2006

Take a look at St. Louis a half a century ago in this 9 minute promotional video from the old St. Louis Community Chest fund. Keep up with St. Louis politics at www.pubdef.net Video_Reports

An article in yesterday's St. Louis Schools Watch e-newsletter states that "the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved five more charter schools for St. Louis". According to a DESE spokesman, that is not…

The following is by Peter Downs, member of the St. Louis Board of Education:What's the problem with teachers?Over the last few months, the dominant media in town have focused on conflicts between the superintendent of…

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.…

Officials at the St. Louis City Board of Elections tell PUB DEF that based upon morning traffic at the polls, they expect a higher than expected turnout of about 58 to 60 percent — roughly…

BREAKING NEWSREAD IT HERE FIRST A Circuit Court judge has upheld School Board member Bill Purdy’s right to sit on the board. Purdy was being sued by two fellow board members, Flint Fowler and Ron…

SHE SAID WHAT? — Following the our city’s dubious distinction once again as the “Most Dangerous City in America“, comes an interesting quote from one of St. Louis’ paid cheerleaders. Mary Hendrod, of the St.…

The following is a letter from an exiting administrator in St. Louis Public Schools:Since I am now leaving the BOE (my position for improving student performance on ACT and AP examinations has been eliminated), I…

Deb Peterson and Steve Patterson are reporting that a documentary about Jeff Smith’s unsuccessful 2004 campaign for Congress has been selected as one of the docs at a Washington D.C. film festival. Smith narrowly lost…