />
<br />
I ran in 2010, after 5 year hiatus from the board, because I thought we would
be regaining governing then, and was disappointed that we didn't. I think the
writing is on the wall that we'll be regaining governance by June of 2019 at
the latest.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you believe the elected board will
return to power, please explain why.</span>The SAB is tired of governance, as
is the community of their governance, and after their recent hearings, they
recommended return of governance, and I think the state board is prepared to
follow that recommendation.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What is your understanding of the role
of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span><br />
<br />
A board member sets policy (which means different things at different times),
hires the superintendent, helps set goals for the district, and dialogues with
the superintendent about means to reach those goals. The superintendent's role
is to implement those plans to achieve those goals and generally administer the
day to day operations of the district.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Are you the parent/grandparent of
children who currently attend or recently graduated from the SLPS?</span><br />
<br />
No<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Did you attend and/or graduate from the
SLPS?</span><br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Have you ever worked for the SLPS or
are you related to a current or former employee? Are you now or have you in the
past served as a board member?</span><br />
<br />
I was a substitute for the district for the 1991-1992 school year, and again
for the school years between 2007 and 2010 after I went back on the board. And
was a board member from 1997-2005, and again 2010 to present.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you are not an SLPS parent,
graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any
other connection to the SLPS?</span><br />
<br />
n/a<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts about the
Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span><br />
<br />
Dont get me started. Ok, you've got me started. I think they're well meaning
and have done the best they can. It seems obvious that the SAB has been run by
Rick Sullivan and Richard Gaines. I think 10 years is too long to have been in
governance, but that is not their fault. Student achievement was essentially
flat under them and I'm not sure what to make of that because I have high
respect for Dr. Adams, so I can only assume that achievement was not an issue
the SAB excelled in promoting. I think I would fault the SAB most on thinking
they had a monopoly on wisdom and what was best for the district and not
involving the Elected Board in a continuous dialogue and advisory capacity. The
district would have been much better off for that collaboration.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What is your understanding of the
impact of charter schools on the SLPS? Should more charter schools open
in the city?</span><br />
<br />
Charter schools hurt SLPS by taking away funds from the schools and make it
harder to educate the remaining students left behind. On the other hand,
charter schools seem here to stay, and our goal should be to lobby that they have
to be subject to the same rules we are, with respect to acceptance and
expulsion of students, and academics. And that the traditional schools are
treated fairly with respect to finances. Money to the charter school might be
phased in, and if a student is expelled, remaining money should be returned to
SLPS. SLPS should not be complicit in establishing charter schools except
perhaps with collaboratives like we may have with KIPP.<br />
Our goal should be to offer such excellent education that parents don't feel
that they children will get a better education in charter schools than they'd
get in the SLPS.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The SAB is currently developing a not
for profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network whose purpose
will be to govern the lowest performing schools, possibly half of the district.
The CPN will be empowered to contract with charter school operators to
manage these schools. The elected school board will have an as yet undefined
oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of the schools they
are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span><br />
<br />
This is a complicated issue. At first I was against it even though it seemed
like a done deal, until Dr. Adams told the board in response to my question
that it was initially his idea. Tho he may have been required to say that even
if it wasn't, I trust his judgment. We have the right to end it after a year or
two, I believe. We need metrics to see if it works and then we should decide.
But with such a complicated issue, I think it's important to have an
experienced thoughtful person like myself on the board to evaluate and help
oversee this new and different experiment and experience.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Do you have any ideas to improve public
confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span><br />
I've always said that the district ultimately will have the public confidence
and enrollment we've earned and deserved. And that will start with 3rd grade
reading scores. If we don't solve that, we're not going anywhere good. For the
20 year period I've been on the board, 40% of third graders are still not
reading at grade level. As long as that is true the district and the community
are not going anywhere fast. When I recently ran for congress, third grade
reading scores, rural, urban, and everyone in between was my number one issue
and priority. And the key to changing that is a second qualified adult in the
classroom, a certified TA, and I believe there are two different kinds. For
those student falling behind, and behavior issues, and as Dr. Adams says, it
just changes the culture of the classroom. During the 2017 mayor's race, I
asked Dr. Adams how much this would cost. The answer was $12 million/year, and
I think we need to go back to the community for a tax increase (about half or
less of what we went for before, I believe) to do this. This needs to be our
number 1 priority, and the community's.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Missouri legislature usually
considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools,
using vouchers, education savings accounts or tuition tax credits making it
possible for students to attend private schools using public money or depriving
the state of general revenue so parents could use their own money for private
tuition without suffering tax penalties. The Trump administration promotes
school choice and may re-allocate Title I funding away from providing low
income children with extra resources to master reading and math toward
expanding school choice options. School board members will be faced with an
uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to their school
district. How will you respond to these challenging developments?</span><br />
<br />
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO OPPOSE THESE EFFORTS AND THAT WONT BE EASY.
ELECTING REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHARE OUR VALUES WILL BE NECESSARY. THE CLEAN
MISSOURI REDISTRICTING BILL MIGHT HELP.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">During the 2018 legislative session, an
unsuccessful bill would have provided for the election of St. Louis school
board members by sub-districts rather than at large. School board candidates
would have to live in and would only represent a geographical area of the city.
It will probably be filed again next year. Would you support or oppose this
legislation?</span><br />
<br />
I think this is a complicated issue. One might think that this might lead to
better and more fair representation, but people I respect oppose it, so that is
my inclination, though I will also keep an open mind if this issue comes before
the elected board that I'm on and we decide to take a position on it.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet
schools?</span><br />
<br />
I like them. We seem to need more of them.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood
schools?</span><br />
<br />
I like them. I think we should have more of them. I think parents like them
too.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What ideas do you have to help students
learn?</span><br />
<br />
It's about third grade reading scores and a second qualified adults in early
childhood classrooms, as discussed above. I've also long been (since before I
was elected in 1997) of computer based learning, especially for students behind
in their grade level studies and have often advocated for us to make more use
of this, but hardware and software are expensive, but we should find a way.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What do you think about the MAP tests
and standardized tests in general?</span><br />
<br />
I know people object to use teaching to the test, but if we have to teach to
something, teaching to recognized skills is a place to start. Other values are
important, but our kids have to learn reading and math, and we have to know
where they're at so we know where to improve, and well-designed standardized
tests need to be part of that. One component of improving early childhood
reading has always been regular testing to determine who is improving and who
falling behind and who need intervention to catch up.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Approximately 70% of SLPS high school
graduates who enroll in college must take remedial courses. What policies
would you promote to lower this statistic?</span><br />
<br />
It'd be nice if we could recognize and improve this before they graduate.
Better reading by third grade will certainly help, and programmed
computer-based learning. Skills tests before been allowed to graduate are
controversial, but I'd be open to it if students without the skills are given
intervention to acquire them.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the past the elected school board
has been criticized as dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated
this impression. How would your election to the board help to dispel this
inaccurate perception</span><u>.</u><br />
<br />
Oh, my. The Post Dispatch and other media has not been fair to the public
schools since the Post supported the Slay slate of candidates and couldn't get
themselves to admit they were terrible (and The American since Donald Suggs
supported the takeover), either in news or editorial, and don't believe anyone
who tells you they're independent. Goodness knows I've become a pest trying to
educate the Post on this issue, and have failed. I think the elected board
should concentrate on the achievement of our students, and when that is
successful, the media will acknowledge that and the job we're doing. It's not
about the people we elect, it's about what they do once elected.<br />
<br />
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joyce M. Roberts</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Autobiography</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
I am a candidate seeking to become a member of the St. Louis Public Schools
Elected Board of Education. My family and I have resided in the city of St.
Louis all our lives. I am also a homegrown product of the SLPS district, having
served as a Local 420 teacher, and principal of Pierre Laclede Elementary
recognized as Gold Star and Blue Ribbon awardee for consistent academic
achievement. The students consistently met and exceeded local, state and
federal benchmarks. I have served in a variety of capacities within the
district. My lived experience as a parent, teacher, principal, and central
office administrator (Director of Middle Schools, Assistant Superintendent of
Low-performing Schools, and Assistant Superintendent of Professional
Development) will bring a unique historical perspective and in-depth experience
at every level in the district to the Board. I have a track record of
excellence, accountability and a demonstrated willingness to build
relationships among all the stakeholders. I retired in 2005. In May, 2017
I received my D. Ed from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Why, then are you running?</span><br />
<br />
I love the work and I know schooling; what it feels like, sounds like and looks
like. I bring the experience of working within the district at every level from
teacher, principal, and central office. I have a demonstrated track record of
student achievement. I have credibility and understand how to effectively
utilize curriculum, instruction and assessment as the resources used by
teachers to meet the individual needs of the students they serve. I am an
influencer, a capacity builder, who can collaborate to identify appropriate
process, procedures to maintain accreditation and move the district forward.
These are key ingredients necessary to attract support from the
community/business/and families who want to return to the city for prospective
jobs and access to the plethora of museums, parks, art center, etc. St. Louis
is a great city to raise a family.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you believe the Elected Board will
return to power, please explain why?</span><br />
<br />
I believe the Elected Board will be returned to governance. The series of open
to the public School District Governance Task Force forums/meeting made it
clear that the citizenry of the City of St. Louis was adamant about the return
of local control. The community resoundingly agreed that the state had also
been clear, that upon the return of full accreditation the SLPS district would
be returned to local control without qualifiers.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What is your understanding of the role
of a school board member and what do you want to accomplish as a board member?</span><br />
<br />
The role of a school board member includes governance of the school district,
setting/adhering to policy, the supervision, evaluation, hiring and dismissing
of the superintendent along with the approval and expenditures of school
district funds. I want to be a board member that advocates for students and
their families. One that makes informed and data driven decisions that will
maintain accreditation, improve student achievement, increase district
attendance percentages and holds the superintendent accountable to leading,
guiding and serving as the instructional leader of the SLPS, ensuring that
students meet and exceed local, state and federal standards.<br />
Are you the parent/grandparent of children who currently attend or recently
graduated from the SLPS?<br />
My daughter is a product of the St. Louis Public Schools.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Did you attend and/or graduate from
SLPS?</span><br />
<br />
No<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Have you ever worked for the SLPS or
are you related to a current or former employee?</span><br />
<br />
Yes, I was a SLPS district employee for 34 years at every level of the
organization.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Are you now or have you in the past
served as a board member? </span><br />
<br />
No<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you are not an SLPS parent,
graduate, former employee or relation of one, or board member, do you have any
other connection to the SLPS?</span><br />
<br />
No<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts about the
Special Administrative Board which currently governs the district?</span><br />
<br />
The continuity of the Special Administrative Board provided direction and
support to the superintendent’s plan to earn full accreditation.</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your
understanding of the impact of charter schools on the SLPS?</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
Charter schools impact the funding stream that constitutes the budget
allocation the SLPS district’s ability to meet its fiduciary responsibility to
pay the bills. The budget is spent on resources for students, maintenance of
school buildings, salaries healthcare benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Should more charter schools open in the
city?</span><br />
<br />
There should be an accountability review of charter schools’ impact on student
academic standing/ performance to determine if they should open, remain open or
be made to close. So that the district never encounters another Imagine
Management Company. A firm that was responsible for 8 schools that performed
very poorly but were allowed to remain open to the detriment of students and
their families. Imagine was abruptly closed by DESE for systemic low
performance .<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The SAB is currently developing a
not-for-profit corporation called the Consortium Partnership Network whose purpose
will be to govern the lowest performing schools, possibly half of the district.
The CPN will be empowered to contract with charter school operators to manage
these schools. If returned to governance, the Elected School Board will have an
as yet undefined oversight role regarding the CPN but no direct oversight of
the schools they are assigned. What are your thoughts on this?</span><br />
<br />
I believe that there should be no decision regarding the creation of a
Consortium Partnership Network prior to the reinstatement of the SLPS Elected
Board. The currently identified low-performing schools were factored into the
determination made by DESE to approve the district as a fully accredited
entity. These schools provided data that supported the decision to grant
accreditation. We must review the data to determine if this is indeed a sound
decision in the best interest of the students and their families. The
Superintendent will continue to ensure that the proven strategies implemented
to guide the district forward to accreditation remain intact.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Do you have any ideas to improve public
confidence in SLPS and improve enrollment?</span><br />
<br />
I believe that the Elected Board should take full control of the narrative of
the SLPS and communicate directly to students, parents and the community at
large. We begin by simply communicating that there is #NO US without #U and
these are the specific steps we will take to earn your trust and confidence and
maintain a strong united SLPS. Let’s begin by collectively agreeing to message
and implement strategies aimed at getting all students to school every day and
on time #ATTENDANCEPLEDGE (bumper stickers, student/parent buttons, community
billboards, challenges from radio, TV, Greek organizations, businesses, bus
signs, etc.) and Achievement and Attitude as our guiding principles. Everything
done in the school district will support these tenets.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Missouri legislature usually
considers bills that would expand school choice by expanding charter schools
using public money or depriving the state of general revenue so parents could
use their own money for private tuition without suffering tax penalties. The
Trump administration promotes school choice and may re-allocate Title1 funding
away from providing low income children with extra resources to master reading
and math toward expanding school choice options. School board members will be
faced with an uphill battle in a struggle to attract and retain students to
their school district. How will you respond to these challenging developments? </span><br />
<br />
I will advocate and work to demonstrate that every school is a “quality” school
and one in which any parent would be willing and proud to enroll their child.</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the 2018
legislative session, an unsuccessful bill would have provided for the election
of St. Louis school board members by sub-districts rather than at large. School
board candidates would have to live in and would only represent a geographical
area of the city. It will probably be filed again next year. Would you support
or oppose this legislation?</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
The school board is responsible and accountable to all St. Louis children,
parents and the community. To represent only the residents of a geographical
area is a subtle form of defacto segregation.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts on SLPS magnet
schools?</span><br />
<br />
Magnet schools were established specifically as a part of the SLPS
Desegregation Plan and designed specifically to attract white students to city
schools while denying access to other groups of children. Magnet schools also
received huge sums of money while segregated and integrated schools received
smaller amounts of funding. The data indicates that the outcomes for student
achievement of Magnet schools did not consistently surpass student achievement
of non-magnet schools in SLPS over time. All schools should have comparable
support, resources and marketing provided to district magnet schools.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What are your thoughts on neighborhood
schools?</span><br />
<br />
As a former principal of a neighborhood school, I am in full support of them.
Neighborhood schools serve as anchors in the community. The culture of the
neighborhood school extends and celebrates the concept of family, unity, and
mutual support.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What ideas do you have to help students
learn?</span><br />
<br />
I always return to the basic plan that I used in the schools and districts that
I had the privilege of serving. We place a laser focus on the Triple AAA
Standards of Achievement, Attendance, and Attitude. Everything that is done in
school comes under this umbrella. We begin by creating a movement that is
exciting for students. The school environment is welcoming, safe, engaging, and
promotes academic success. We create a tag line that everyone in the school
espouses. I used welcome to the #1 I CAN SCHOOL, Think you Can, Work Hard, and
You Can Get Smart! or Conceive It, Believe and Achieve. We create an inclusive
school culture where all children and staff are celebrated. We include student
ideas (survey) that will be incorporated in to school life in the same way
after we have focused on our academic goals. Each child will continue to be
assessed in the first two weeks of school (long before we paid companies
to generate electronic testing material). These Grade Level Assessments set
important benchmarks for students and staff that guide instruction. The datais
transferred to a student’s Individual Advancement Plan (IAP) to be shared with
students allowing them access to their own strengths and weakness. A complete
integration of wrap-around-services that deal with students and their families
erasing any reasons that keep students out of school. These are the reasons
that keep children out of school (lack of clothing, health concerns, permanent
housing, etc.) School must be fun where students and teachers show up everyday
striving for “POWERFUL TEACHING AND LEARNING” which we called our “TOP JOBS”.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What do you think about the MAP tests
and standardized tests in general?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">I believe that
schools are in need of assessment tools to identify where students are and what
specific skills they need to focus on. Assessment instruments also help to
bridge learning gaps that children may have and adjust the curriculum to meet
the individual needs of students. Children all learn differently, have
differently learning styles but must be able to achieve competent levels
identified by the current assessment instruments.I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Approximately
70% of SLPS high school graduates who enroll in college must take remedial
courses. What policies would you promote to lower this statistic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">As a member of the Elected Board of Education, I
would recommend to my fellow board members the creation of a policy
specifically designed to lower the percentages of students enrolled in remedial
courses in college. Policy: Competency Levels for High School Students.
Implementation, assessment of student performance by grade level, and
monitoring will be the responsibility of the student, parent, teacher(s) and
administration under the direction of the district superintendent.<br />
In the past the Elected Board of Education has been criticized as
dysfunctional. Local media have unfairly perpetuated this impression. How would
your election to the board help to dispel this inaccurate perception?<br />
I am a homegrown product of the SLPS school District. I have worked in the
district at every level, teacher, building principal and central office
administration. I come with experience, credibility and a documented track
record of leadership and student academic achievement. I understand schooling,
what it looks like, sounds like and feels like. I can build capacity in
students and teachers, forge critical relationships with the community, hold
myself and others accountable for the work. I can work collaboratively with
other board members to identify specific steps, policies and procedures to
maintain accreditation and move the district forward while attracting a
competent and diverse teaching force during my tenure on the Elected School
Board. With the implementation of these strategies, I believe SLPS will become
the first choice of the children and families we currently serve, but will be
uniquely positioned, as an example, to draw other diverse families back to an
academically challenging school district and an economically prosperous city.<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
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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.<br />
.................................................................................................................................................<br />
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….<br />
Calendar<br />
<br />
October 18, 2018, Thursday, irregular monthly meeting of the Special
Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108<br />
<br />
October 24, 2018, Wednesday, League of Women Voters School Board Candidate
Forum, Metro H.S., 4015 McPherson Avenue. St. Louis, 63108, 6:30 p.m.<br />
<br />
………………………………………………………………………………………………………</span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br />
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-76217427925742570722018-08-16T08:48:00.003-05:002018-08-16T08:48:38.116-05:00Update on SLPS by Susan Turk: The Sequiturs of the Corporate Project to Take Over Public Schools in St Louis, Union Busting, again.
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">----------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Union Busting</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">By Susan Turk</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">August 10, 2018—St. Louis--As The Watch reported last month, AFT Local 420 is engaged in a dispute with SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams regarding violations of their contract with the district. Some teachers and non-certificated staff are being paid more than others with the same or greater seniority in violation of the salary schedule. The dispute is headed towards arbitration with a meeting scheduled for August 29th.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Apparently, Dr. Adams would like to resolve this without the assistance of an arbitrator. Our usually phlegmatic superintendent has initiated a game of hardball. Officers of the union, its president and VP as well as an organizer, are still SLPS employees and are paid by SLPS. Since they work for the union, their salaries are reimbursed to the district by the union on an annual basis. There was an understanding that the reimbursement would be made annually at the end of the school year. As staff were cut due to declining enrollment, 420’s finances were impacted and the union fell behind in payment by one year. After Sally Topping was elected president in 2017, a new payment agreement was approved and the union began to make up for what it owed.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">On Tuesday, July 28th, Local 420 received a letter from the district informing them that they had 3 days, or until Friday, July 31st to repay $138,000 due to “costs of litigation” and that the rest of the money owed, $101,000 would have to be paid in full by August 31st or the three union administrators whose salaries were affected would have to return to teaching positions as of Monday, August 6th.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Since very few teachers work during June and none during July, Local 420 does not accumulate revenue in the form of union dues during the summer. There was no way Local 420 could amass the required payment on 3 days’ notice, so Local 420 President Sally Topping reported for her teaching assignment to Herzog Elementary on Monday morning, August 6th. Local 420 VP Ray Cummings reported to the Fresh Start program at Sumner HS and Field Representative John Whisenhunt reported to Gateway STEM HS.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">At 7 AM Monday morning, August 6th, Local 420 President Sally Topping held a press conference in front of Herzog Elementary School and said,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“Good Morning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As many of you know the partnership between employees and management has led to good outcomes in the St. Louis Public Schools. Including the peer mentoring program - the St. Louis Plan, expansion of Early Childhood Education, forgoing raises for years and working together to pass Proposition One, the first tax increase for schools in 25 years. US Secretary of Education Duncan praised this remarkable partnership.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I don't like saying this but it seems there are forces trying to break up our successful collaboration between labor and management.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After being alerted by our members we did research and gathered data on salary variations and presented our concerns to management regarding wild salary disparities and discrepancies - we filed a grievance. Suffice to say there has not been a positive response. With no satisfactory explanation, progress, or effort to make employees whole - without dismissing the grievance - we have proceeded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Management now has attempted to intimidate and retaliate against employees who were part of that grievance. An initial arbitration hearing on the grievance is set for August 29th.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Past practice and policy agreement allows for union staff and officials to be on leave from the district . . . with the district being reimbursed at year's end by the local.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today myself and two of our staff members are being sent back into the classroom.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our partnership is threatened by those who can't even understand that we don't look at being in the classroom as punishment. It just makes it harder to represent our members working twice as hard. …. I am here to say we will not be intimidated and we will stand together to fix this broken salary schedule and be fair to our members.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We want respect and we intend to get it.” Then she retreated into Herzog to begin preparing for the start of school next week.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In a prèss release Topping further elaborated, “I hate to say it but that partnership is in jeopardy over serious salary disparities and a lack of a coherent salary schedule.” Topping said, “Take a look at these two examples of actual teachers in the district: “A” is a certificated teacher with a BA and 2 years of employment with a salary of $50,653.18 and another Middle School Mathematics Teacher - Employee: “B” a certificated teacher with a BA and 16 years of employment with a salary of $46,402.02. Employee B with 14 years more experience makes $4,251.16 less.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The salary schedule negotiated in the contract between the district and the union relies on seniority. Even non- unionized districts base their salary schedules on seniority because of the expectation of fairness in the dispensation of public funds. Hundreds of disparities potentially impacting nearly a thousand employees, both certificated teachers, as well as, non-certificated employees, were found. Extra pay can be earned by coaching teams or taking on other after-school responsibilities, but the large disparities found involve staff who were not being compensated for extra service rendered.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For the administration to unilaterally violate the contract is a serious matter. Unilaterally nullifying the contract directly challenges the union’s ability to meaningfully represent its members. This is a standard method of union busting. If the union cannot get pay equity for its members there is little reason for a union to exist.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Given that Dr. Adams and the SAB are currently and quietly working to develop a private non-profit corporation which will govern half the SLPS beginning the 2019-2020 school year and parcel out school management to charter operators, this unfortunate game of hardball makes sense. Charter schools are rarely unionized. It would be difficult to find charter operators willing to take charge of schools with a unionized teaching staff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Meanwhile employee raises are still frozen. This is going to impact our students and our schools. Employee turnover is a problem which does not need to get worse.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">How and when this will be resolved remains to be seen.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">----------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Legislature News</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Lakeysha Bosley won the primary for the 79th House District in the MO Legislature August 7th. It’s wonderful that a strong supporter of the SLPS and the elected school board is the Democratic nominee for that House seat.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">...................................................................................................................................................</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s2">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Calendar</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">August 14, 2018 Tuesday, first day of school</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">August 16, 2018, Thursday, irregular monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">August 28, 2018, Tuesday, regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, Metro H.S., 4015 McPherson Avenue. St. Louis, 63108, 6:30 p.m.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If you have never subscribed because friends have forwarded The Watch to you, please consider subscribing now. Internet newsletter mailing and management services are not free. The Watch has always concentrated its efforts on getting you the news and analysis of the SLPS that you value rather than on keeping itself in the black. But in order to pay our bills, we do need your subscription. For a dollar a month, you will get news, opinion, and analysis that you won't see elsewhere in the media. Please write a check today.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Subscribe to the St. Louis Schools Watch.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The St. Louis Schools Watch was founded on the premises that parental and community involvement is needed for good schools to flourish, and that public participation is a cornerstone of democracy. St. Louis Schools Watch offers information and analysis that we hope contributes to a public debate over what changes are necessary to improve St. Louis public schools and what works.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">St Louis, MO 63118</span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-21077393116311079562018-05-04T08:31:00.001-05:002018-05-04T08:31:30.528-05:00Struggling schools in St. Louis will be given more freedom to improve<a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/struggling-schools-in-st-louis-will-be-given-more-freedom/article_c6a1806c-2e20-52ed-aed4-b9c0c392ebef.html">Struggling schools in St. Louis will be given more freedom to improve</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-21930106195912849742018-04-02T15:24:00.002-05:002018-04-02T15:24:40.687-05:00Susan Turk - Update on SLPS Schools --
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<span class="s1">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Senators Duped</span></div>
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<span class="s1">By Susan Turk</span></div>
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<span class="s1">March 22, 2018--St. Louis--During the historic joint meeting Tuesday, March 13 of the elected Board Of Education which currently does not govern the SLPS and the Special Administrative Board which governs the transitional school district superimposed on the SLPS district, SAB Member Richard Gaines informed those present that a bill would be filed in the Legislature the following day that would enact the SAB’s recommendations regarding future governance not just of SLPS but of all school districts in the state which had lost and regained accreditation. In answer to a question from elected Board Member Bill Haas about how that could happen given that the deadline for filing new legislation had been March 1st, Gaines reported that a place holder bill had been filed by State Senator Jamilah Nasheed before the deadline and only needed to be replaced with a substitute bill.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Watch subsequently visited the legislature’s website and discovered SB 1054 sponsored by State Senator Jamilah Nasheed. Senator Nasheed’s bill was filed on February 28th, first read, second read and assigned to the Rules Committee for a hearing on March 14th that was subsequently cancelled. As of this date, no substitute bill has been filed.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">At the Tuesday, March 20th, regular meeting of the elected Board Of Education, a second placeholder bill was identified by EB Member Dorothy Rohde Collins, SB 1099 sponsored by State Senator Jake Hummel. It is worded almost identically to SB 1054. SB 1099 was filed on March 1st and has only been first read. This bill has also not been replaced from its inception with a more detailed substitute bill.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The legislature is on spring break this week. However there is reason to believe that neither bill will become law. It appears that both senators were duped. Both were told that the elected board agreed with the SAB as to the content of the bills. The elected board did not know that a bill even existed before the joint meeting on March 13th so they could not have agreed to legislation filed on February 28th and March 1st, nor was their agreement requested by the SAB on March 13th.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">A substitute bill for SB 1054 was delivered to Senator Nasheed on March 13th by intermediaries for the SAB. It dismayed her that she was not included in the bill’s drafting. She reported feeling “disrespected” and decided that she would no longer “carry water” for this bill. When she subsequently learned that the elected board had not agreed to the substance of the bill, she said that in the future she would only support legislation that both boards developed together.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">After SB 1099 was discovered, constituents contacted Senator Hummel and asked him to abandon the legislation. Apparently he also was told that the elected board supported the bill. When he learned that was not true, he is reported to have walked away from it.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">One might wonder why people who presume to be our civic leaders thought it smart to mislead our elected representatives in Jefferson City in order to further their agenda regarding SLPS.</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/18info/pdf-bill/intro/SB1099.pdf">http://www.senate.mo.gov/18info/pdf-bill/intro/SB1099.pdf</a></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Bill Summary</span></div>
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<span class="s1">SB 1099 - This act creates requirements for school districts that have returned to local governance after being under the authority of an alternate governing structure. Such districts may comply with the following requirements:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• School board members may observe the proper role of a school board and respect the roles of the district superintendent, administrators, and teachers in running the day-to-day operations of schools in the district;</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• A vote of greater than 2/3 of the members of the school board may be required in order to terminate the employment of a district superintendent;</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• A school board may publicly establish annual goals, as set forth in the act, and provide a report at the end of each year on whether or not such goals have been achieved; and</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may develop and provide enhanced training for members of school boards in districts that have previously lost accreditation.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Additionally, the Commissioner of Education may establish an oversight body that may have authority to intervene in persistently underperforming attendance centers and schools, as defined in the act. Such oversight body may establish standards applicable to all public schools in the state and may develop a process to give school districts with underperforming attendance centers and schools a chance to improve. The oversight body may provide recommendations to underperforming attendance centers and schools as described in the act.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">This act is similar to SB 1054 (2018).</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Board of Education Response</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Just so there is no confusion on the Board Of Education’s position on this legislation, the Board approved sending a press release voicing it’s opposition at its’ March 20th meeting. On Wednesday, March 21st, elected Board Spokesperson Katie Wessling forwarded the press release.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">It says, “The Board of Education opposes Senate Bill 1099.…The Board of Education opposes legislation which micromanages another governing body formed of elected officials who are accountable to their constituents. The Board also notes that this form of micromanagement is only directed at entities which are primarily comprised of people of color and people living in poverty. This overreach by the Missouri Legislature will only hinder a transition back to local governance and should be abandoned by Senators Jake Hummel and Jamilah Nasheed.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">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.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">...................................................................................................................................................</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Questions for The Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to <a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s3">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Calendar</span></div>
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<span class="s1">April 4, 2018, Wednesday, irregular monthly meeting of the Special Administrative Board, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></div>
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<span class="s1">April 10, 2018, Tuesday, regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, Nahed Chapman New American Academy, 1616 South Grand Blvd., 6:30 p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">If you have never subscribed because friends have forwarded The Watch to you, please consider subscribing now. Internet newsletter mailing and management services are not free. The Watch has always concentrated its efforts on getting you the news and analysis of the SLPS that you value rather than on keeping itself in the black. But in order to pay our bills, we do need your subscription. For a dollar a month, you will get news, opinion, and analysis that you won't see elsewhere in the media. Please write a check today.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-68159923995035614552018-03-15T08:59:00.000-05:002018-03-15T09:00:01.253-05:00Update on the St Louis Public Schools - Return of the Elected Board? By Susan Turk<style type="text/css">
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SAB Recommendations to DESE Regarding Future Governance of SLPS<br />
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By Susan Turk</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><b>St. Louis--September 14, 2018—At a joint public meeting of all of the members of the Special Administrative Board and the elected Board of Education Tuesday, March 13</b></span><span class="s2"><b><sup>th</sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b>, SAB Member Richard Gaines read a letter the SAB is sending to DESE regarding their recommendation for the future governance of the SLPS. The letter recommends that DESE return governance of the SLPS to the elected Board of Education. It does not, however, specify when that transfer should occur although the SAB’s current term ends in June 2019 and they have made it known that they do not want to be re-appointed. Significantly, and I would add, ominously, the letter redefines what the elected school board will govern by permanently fragmenting the St. Louis City public school district much like nations such as Ireland, Korea and Vietnam have been partitioned after wars.<br />
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The letter also recommends that 5 safeguards be adopted to ensure the future success of the elected board. These safeguards originated in a document referred to as the <i>St. Louis Plan</i> which was created by an anonymous group of people convened by former Washington University Chancellor Dr. William Danforth and recently deceased civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman. That group met twice in 2017 and agreed on these ideas.<br />
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They include<br />
creating a special oversight body to intervene in underperforming schools before their district would be put in jeopardy of losing accreditation, and giving the elected board the power to contract with not for profit entities to administrate low performing schools and give them a chance to improve and avoid being turned over to the oversight body,<br />
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delineating the appropriate role of school boards and their relationships with superintendents, administrators and teaching staff,<br />
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stipulating that a minimum of 5 votes be required of a 7 member school board or 2/3 of a different sized school board to remove a superintendent rather than the simple majority currently in statute,<br />
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requiring that annual goals dealing with test scores, graduation rates, post-secondary placement, principal and teacher attrition rates, parent satisfaction surveys and student satisfaction surveys be set and a progress report on the achievement of those goals be published, and<br />
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developing enhanced training for the elected board.<br />
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Legislation would be required to establish a special oversight body and the provision of the authority for elected school boards to contract with not for profit entities to administer low performing schools. Under current law, SABs can do that but not elected boards. Legislation would also be required necessitating a vote of 5 of 7 board members to remove a superintendent.<br />
Mr. Gaines said that legislation to that effect would be filed tomorrow. When asked by elected board Member Bill Haas how that could happen when the deadline for filing bills this legislative session was March 1</b></span><span class="s2"><b><sup>st</sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b>, Gaines replied that State Senator Jamillah Nasheed, who is running for president of the board of aldermen next year, has filed a placeholder bill that would serve that purpose. The <i>Watch</i> has learned that Nasheed filed SB 1054 on February 28</b></span><span class="s2"><b><sup>th</sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b>. It was supposed to have a hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 14th before the senate governmental reform committee but that hearing was abruptly cancelled. Gaines promised to send copies of the legislation to the elected board later Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.<br />
<br />
Gaines said an oversight body would be a less intrusive intervention than a state takeover if the SLPS continued to struggle. It would safeguard academic achievement and establish standards applicable throughout the SLPS. Schools that have been underperforming for 5 years would be given 2 years to improve. If they did not improve the oversight board would <i>assume responsibility</i> for them and their funding. Underperforming schools are defined in SB 1054 as schools that have qualified for provisional accreditation and un-accreditation for 3 consecutive years.<br />
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The oversight board would be given broad latitude to improve them. The body would be composed of recognized leaders appointed by the DESE commissioner and approved by the state board of education. If the oversight board makes progress improving them after three years they <i>could</i> be returned to the governance of the elected board. Alternatively, the elected board could attempt to hold onto schools longer by establishing a choice consortium to contract with non-profit entities to administrate low performing schools and set up site based management councils. If those schools did not improve after three years they would be transferred to the governance of the oversight body which could also outsource administration to a choice consortium of not for profit entities. This sounds an awful lot like the way things are with the existing Special Administrative Board. It will be called something else and but the situation will be the same and outcomes the same and there will be no sunshine clause so there will be no solution to the persistent under performance of low income disadvantaged children in our community.<br />
<br />
This “plan” amounts to educational apartheid. The city’s school district would be partitioned and result in the alienation and shunning by city residents of the “bad schools”. These stigmatized schools would be run by the perpetual appointed “oversight body” but the roster could change from year to year based on schools Annual Performance Reviews. This would leave the elected board of education governing a considerably smaller, truncated patchwork of schools albeit successful ones, removing the threat that the entire city would be under state control in the future. The result would be one form of school district governance for middle class, educated city residents’ children and a different form for the disadvantaged, in other words, democracy for the middle class and autocracy for the poor. When has such a division ever improved societal conditions let alone educational ones? It divides and conquers the community instead of uniting the community to work for the interests of all the city’s children. If you have two separate entities responsible for two separate sets of schools everyone is not going to invest in both. It takes total complete commitment to all of the children to ensure success for all of them.<br />
<br />
How would the permanent fragmentation of the SLPS district and governance of some of our schools by an unaccountable appointed board, something not much different from the SAB result in improved educational outcomes? The SAB has failed to raise achievement during their 11 year tenure. Continued appointed board control over a large portion of city public schools would mean the sacrifice of the educational aspirations of the children of the least resourced families in the city to keep the rest of the SLPS democratically governed. Parents separated from the democratically governed district would also more likely feel compelled to enroll their children in charter schools which would lead to the closure of even more schools and more of the chaos caused by school choice. Given that the charters that would be marketed to frustrated parents would most likely fail as well, as has been the case so far, increased student mobility and the revolving doors of school churn, openings and closure would only increase, resulting in a ceaseless cyclic search for non-existent successful alternative under resourced schools housing underprivileged low performing children. Segregating low performing students has never worked. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.<br />
<br />
It would also continue the perpetual diminution and marginalization of our elected school board. To clarify what relegating underperforming schools to the governance of the proposed “oversight body” would mean, half of district schools were fully accredited schools in 2016 according to data mined from </b><a href="http://slps.org/"><span class="s3">slps.org</span></a><b>. The rest of the city’s schools would be perpetually separate and subject to the paternalistic control of that class of people in the city who our leaders consider to be leaders but who have no understanding of the needs or how to respectfully interact with disadvantaged citizens. Those leaders presume it is their right to govern without regard for whether mere plebes would want to be subject to them. These self-defined leaders refuse to admit failure and won’t cede authority no matter how long they continue to fail because money is involved and it their presumed right to control it. Democracy for some but not all is not a constructive way to ensure successful public schools for all. Putting the lowest performing schools under such perpetual appointed governance will not improve them and will perpetuate the disenfranchisement of the adults whose children attend them because it will be impossible to able to hold their governing board accountable.<br />
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It may well be that this was the best the SAB thought they could do in terms of returning the elected board to some measure of governance. There is still tremendous resistance to returning the elected school board to governance on the part of the civic elite. The Danforth Freeman group actually proposed a plebiscite to determine whether the elected board model should be returned to in the vain hope that citizens would reject it despite 35,000 voters casting ballots in the 2017 school board election. Gaines remarked that he thought the state board of education would actually have extended the SAB’s terms again in 2019 had they not voiced their opposition to soldiering on. But the cost, having to sacrifice the education of half the children in the city to satisfy the will to power of the un-elected and probably un-electable leadership segment of community stakeholders, is a hard pill to swallow.<br />
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No mention was made of providing low performing schools with what they really need, adequate resources, because the safe assumption is resources wouldn’t materialize, not when the legislature is continually considering strategies to lower state revenue, aka taxes.<br />
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The vague bill has no wording on the choice consortium yet. The cancelled hearing probably means it is in the process of being rewritten and fleshed out based o Gaines’ remarks Tuesday night.<br />
AFT Local 420 opposes SB 1054 and has directed their lobbyists to testify against it.<br />
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Elected Board Defines Transition</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At a work session Sunday, March 11, the elected board of education met to achieve consensus on what they would be asking for in terms of a transition back to governance of the SLPS. They agreed that a 6 month timetable would be preferable, returning them to governance by September 2018.<br />
When it became apparent at their March 13th joint meeting with the SAB that the SAB did not intend to include a timetable for transition in their recommendation to DESE, the elected board attempted to convince the SAB to do so. SAB Member Richard Gaines expressed absolute opposition to the idea of recommending DESE return the EB to governance by September. The nebulous fallback of continued intensive training requirements for the EB upon which he would not place a length of time was used as an excuse. He reminded the EB that only DESE can decide when the transitional school district which the SAB governs can be terminated. Darnetta Clinkscale held out an olive branch by suggesting that as training progressed it might be possible that the SAB would recommend to DESE that transition occur before June 2019. EB Member Katie Wessling reminded the SAB that there are 2 school board elections scheduled between now and June 2019 and that it was possible that 4 of the current EB members might not be present if transition were put off making their training a waste of time and resources. In response, Verjeana Jacobs, the National School Board Association meeting facilitator expressed that they were laying the groundwork for future board members and should not feel that their time was being wasted.<br />
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Current Bill Summary</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SB 1054 - This act creates requirements for school districts that have returned to local governance after being under the authority of an alternate governing structure. Such districts shall comply with the following requirements:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">• School board members shall observe the proper role of a school board and respect the roles of the district superintendent, administrators, and teachers in running the day-to-day operations of schools in the district;</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">• A vote of greater than 2/3 of the members of the school board shall be required in order to terminate the employment of a district superintendent;</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">• A school board shall publicly establish annual goals, as set forth in the act, and provide a report at the end of each year on whether or not such goals have been achieved; and</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop and provide enhanced training for members of school boards in districts that have previously lost accreditation.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Additionally, the Commissioner of Education shall establish an oversight body that shall have authority to intervene in persistently underperforming attendance centers and schools, as defined in the act. Such oversight body shall establish standards applicable to all public schools in the state and shall develop a process to give school districts with underperforming attendance centers and schools a chance to improve. The oversight body shall provide recommendations to underperforming attendance centers and schools as described in the act.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>.......................................................................................................................................................................................... Questions for the Watch? Letters to the Editor? Stories to contribute? News tips? Send them to </b><a href="mailto:SLS_Watch@yahoo.com"><span class="s3">SLS_Watch@yahoo.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s4"><b>[endif]</b></span><span class="s1"> <b>......................................................................................................................</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Calendar</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>March 20, 2018, Tuesday</b>, regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, Location TBD check <a href="http://slps.org/"><span class="s5">slps.org</span></a> 6:30 p.m.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>April 4, 2018, Wednesday</b>, Special Administrative Board meeting, 6:00 p.m., 801 N. 11th Street, room 108</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744194573716872330.post-22990814029631415632018-01-19T09:05:00.000-06:002018-01-19T09:05:16.506-06:00Susan Turk: Frankie Freeman Lives! <div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Louis Schools Watch</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Frankie Freeman Lives!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">By Susan Turk</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">January 18, 2018—St. Louis--Although celebrated civil right attorney Frankie Muse Freeman passed away January 12th she apparently spent the last few months of her life adding to her legacy regarding the SLPS by working with her long-time collaborator, Dr. Bill Danforth, to convene an ad hoc group to develop a transition plan that would continue to subvert the democratic aspirations of parents and teachers in the SLPS long after her death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On Wednesday, January 17th the SAB’s task force on alternative governance for the SLPS had their final meeting. Item 8 on the meeting agenda was “Introduction by Michael Jones of a proposal.” That modest description masked a complete plan to extend The Danforth Freeman agenda for maintaining control over the board governing the SLPS for the foreseeable future. Rev. Jones, pastor of Friendly temple missionary Baptist church declined to name to participants in the ad hoc group which he described as meeting only twice. It is remarkable that they created such a detailed set of suggestions in such a brief amount of time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It has 7 suggestions and Task Force Chair Richard Gaines arranged for them to be discussed and voted on individually. What was scheduled to be a 4 hour meeting lasted a marathon 8 hours during which task force members were provided with water but no food. Two breaks, of 10 and 15 minutes were allowed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jones and NAACP chairman Adolphus Pruitt played tag team throughout the meeting supporting each other’s motions. Earlier during the meeting Pruitt moved that, “This body recommend transition to an elected board with a definitive transition plan and a definitive transition process,” setting the table for what was to come. Rev. Jones seconded Pruitt’s motion. Most of the people in the room including the approximately 30 in the audience breathed a sigh of relief thinking this meant the task force was supporting the return of the elected board of education. The motion was approved on a vote of eight yeses and one abstention,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But as this publication has been attempting to communicate repeatedly over many months, there is a world of difference between supporting the transition to “an elected board” and “the elected board”. Once the St. Louis Plan as Jones called it was introduced, it became all too clear that the intention was anything but returning “the elected board” to governance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The plan’s provisions are</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The creation of a special oversight body with the power to intervene in low performing schools statewide in an effort to prevent their districts from losing accreditation.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ensuring school boards which have previously lost accreditation are trained to understand their proper relationship with and the roles of their superintendent, administrators, principals and teachers.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Requiring that schools board wishing to terminate superintendents do so by means of a greater than 2/3 majority rather than a simple majority currently required by state law.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Allowing for more autonomy for principals concerning resources, staffing, curriculum and programming.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Requiring elected board to develop annual goals and publish a report on what they have achieved.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Extended trainings for boards whose districts have lost accreditation</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Requiring that a public referendum be held in St. Louis in 2025 on the return of the elected board model AND upon the effective date of enabling legislation, assumed to be August 29, 2018, the dissolution of the existing BOE and SAB and their replacement with a seven member board three of whom would be appointed by the mayor, three of whom would be appointed y the president of the board of aldermen and one who would be appointed by the commissioner of the DESE AND for which current members of the SAB and elected board of education would be given preference.Three of whom would serve until April of 2019 when an election would be held to replace them and the other four of whom would serve until 2021 after which all 7 members would be elected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All of these “suggestions were approved by the task force except #4 and the part of #7 which would have put a new appointed board in place to replace the SAB and eventually morph into “an” elected board. So, no recommendation was made regarding how a transition should look. The date of the referendum was changed to 2024 to coincide with the presidential election.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The SAB will make its recommendation tonight. It may or may not follow what their task force recommended last night. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.. Public comments will be allowed as usual.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Survey results revealed that 1554 participated. 664 or 464 favored a hybrid board. 608 or 43% favored an elected board and 154 or 11% favored an appointed board. Vector admitted that the difference between 46% and 43% was insignificant and meant a virtual tie.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com