[UPDATE: Read our later story “Oxford Apologizes to Cunningham” to get even more info about what happened.]

Did State Rep. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) really turn tail on two teens who came to Jefferson City to support anti-bullying legislation?

The office of Jeanette Mott Oxford (D-St. Louis) put out a press release Thursday claiming Cunningham refused to meet with students Desiree Bain and Austyn Langston of Jackson County because “she found their appearance very difficult to look at.”

Oxford, who did meet with the students, said they had multiple facial piercings and one had “vividly colored hair.”

“Other than that they looked like regular teenagers to me,” Oxford said.

The incident happened March 26. Langston and Bain were at the State Capitol in support of the Missouri Safe Schools legislation (House Bill 1751). The bill contains training provisions for teachers and school administrators to better recognize and stop school bullying. The bill also addresses harassment of homosexual and transgender students.

The bill is presently being held up by Rep. Cunningham who is the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee chairperson.

PubDef.net has tried to contact Cunningham’s office for her side in this incident, but so far all attempts have been unsuccessful.

According to a press release for Oxford’s office, after refusing to meet with Langston and Bain, Rep. Cunningham told another group of students that:

(L)ooking at these two young women was making her ill and that she didn’t understand why they hated themselves.

Oxford would later meet with those same students and recalled how upset they were.

We all have different polices about who can see us in our offices, but anytime students make it to the capitol I try to talk to students … I try to treat them with hospitality whether they are dressed ‘properly’ or not.

The students involved went to the office of Sara Lampe (D-Springfield). She wasn’t in so her assistant got me. The kids were quite upset and I wanted them to see an elected official who’s going to receive them warmly.

Oxford said Cunningham may tell the story one way, but others find it another. She thinks Cunningham should set aside her prejudices and work with her fellow representatives to fight bullying.

I am not in anyway impugning some kind of lack of compassion or ill motivation on Rep. Cunningham’s part. She and lots of other will meaning people don’t understand the dynamics of hateful speech.

The state passed a law saying ‘no bullying.’ That’s not good enough. Unless there’s some training for teachers and principals on when and how to spot bullying, schools are not doing a good job with it. I sat down with a student who’s since dropped out of school because of the bullying she was receiving.

Washington University has named a new provost … and he’s the same as the last provost.

Executive Vice Chancellor Edward S. Macias, the dean of Arts & Sciences, was named to the position, to begin Jan. 1, 2009. He was the last person to serve as provost at Wash U almost 13 years ago.

Wash U. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton made the announcement last Friday.

According to a press release by the university, Macias was the last person to hold the position of provost at Wash U., from 1988 to 1995. Since then he has kept maintained the duties of a chief academic officer.

Macias will step down as dean on June 30 and take on his new position after a six-month sabbatical.

University officials said a interim dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences will be named soon, and the University will launch a national search for a new dean.

The provost, along with the chancellor and the academic deans, are responsible for the oversight of the educational and scholarly programs at the University. The release states that “the provost is the chief academic officer of the University, responsible for working with the deans to enhance the quality and impact of the University’s academic mission. The provost, working with the executive vice chancellor for administration and the chief financial officer, also has responsibility for coordinating the budgeting and capital planning of the University.”

Teachers can be activists too!

Or at least the point teachers Jeanine Molloff and Cris Mann of St. Louis Public Schools are making. They’ll be hosting a chat tonight on “In What Ways Can Teachers Be Political?” It’s happening tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Adult Learning Center, 5078 Kensington Ave.

The event will be hosted by the Literacy for Social Justice Teacher Research Group, a grassroots, teacher-led organization committed to literacy education and advocacy for social justice in classrooms and communities.

The discussion will feature other teachers and parent activists sharing their stories about trying to change educational systems for the better while being mired in politics. They will also talk about the “complexities of teacher-activism” including topics like getting involved in Independent political parties, balancing teaching and activism and advocating for educational issues.

They will also host Millie Phillips, a parent in the San Francisco Public School system. She played an active role in anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan’s Congressional campaign.

For more info, check out the Literacy for Social Justice Teacher Research Group Web site at www.umsl.edu/~lsjtrg/.

By Tomminesha Matchingtouch

A special education advocate accused public school programs in Missouri and across the nation of having a “wait to fail” model when it comes to educating the learning disabled.

At a St. Louis Regional Education Roundtable discussion Wednesday, Patricia Hardman of Florida McKay Coalition said parent choice for special education is needed.

“If we aren’t making the change, we need to take the responsibility and make a change,” Hardman said.

She, along with two other panelists, attended a St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) hosted discussion looking at special education options outside of the public school system. Much of the talk centered around a bill currently in the Missouri Assembly that would allow private donations to fund scholarship programs for special needs students.

School choice remains a divisive issue St. Louis, with advocates calling for more options, while others fear these reform tactics could dismantle the public school system.

Members of the panel said they weren’t “anti-public school” but wanted to offer other options to problems with special education.

The discussion primarily focused on plans to start a tax credit program which meets the needs of Missouri students while saving tax payers a lot of money.

“It will make the public schools more efficient and provide them with more resources,” said Dave Roland, policy analyst for the Show Me Institute.

The tax credit program calls for individual donations to fund scholarships. No public money would be used.

The measure needs to be passed by Missouri’s General Assembly to go into effect.

“Just because someone doesn’t have financial means they shouldn’t be locked into a school system that doesn’t serve their children’s needs,” said Anna Rich of the St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association.

Also at the meeting was David Thomas, CEO of the Logos School program. He is supportive of the upcoming measure seeing it as another option for families. Logos currently works with St. Louis Public Schools, taking on special needs students the district is unable to serve, if the family can afford the cost.

If the bill were to pass more students would be able to attend Logos’ private program.

“If a child (doesn’t) succeed we’re not answering them,” he said. “We’re not passing the test.”

With all the drama surrounding St. Louis Public Schools any discussion on the subject sounds like a marvelous notion to kick off some progress, so education professionals are preparing their thinking caps for the latest round of The St. Louis Regional Education Round-table’s “Gateway to 21st Century Education” series.

The issue du jour is “Special Needs Education in St. Louis.” The chat is happening this Wednesday, bright n’ early, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at St. Louis RCGA’s Regional Collaboration Center (at the corner of Broadway and Pine Street), One Metropolitan Square, Suite 1200, St. Louis.

A variety of education players will be on-hand, including C. K. “Chip” Casteel Jr., Senior Vice President of Public Policy for RCGA and moderator Anna Rich, director of the St. Louis Learning Disabilities Program. Discussion panelist members include Dave Roland of the Show Me Institute, David Thomas of Logos School and Patricia Hardman of the Florida McKay Coalition.

The panel will Special Education diagnosis, services and “new national trends on creating more financial support for children with special needs.”

A change is coming, yet again, for St. Louis City Schools.

The St. Louis Public Schools Special Administrative Board has approved the plan for school reconfigurations, building closures and the school calendar for the 2008-2009 school year. Three schools including Mitchell, Gunlach and Wilkinson Early Childhood Center will close while Lyon and Blow will be consolidated to create one school.

The recommendations were made by Superintendent Diana Bourisaw at March 10th’s board meeting. The plan calls for the reopening of one school and the closing of four others. Several elementary schools will also be affected, being restructured to preschool through grades fifth or sixth.

In a release from the district Bourisaw said the changes address concerns “voiced by our parents, students and community members.” She said the changes will improve facility usage and will enhance the district’s “academic offerings” and continue have “environments conducive to learning.”

The plan is the result of several community forums held by the district during February and March where Bourisaw listened to public comments and concerns before submitting her recommendation to the board.

According to a press release from St. Louis Public Schools the changes include:

The consolidation of Lyon with Blow to create a kindergarten through eighth grade program.
The reassignment of Mitchell students to Hamilton and Ford
Reassigning Gundlach students to Ford, Lexington and Laclede
Wilkinson Early Childhood Center will move to Roe
Carver will become an elementary school

Schools slated to be reconfigured are:

Henry, Mason, Shepard and Monroe will change back to preschool through sixth grade
Hamilton and Oak Hill will be preschool through fifth grade again
Hodgen will expand to preschool to sixth grade

School calendar changes include:

The first day of school will take place during the third week of August, this year being August 18
Next year the regular school year will increase from 175 to 176 days, comparable to other school districts
The calendar will also include six built-in snow days, allow for school exams to happen before winter break, to extend winter break and include a heat advisory plan

Looking for a 100-year old school building? It’s a buyer’s market!

On February 27th, St. Louis Public Schools put seven previously closed, vacant schools on the market. As the St. Louis Business Journal reported today, the asking prices for the schools total more than $7 million.

The listed the schools are:

• The Old Hodgen School at 2730 Eads Ave.
• Jackson School at 1632 Hogan St.
• Eliot School at 4242 Grove St.
• Central High School at 3616 North Garrison Ave.
• Hempstead Elementary at 5872 Minerva Ave.
• Garfield School at 3200 Texas Ave.
• Euclid Branch at 5057 Ridge Ave.

Hilliker Corp. and Linda M. Walsh Real Estate LLC are marketing the schools for the school district. “This offering provides a rare opportunity for redevelopers and users to have a choice of large, historically and architecturally significant structures located throughout the city of St. Louis,” said Hal Ball of Hilliker Corp told the Business Journal.

According to district officials, all of the buildings have been vacant for at least three years and represent just a fraction of the vacant buildings owned by the district. “We do have approximately 20 buildings that are vacant,” Kruger told the Journal, “although not all of them will be considered for sale.”

The Special Administrative Board of SLPS approved the sale of the schools in January. News of these school listings comes as discussion continues on yet another round of school closings. Read our previous report on town hall meetings where parents and community members gave feedback about the possible closings.

The current recommendations for school closings have been reevaluated in the context of those public comments. New recommendations for closings and consolidations will be announced Monday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 4.

In the meantime, you might consider investing in one of the beautiful 40 bedroom, 5 bathroom, possible summer homes, with convenient locations throughout the city.

Senate Bill 830 & Senate Bill 1036

Senator Maida Coleman thinks the best way to say “thank you to the brave men and women from Missouri who have answered this nation’s call to duty” is to help combat veterans and their families get a college degree.

Coleman is sponsoring a bill (SB 830) that would cap tuition at $50 per credit hour for returning Missouri veterans who are seeking a degree or certificate. She is sponsoring another bill that would pay up to 50% of the college costs for children and spouses of Missouri veterans who are killed in combat (SB 1036).

SB 830, known as the “Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act,” is cosponsored by Republican Senator Kevin Engler. It has unanimously passed the Senate and moves onto the House for consideration.

SB 1036 is currently in the Pensions, Veteran’s Affairs, and General Laws Committee. It would create 25 new educational grants that would pay up to 50% of the survivor’s tuition costs, $500 per semester for books, and $2000 for room and board.

Coleman sponsored legislation similar to both bills during the 2006 and 2007 sessions.

Senate Bill 771

Senator Ryan McKenna (D-Crystal City), introduced legislation to create an income tax credit for contributions made to provide military personnel with armored protection.

This dollar-for-dollar tax credit is limited to $1000 per taxpayer per year and works like a donation to a non-profit organization. The credit would also apply to in-kind contributions of body armor, armor plating for vehicles, or other materials used to make armor.

Senate Bill 1062

Senator Frank Barnitze (D-Lake Spring) says that “A lot of folks serving in the military…should not have to worry about filing (tax) reports in a timely manner in order to avoid financial penalties when they are putting their lives on the line for our country.”

His offering a bill that would allow active duty soldiers and members of National Guard and Reserves to delay filing corporate and franchise tax reports with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for 120 days from the completion of their military service. The bill is designed to help farmers or small business owner serving in the military.

SB 1062 is currently being reviewed by the Pensions, Veteran’s Affairs, and General Laws Committee.