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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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Two well-known St. Louis Catholics are asking Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Jay Nixon to support Governor Matt Blunt's selection to the State Board of Education.
PubDef.net has obtained a copy of a letter dated this week sent to Nixon from Rev. Sal E. Polizzi of St. Roch Catholic Church and Rev. Vincent Bommarito of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. In it, the two ask Nixon to support the appointment of conservative Democrat Derio Gambaro to the Board of Education.
"As the leading Democrat in our state and the only announced Democratic candidate for governor of our state we are writing to ask you to contact Senator [Jeff] Smith and ask him to support Derio," they wrote.
"As you well know, the Italian neighborhood (The Hill) is still a very democratic area and the residents would appreciate Senator Smith's support for Derio's appointment."
Gambaro was one of Smith's opponents in a crowded primary contest last year to replace the term-limited State Sen. Pat Dougherty. Smith has voiced some concerns about Gambaro's appointment.
Click here to download the letter Click here to read Jeff Smith's statement on Gambaro Click here to watch video of Blunt's announcement
The new three-member appointed board now in charge of the St. Louis Public Schools will hold a "Meet The Board" meeting Tuesday, June 19, at the Science Center, 5050 Oakland Ave., from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
The new CEO of the district, Rick Sullivan, said he and his fellow board members are eager to hear the public's comments. All are welcome.
In what has become an almost annual event, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen today passed another resolution asking the State of Missouri to return to the City of St. Louis control of its police department.
Click here to read Alderman Terry Kennedy's resolution, which passed 22-1.
In this video from February 2006, Kennedy talked to PubDef.net about the need for local control.
By a 2-1 vote, the new Transitional School Board hired law firm Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP to handle all of is legal matters for the next six months.
At its morning meeting in a meeting room of the St. Louis Science Center, District CEO Rick Sullivan, who negotiated the contract with Stinson before today's inaugural meeting, said it was necessary for the Board, especially in light of the ongoing legal conflicts with the city's elected school board (which is represented by the district's longtime legal counsel Lashly & Bauer), to retain its own legal counsel immediately.
Board member Richard Gaines was the only vote against the $300 an hour no-bid contract. He said that while he appreciates and agrees that the Board does need to retain its own counsel, he took issue with the contract not being open to a public bid and that the particular firm selected by Sullivan "may have some conflicts of interest" because they represented the State Board of Education in their case with the elected board.
UPDATE:However, according to DESE, Attorney General Jay Nixon's office is representing the State of Missouri (including the State Board of Education and DESE). Stinson Morrison is representing the special administrative board of the St. Louis Public Schools.
Melanie Adams seconded Sullivan's motion, which passed 2-1.
Both Sullivan and Gaines went out of their way to note that while they voted differently on this matter, both respected the other's position.
"This is democracy," said Sullivan. "Some votes may be 3-0, some may be 2-1."
Click here to download the Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan's ruling (via the Post), which denied St. Louis Public Schools a restraining order.
Some highlights:
"With absolutely no disrespect intended to the current superintendent and her staff, the Court does not find that the petitioners have carried their burden of proving their position on this issue to be superior. Lastly, on the basis of the evidence presented thus far, the Court finds that the [State Board of Education's] decision to declassify the District as unaccredited was not arbitrary or capricious, was supported by substantial and competent evidence, including a financial report on the District by Geraldine Ogle, the performance standards report by Becky Kemna, and the earlier report issued by the Special Advisory Committee. While the Court acknowledges that Petitioners' argument on the regulation issue may have some merit, the Court is unable to say at this time that petitioners are likely to prevail on the merits of their lawsuit.
"Accordingly, Petitioners' motion for a temporary restraing order is denied."
"The Board of Education hereby directs the Superintendent that effective immediately no attorney may be employed by the district or law firm contractually hired to represent the Board, the School District, its staff or employees, except the law firm of Lashly & Baer P.C."
Lashly & Baer is currently representing the elected school board in their fight against the state takeover.
The Transitional School Board will meet for the first time Friday morning in the May Hall of the St. Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue, at 9:00 a.m.
Already on the agenda is the approval of a motion to retain an interim litigation attorney.
The full agenda is as follows:
Special Board Meeting Agenda
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
CEO Richard Sullivan's Report.
Retention of Interim Litigation Counsel.
Superintendent Dr. Bourisaw's Report
Other Board Members' Reports
New Business
The SAB approves CEO Richard Sullivan's retention of interim litigation counsel on behalf of, and to represent in court, the SAB for the term of one hundred twenty (120) days beginning June 15, 2007.
Announcements
Adjournment
It is not clear what firm Sullivan has retained or how much it will cost taxpayers. What is certain is that this contract, if approved tomorrow, was not publicly bidded.
In less than an hour, a new appointed school board will be in charge of St. Louis Public Schools, its near half-billion dollar budget, its $3.3 billion in assets, and its 30,000 students.
But the old elected board still claims to be in charge of at least some areas.
The new "transitional" school board will begin to operate tomorrow, but not without a challenge, according to the St. Louis Schools Watch, a watchdog newsletter founded by now-School Board President Peter Downs.
Many school board powers, the Watch argues, were given to the elected board after August 28, 1998, the date the legislation enabling the transitional board went into effect, and are not covered by that legislation.
The Watch quotes longtime school district counsel Ken Brostron as saying tonight, this latest crisis "has only just begun."
"Ken Brostron of Lashly Baer has served as counsel of the SLPS for many years. He has served whoever sat on the board with loyalty, including the mayor's slate," writes parent reporter Susan Turk.
"I have never seen him buck whoever was in charge. He is apparently bucking them now."
As so now in the name of providing stability to the troubled school district, the state apparently has given it two governing bodies — one elected, one appointed — both claiming leadership over parts of the district.
In the middle of the power struggle will be Superintendent Diana Bourisaw, who tonight said that she understands that she will now work for the transitional board.
While not much else is clear, one thing definitely is: the St. Louis Public Schools are no more stable Friday than they were Thursday.
The following comes from St. Louis Public Schools:
St. Louis - The St. Louis School Board expressed “great disappointment” Thursday when a judge in Cole County Circuit Court declined to grant a temporary restraining order blocking state intervention. The ruling paves the way for splitting governance of the district between the elected school board and a transitional board on Friday (June 15), the same day the district loses its accreditation. On June 11, Commissioner of Education D. Kent King denied an appeal by the district. The appeal sought to have the State Board of Education reverse or reconsider its recent decision to strip SLPS of its accreditation. The court ruling on Thursday struck another blow to the St. Louis board. “We still believe that the action taken by the State Board and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is unconstitutional,” said Peter Downs, president of the elected St. Louis School Board. “The State Board clearly acted unfairly when it applied standards to St. Louis that are not applied to other Missouri districts in similar circumstances. This is a small setback, but we are going to continue to fight for better schools and local control.” Downs stated that the elected board will continue to act in the best interest of students. He asked that all parties support plans that the district administration has made for next year while they continue their fight in court. “We have programs and plans in place that result in academic success, and our success is documented,” Downs added. “Sadly, we have yet to see a definitive plan from the state that addresses the academic and social needs of our students.” The St. Louis Board president thanked the parents who supported the elected board’s legal efforts. The three-member transitional board will take over some governance functions on June 15. The appointed panel is made up of Rick Sullivan (nominated by Gov. Matt Blunt), who will serve as the district’s CEO; Melanie Adams (appointed by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay); and Richard Gaines (an appointee of Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen for the City of St. Louis). The elected board will remain in place. Downs said he hopes that the transitional panel and the elected board can work together effectively.
Dr. Diana Bourisaw has issued the following statement regarding tonight's decision by Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan to deny SLPS' request for a restraining order.
"I am here for the children in the St. Louis Public School system. We owe our students stability. I will stay and continue to work regardless of the governance structure."
Rick Sullivan told Fox 2 News today that Bourisaw will remain superintendent.
There are currently 26 vacancies for supervisors at the St. Louis Fire Department – 22 slots for captains, 4 for battalion chiefs. If the Fire Department needs these supervisors, Chief Sherman George should fill the jobs. And if he fills the jobs, he should promote the best qualified firefighters from the rosters of men and women who scored best on the Department’s competitive promotions exams.
A federal judge has ruled the test is valid, and that it fairly tests the skills needed to be a captain or battalion chief in the St. Louis Fire Department. The men and women who scored best on those tests should be serving in the jobs and being compensated for their service.
Right now, the Fire Department is halfway up a ladder. Firefighters are filling supervisory roles without competitive testing, formal promotions, or legal compensation for the firefighters who are serving as ad hoc captains and battalion chiefs.
Chief George should make the real promotions – or eliminate the jobs from the Table of Organization as unnecessary to run an effective department. I’ll support either decision, but not further organizational paralysis and bad practice.
ST. LOUIS — President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed today announced Richard K. Gaines as his selection to the three-member team charged with leading the Transitional School District of the City of St. Louis.
Gaines is a well-known local businessman and former president of the St. Louis Board of Education.
“I am pleased to be able to appoint someone to this board with as much knowledge and experience as Richard,” said President Reed.
“His years of experience with public education in this city will serve this body well. His understanding of the budgetary process will also help the Transitional Board move the district back onto solid financial ground.
“Richard graduated from Vashon High School, his children graduated from St. Louis Public Schools, and the citizens of this city elected him to serve on the school board. I am confident that Richard will represent the people and parents of our city and will do what is best for the children of St. Louis.”
Gaines is a lifelong resident of St. Louis and a graduate of Vashon High School (1965). He is married to Anne-Marie Clarke and has two daughters, both graduates of St. Louis Public Schools.
He was first elected to the School Board in 1983 and served as President from 1987-88.
Richard Gaines is President and CEO of Richard K. Gaines, Inc. and Vice-President of Daniel and Henry Company.
Mayor Francis Slay said today that if the St. Louis Board of Education refuses to recognize the Transitional Board's authority, even after the courts validate its existence, it would be breaking the law and suffer the consequences.
Mayor Francis Slay has selected Melanie Adams, former executive director of Teach for America, as his pick on the transitional board.
"This is going to be a challenging assignment for Melanie," wrote the mayor on his blog. "It took decades for the St. Louis Public Schools to fall into their current state. It will take some time to fix them.
"But, it is my hope that the new transitional school board can bring people together from all over the City to make sure the fundamental right to a quality education is fulfilled for all children in St. Louis."
Adams currently works at the Missouri History Museum under Robert Archibald, the museum's president and a former member of the school board.
Coincidentally, the St. Louis Board of Education voted last month to withdraw from its contract with Teach for America. [Correction: Contrary to early reports, the board did not cancel the Teach for America contract. They only called for a review.]
Aldermanic President Lewis Reed will be announcing the final selection to the three-person transitional board on Thursday.
UPDATE...Arguments are still being made by attorneys from both sides in Cole County Circuit Judge Richard G. Callahan's courtroom as opponents of the state takeover of St. Louis Public Schools push for a temporary restraining order.
Callahan has until Friday, the day the state is scheduled to strip SLPS of its accreditation, to make his decision.
Just minutes after the new school board president assumed his new post, he and a past board president butted heads over a request to have the superintendent release information about her meetings with the man that may soon hold more power than all of them combined.
Past President Veronica O'Brien wanted Superintendent Diana Bourisaw to give board members a report of any conversations she may have had with the new St. Louis Schools Czar Rick Sullivan, particularly those talks dealing with the district's legal firm of Lashly & Baer.
New President Peter Downs told O'Brien she should make a formal information request. But when Vice-President David Jackson made such a motion, O'Brien and the other members declined to second it.
Video shot by Gabe Bullard. Edited by Antonio French.
At the final meeting of the St. Louis School Board before a judge is to decide whether they should remain in control of the troubled school district, one board member showed up with a clear anti-takeover message — painted on her face.
Taking the Mike Tyson approach to personal expression, board member and parent Donna Jones sat thoughout tonight's meeting with the words "No State Takeover" written over her entire face in black marker.
By a 4-3 vote, Peter Downs has been elected the new president of the St. Louis Board of Education, beating out newly-elected member David Jackson.
Downs was nominated by past running mate Donna Jones. Jackson was nominated by Flint Fowler.
The vote was by secret ballot, but assuming Veronica O'Brien voted against Downs, Jackson's other two votes came from himself and Fowler. Downs was then selected by himself, Jones, Bill Purdy, and Katie Wessling, Jackson's former running mate.
Jackson was elected Vice-President and Fowler will again serve as Secretary.
[This news was sent to our PubDef Alerts subscribers more than an hour before any other news organization reported it. Sign up today. It's free. Why be left out of the know? Without it, you might as well wait for the daily paper!] UPDATE:See the video at PubDef.TV
The Missouri Supreme Court has reversed a lower court's decision that would have allowed the City of Clayton to use eminent domain to aid the $200 million downtown expansion of Centene Corporation.
Today the high court ruled that neither Centene nor Clayton had sufficiently proved the affluent area is indeed blighted.
Noting that the state definition of "blighted area" requires that certain portions of the city "by reason of age, obsolescence, inadequate or outmoded design or physical deterioration have become economic and social liabilities," the Court ruled today that the evidence of social liability was "insufficient."
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Ronnie White, who is retiring next month, wrote "I respectfully dissent. In my view, Centene presented sufficient evidence from which the City of Clayton reasonably could have determined that the redevelopment area had become an "economic and social liability." Click here to read the ruling.
U.S Senator and recently declared candidate for the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination Fred Thompson will be in Missouri this Friday to speak at the Missouri Bankers Association’s 117th Annual Convention in Osage Beach, MO.
Thompson will deliver the closing keynote speech of the event.
Thanks to fellow Missouri blogger John Combest for the links. Check out the Convention's Brochure for yourself here.
Commissioner of Education D. Kent King today denied an appeal by the St. Louis Public Schools that sought to have the State Board of Education reverse or reconsider its recent decision to de-accredit the school district.
Under a March 22 decision by the State Board of Education, the St. Louis School District is scheduled to become unaccredited this Friday, June 15
Go to the comments section to read King’s letter to St. Louis Schools Superintendent Diana Bourisaw.
We're happy to announce a couple of great new features! First, we now have continuous play on PubDef.TV, meaning you just go to the site and videos start playing automatically, one after the other — just like real TV, but on-demand!
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On Friday, June 15, friends of the late Marti Frumhoff will gather in Forest Park to honor, memorialize and celebrate the life and times of a woman who touched the lives of many St. Louisans.
"Rain or shine! We will be creating the space as we come together," writes friend Christopher Thiemet. "Some of us may want to share a story, read a poem, put up art work, lead us in a song... We see this as a informal time."
The event will be from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Pavilion 5, across from the Zoo. The focused phase of this gathering will begin at 5:30. If well-wishers are unable to attend, but wish to have something read they are are asked to email them to mel@changingtide.org and they will make sure that someone reads it for you.
"This memorial is a time of celebration in a park Marti cherished," said Thiemet.
Appearing on a local news show this morning, Mayor Francis Slay said that the U.S. Conference of Mayors had recently voted, in a blind taste test, the City of St. Louis as one of the five finalists for the "Best Tasting City Water in America."
Slay said the vote was based on three factors: clarity, aroma and taste.
From a starting group of 93, the other finalist cities are Anaheim, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Long Beach, CA; and Toledo, OH.
The five finalist cities will be advancing to compete at the 75th Annual Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles (June 22-26) for the title of "Best Tasting City Water in America." Hundreds of mayors from around the nation will then be the blind taste test judges. The winning city will receive a cash award of $15,000 and bragging rights.
School District attorneys will be in the Cole County Courthouse Wednesday making the case that the State Board of Education acted outside of the law when it voted to strip St. Louis Public Schools of its accreditation.
Circuit Judge Richard G. Callahan will hear the case and will be asked to impose an injunction preventing the creation of the Transitional School District which is scheduled to takeover the city's schools on Friday.
The case will be heard Wednesday on the 2nd floor of the Cole County Courthouse, 301 East High Street, in Jefferson City.
