2006

by Peter DownsMarch 20, 2006 -- Richard Pack made a modest proposal to the St. Louis Board of Education on March 14: teach children how to focus by teaching them chess.Pack said he was a…

The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 65-34, has passed a controversial bill that gives broad authority to President George W. Bush to interpret (or re-interpret) the long-standing Geneva Convention standards on the treatment of…

Kristen Hinman has a very good article on Superintendent Dr. Diana Bourisaw's new directive to her staff to ensure that all participants in the district's basketball program are eligible to play according to the state's…

The following is a reprint from SLSWatch:by The Watch CommitteeAccording to school board member Peter Downs, St. Louis Public Schools are now accepting applications for admission to magnet schools.The district moved up the application period…

So how does a bill for $2 million get delivered to St. Louis Public Schools in December 2005, but not come to the attention of the superintendent or the chief financial officer until last Monday?"The…

by Peter DownsMarch 2, 2006 -- Nearly 80 people attended a meeting at Mullanphy School last night to discuss problems with student transportation and a longer school day. The meeting was arranged in response to…

The Associated Press is reporting that President George W. Bush will be in the City of St. Louis on Thursday. From the AP: The White House has confirmed that Bush is planning to attend the…

COMMENTARY When the balance of power shifted on the St. Louis City School Board back in April, the Post-Dispatch and its education reporter, Steve Giegerich, suddenly began to watch the district with a critical eye.…

Below are answers from school district administrators to questions from St. Louis Board of Education member Peter Downs regarding items on the administration's consent agenda for April 18, 2006.Textbook items: (Numbers 4, 5, 11, 12,…