State Senator Maida Coleman was not happy when she heard that St. Louis Public Schools was about to start looking for its seventh superintendent in five years.
“I believe the [Special Administrative Board] just put the final nail in the coffin of the St. Louis Public School district,” said the St. Louis Democrat. She also hinted that this new instability may be intentional.
“It may be by design in an effort to continue the attack on the public school system in St. Louis in favor of marginally efficient and questionable outcomes of charter schools,” said Coleman.
The district’s governor-appointed CEO, Rick Sullivan, said the move was not about the record of Superintendent Diana Bourisaw, who was quickly appointed in July 2006 following the sudden firing of Superintendent Creg Williams, but rather about getting in place a superintendent that can meet the long-term needs of the district.
“I don’t know if they have a favored candidate waiting in the wings to take over our city’s school system,” said Coleman, “but this decision flies in the face of assurances we had received recently that Superintendent Bourisaw would continue to serve as the leader of our school district.”
Coleman defended Bourisaw as having proven herself to be an effective leader “who cares about our students.”
“I have little confidence that the governor’s handpicked henchman will do the right thing for our students when he chooses a new superintendent,” said the senator.
Coleman also noted the timing of Bourisaw’s firing, less than a week after the Senate confirmed Sullivan’s appointment to the SAB.
“The assurances of CEO Rick Sullivan meant nothing as he completely misled his Senate sponsor, Joan Bray of St. Louis,” Coleman said.
In response to SAB’s action, Coleman has filed legislation to dissolve the Board and return local control of the St. Louis Public Schools. Senate Bill 1129 simply repeals the statute which created the transitional school district.
I am fine with local control as long as it is not run by the “elected” morons. Do these clowns even understand the purpose and or roll of a school board? Elected Board = idiots.
meant to type role not roll.
elected board members are still horrible and bad for St. Louis
Tired of crazies,
Please name the seven elected board members.
Give the parents the money through a voucher program so they can educate their children wherever they would like.
Maida Coleman consistently shows that she is a true leader and represents the City. First trying to get control of the Police Department and now the schools. It is unfortunate that she is term limited. Perhaps some politicians, who do a good job, actually should have the option to run for election. However, for fairness, it is understandable why this rule exists.
I am going to ask my senator to ask Joan Bray if she knew of the action the sab was going to take regarding Bourisaw. I will try to find out what her reaction was, if she did not know what they were going to do.
If I find out, I will post it.
Joan Bray was NOT misled. She merely showed her true colors, as a ‘limousine liberal’ who will campaign on social issues as they cost no money while the corporate beasts rape and pillage what’s left of the public schools. Joan Bray may as well be a ‘Bushie’ for all the concern she shows this district. I’m tired of the ‘privileged classes’ slumming when it serves their purpose. As a democrat; I will work tirelessly to unseat Bray. Hurt my district, and hurt my kids; and the political retaliation will be swift and immediate. If Bray canvasses in my neighborhood; I’ll tell her to take her sorry caucasion ‘behind,’ elsewhere. I’m sick and tired of PHONY DEMOCRATS.
One other thing; what is this garbage about the SAB offering teachers INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS WITH NO LISTED COMPENSATION RATE ON THE SAME CONTRACT? THAT’S CRIMINAL FRAUD! IF YOU WENT TO A CAR DEALERSHIP, IT’S THE SAME IF THEY SAID, “TRUST US, SIGN THE CONTRACT AND WE’LL FILL IN THE PRICE LATER!” THEY GOT KEN LAY FOR LESS. WHERE’S JAY NIXON? IF ANYONE ELSE TRIED THIS; THEY’D HAVE TO POST BAIL MONEY. A CONTRACT MINUS A SPECIFIC LISTED RATE OF COMPENSATION IS NOT A CONTRACT; IT’S PREMEDITATED CONTRACT FRAUD. THAT’S BASIC CONTRACT LAW. SULLIVAN AND THAT GIRL SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY INDICTED FOR THIS SUGGESTION. FURTHERMORE, NOW THAT TEACHERS HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN MO.; THE SAB IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH THE UNION. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE UNION’S LABOR LAWYERS? WHO’S SIDE ARE THEY ON?
Teachers should NOT, under any circumstances, sign that contract. Union members were told to immediately contact the union if presented with a contract to sign. I guess the lawyers can’t do anything about it until it actually happens. But the union should be making it very clear that they will not tolerate this…unfortunately they are remaining eerily quiet…again…
Also, how many of you realize the district’s policy statement (contract basically) expires THIS YEAR? Should be interesting. Conditions continue to get worse…more bullshit.
Fed up with the bullshit = more willingness to change professions = more willingnes to strike.
Has anyone talked to Joan Bray about whether she knew? I will try and contact her myself, but I still think it would be better if someone with legitimate credentials would pin her down, and get it to be part of the public record.
I believe there is a backstory to this. In September, Antonio reported that Sullivan had to resign, and be reappointed. The rest of the press botched the reporting of that detail. So delving into the detail of how much she knew of the sab’s plans regarding bourisaw before she finally decided she could sponsor Sullivan would be kind of reminding some people of the significance of the little dance they did in September.
For all we know, maybe Sullivan was reluctant to fire Bourisaw—and caved to political pressure—or vice versa. He was anxious to fire her, and political pressure was applied to Joan bray.
She will no doubt explain it to me when I call her.
As I thought, tired of crazies has no idea who is on the elected board, how they act, or what they understand.
kjoe,
Maybe they just don’t know what the hell they are doing.
There is this misconception that the attorneys for the union, and the Attorney General are unable to do anything about these bogus contracts ‘WITH NO RATE OF COMPENSATION INCLUDED,’ AND NO RECOGNITION OR WILLINGNESS TO DEAL IN ‘GOOD FAITH’ WITH THE ELECTED REP FOR THE TEACHERS’ NAMELY THE UNION..UNTIL SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS. THAT IS NOT TRUE. FIRST OF ALL, TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF MO. NOW HAVE LEGAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS. THAT MEANS THE SAB HAS TO DEAL WITH 420; IT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE OTHER LAWS. SECONDLY, TO EVEN TALK ABOUT OFFERING AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH NO COMPENSATION LISTED, CAN AND SHOULD BE PURSUED CRIMINALLY BY THE MO. ATTORNEY GENERAL AS ‘PREMEDITATED INTENT TO COMMIT FRAUD. THIS CHARGE CARRIES CRIMINAL (JAIL) PENALTIES. IF JAY NIXON WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR; HE HAS TO CARRY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE. HE CAN’T ACCOMPLISH THIS IF HE ALLOWS THIS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE TO OCCUR; ALOT OF THESE TEACHERS IN 420 HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF RELATIVES. HILLARY LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY. JAY NIXON SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE HE MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE.
what happened to o’brien? seems like she was right about everything.
White and black politicians don’t care about none of us especially black people and Mayor Slay is against every step of the way and any body with a black face supporting him is a boot licker.