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St. Louis School Board >>
Statement of Mayor Francis Slay
Two years ago, the St. Louis Board of Education narrowly avoided bankruptcy by beginning an unprecedented time of reorganization – tackling inefficiencies and duplications that had made the business-side of St. Louis public schools insolvent and, largely, incompetent. As a result of these needed changes, food service, student transportation, supply logistics, and the central administration have all greatly improved.
A year ago, the Board of Education began implementing a standardized curriculum to replace the dozens of inartfully selected and unevenly applied curricula that made it nearly impossible for highly mobile students in the district to keep up with their peers. As a result of the changes, we are in a position to close the wide gaps of achievement between the St. Louis Public Schools and suburban districts... and, between black students and white students.
Two months ago, the Board of Education and the union representing teachers and other employees managed to avoid a work stoppage and, instead, agreed to a new contract that puts teachers in the city’s public schools on the same level as their peers in well-performing St. Louis county school districts.
A month ago, the Board of Education completed interviews with some of the nation’s most promising superintendents and hired one of them, Dr. Creg Williams to lead the district on a permanent and long-term basis.
These are successes of which the district should be proud. Problems that took decades to create have been identified and addressed in far less time.
We’ve made a good start – but not much more than a start. Ahead lies the heavy lifting … improving the quality of education our children receive in the classroom.
The School Board, along with parents, teachers, and community leaders, CAN be a positive force for change. But it needs leadership that puts our children first, ahead of any personal agendas.
One problem that continues to hold this district – and our children – back is the atmosphere of contention that has disrupted its management and demoralized its employees, students, and community supporters. Too often, reform has taken a back seat to controversy.
That atmosphere has to change – and the upcoming general election is a unique opportunity to accomplish that.
On April 5th, city voters will go to the polls to select three new members of the Board of Education.
When you do, I urge you to support three candidates whose careers and accomplishments prove them to be leaders and do-ers, not disrupters or mere talkers.
After interviewing the candidates for school board, I believe that the three best choices are FLINT FOWLER, JOSEPH P. KEAVENY, and JOE MORAMARCO.
I am supporting these candidates because they believe in our kids and are committed to improving the quality of education our children receive. I also support them because they are good people who will provide strong, steady leadership on the school board.
Mr. Fowler’s service with Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, with INROADS/St. Louis, with Operation Teamwork, and with Saint Louis University’s Upward Board program gives him a broad perspective on the challenges facing young people.
Mr. Keaveny’s work as a banker and a lawyer gives him the experience to understand the challenges facing a school district trying to do much more with shrinking resources.
And, Mr. Moramarco’s experience as a businessman and employer gives him an understanding of the district’s challenge to prepare its students for the workforce. His service with C4, the public service arm of Metropolitan Congregations United, gives him a perspective of the challenges faced by lower income students.
For most of the past two years, the Board has been bogged down in controversy and in-fighting. It’s time to change that.
For the next year, there must be one leader for the district: the superintendent. The Board of Education needs to be part of the solution, not the problem.
To do that, we need strong, committed, steady Board members.
For more information about the Reform Effort
at the St. Louis Public Schools, please visit http://www.slps.org/districtinformation/index.htm
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Paid for by the Slay for Mayor Committee,
Judy Murphy, Treasurer
Phone: (314) 534-2005 | Fax: (314) 534-2007
Street Address: 4236 Lindell, Suite 106, St. Louis, MO
Mailing Address: PMB 282 | 4600 Chippewa, Building N
St. Louis, MO 63116 |
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Mayor Slay with School Board candidates Joe Moramarco, Flint Fowler and Joseph P. Keaveny
