St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Diana Bouriaw is one of 17 applicants to be the next head of the Cincinnati Public Schools, according to a Cincinnati newspaper.

Bourisaw, who has led SLPS since July 2006, decided not to re-apply for her job after the Special Administrative Board unexpectedly announced they were searching for a new superintendent.

Considering the relatively small group of educators with experience leading urban districts, Bourisaw may have an advantage on her competition for the Cincinnati job. In fact, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, several school board members there have specifically said experience in a large, urban setting is a high priority for the roughly 34,000-student district. Bourisaw is just one of seven applicants from school systems with more than 20,000 students. Enrollment in SLPS was 32,135 last year.

The Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools has selected a firm to head the search for district superintendent. At its regular board meeting Thursday night, the SAB approved the hiring of ProAct Search Inc., a Milwaukee-based company.

Back in February, the Special Administrative Board announced that it would conduct a search for a new superintendent of schools. The current superintendent, Diana Bourisaw, said she would not re-apply for her position, but will continue in her job during the search process.

How do we improve educational opportunities in St. Louis? That is one of the unanswered questions that has defined our region — as well as many other urban areas around the country — for more than three decades. Is is also the subject of an upcoming public forum which marks the return of former St. Louis Public Schools superintendent Cleveland Hammonds.

On Saturday, March 1, the St. Louis Board of Education (or “the elected board”, as it has become known as) will host a forum on public education at the Schlafly Library, 225 North Euclid Ave., from 11:00 to 2:00 PM.

Attendees will hear presentations from professional educators, including: Dr. Nancy Williams, assistant dean of education, Maryville University; Dr. John Wright, interim superintendent of Normandy Public Schools; Dr. Kathryn Pole, professor of educational studies, St. Louis University; Dr. Joyce Roberts, former principal of the national award-winning Laclede School; Tom Nolan, executive director of Access Academies; Rich Patton, director of Vision for Children at Risk; Mary Armstrong, president of the St. Louis teachers’ union, AFT Local 420; and Dr. Cleveland Hammonds, Jr., former SLPS superintendent.

We haven’t heard much from Dr. Hammonds since he retired in 2003. Hammonds led the district for seven years (a term, which compared to those of the six superintendents since Hammonds, seems expansive).

Group discussion, as well as public comments and questions, will follow the presentations. All are welcome.

The SLPS Administrative Facilities Committee has been discussing the possibility of school consolidations as a means of better utilization of school funds. Gundlach, Lyon, Mark Twain, Meramec, Mitchell, Shenandoah, Simmons, Blow and Wilkinson Early Childhood center have all been recommended.

The consolidations would be:

Mitchell Elementary to Hamilton Elementary could save an anticipated 418,132 dollars. Approximately, 256 students would be moved to Hamilton.

Gundlach Elementary to Ford, Lexington, and Laclede Elementaries could potentially save 475,000 dollars and would reassign about 217 students.

Shenandoah Elementary to Wyman Elementary would relocate 136 students and save 368,908 dollars.

Mark Twain Elementary to Walbridge Elementary is anticipated to save 458,831 dollars and move 211 students to better facilities.

Meramec Elementary to Monroe and Frobel Elementaries would relocate 211 pupils and possibly save 423,893 dollars.

Blow Middle to Long, Fanning, and L’Ouverture Middles would move 209 students.

All of the above schools’ programs will not change, but the students would benefit from a new curriculum and staff from both schools partnering together. There would be a variety of extra curricular activities to be involved in and additional community involvement.

Simmons Elementary to other magnet schools or Ashland, Hickey, Cote Brilliante, and Farragut Elementaries would save an anticipated amount of 585,134 dollars and would relocate 221 students.

Lyon Elementary to Blow Middle would move 153 students to Blow Middle. One of the focuses in this move would be the neighborhood. The new building would provide increase development in an air conditioned facility. Also, there would be access to public facilities in the community, such as public libraries, parks, and preschool programs.

Wilkinson Early Childhood to Roe Elementary would put 214 students in an air conditioned building that has more space on the inside and out. In addition to the students moving, they would have access to two playgrounds.

At yesterday’s town hall meeting on the latest proposal to close more schools in St. Louis City, Deanna Anderson, St. Louis Public Schools’ Director of Operations, began the meeting by assuring everyone that no final decision had been made yet on closing any schools.

“Nothing has gone to the board…” said Anderson repeatedly during the meeting. That’s true. No final decision has been made… yet. This series of public meetings are being held to allow parents and the community to discuss the reconfiguration and consolidation plans currently on the table.

Anderson presented a slideshow with key points from the Administrative Facilities Committee and reasons for why its members believe reconfiguration and consolidation of schools would be beneficial to the SLPS.

According to SLPS, the current capacity of the district is 43,343 students. However, actual enrollment was only 28,570 as of November 2, 2007. The average SLPS building is at just 66% capacity. The goal of the District is 88% or higher.

Closing schools and relocating more students into the remaining buildings would allow more funds to be used on education, rather than aging buildings. Over the last ten years, enrollment in city schools, as well as the city the population as a whole, has continued to decline. “It is not economically feasible for the district to remain at this level,” Anderson told the small crowd of approximately 20 people at Lexington Elementary last night.

According to Anderson, the current proposal of consolidating seven elementary schools (Gundlach, Lyon, Mark Twain, Meramec, Mitchell, Shenandoah, and Simmons) would save an estimated $3 million dollars each year, which doesn’t include the one middle school (Blow) and Early childhood center (Wilkinson) that is also being considered for consolidation. In addition, Anderson also argued that “capital cost avoidance from the consolidation of seven schools is approximately $21.3 million dollars.”

Initiatives towards better security and safety were also discussed last night. Under the proposal, there will be increased security patrol within city schools and surrounding neighborhoods through a partnership with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Gang Unit and Juvenile Division. Students, staff, and employees will be made aware of safety and security issues.

New configurations are being recommended as well. Possibilities are Carver will re-open, Henry, Mason, Shepard, Hodgen, and Wyman will return to PS-6th grade, Hamilton and Oak Hill will return to PS-5th grade, and Northwest will return to 8th-11th grade.

Near the end of the meeting, the audience was reminded again that all of the school closings were just recommendations and that nothing had yet been sent to the board.

For a listing of upcoming meetings on these proposed closings, visit the St. Louis Public Schools website (www.slps.org).

Apparently administrators at St. Louis Public Schools were the last to hear that the we’re in the middle of a winter ice storm. Less than two hours after school started this morning, they’ve announced kids will be sent home two hours from now, possibly making a dangerous situation even worse.

St. Louis Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2008
Media Contact: Deborah Sistrunk, 314-345-2254 office

SLPS Announces Early Release Day for February 21

St. Louis – Due to inclement winter weather, all of the St. Louis Public Schools will dismiss classes early today. Schools will follow normal early release procedures.

The dismissal time for schools will vary, depending upon each school’s start time.

Start Time……………Dismissal Time

7:20 a.m………………10:50 a.m.

8:15 a.m………………11:45 a.m.

9:10 a.m………………12:40 p.m.

All after-school activities and tonight’s town hall meeting are also cancelled. The district will continue to monitor weather conditions in regards to Friday’s schedule.

UPDATE: Officials say that St. Louis Public Schools will be making accommodations the parents of For the parents of elementary school students who cannot be at home when their children are dismissed.

Students who are not picked up within one hour of dismissal will be transported to one of two schools:

Sigel Elementary, 2039 Russell Avenue (63104), 314-865-5050
Yeatman-Liddell Middle, 4265 Athlone Ave (63115), 314-261-8132

Parents must pick up their children by 6 p.m. Many students will be transported to Sigel. However, it is strongly suggested that parents call to confirm which school is caring for their children. Students are being provided with a meal.