NY Mayor Bloomberg Talks Mayoral Control of School Systems

The 2009 Chess Club Championship in St. Louis

St. Louis will host the U.S. Chess Championship this year! From May 7-17, 2009 the leading chess from around the country will compete for over $200,000 in prizes at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.

Chess has proven to develop memory, improve schoolwork/grades, develop logical thinking, inspire self-motivation and develop social skills. It is awesome that our community gets to share in such a momentous and historic event!

The website for the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis has more on the up-coming tournament, including free ticket information and competitor’s biographies, see: www.saintlouischessclub.org.

St. Louis Public School Board Lifts Deed Restrictions on Charter Schools

Coverage from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Charter schools will now — at least in theory — be able to buy shuttered St. Louis Public School buildings.

The St. Louis Public School Board voted last night to lift the deed restriction that barred charter groups from buying the former city schools.

District CEO Rick Sullivan said that the board simply bent to legislative pressure.

“The legislature felt very strongly that the provision was unfair or not appropriate,” he said. “We worked with legislative leaders to reach an understanding that I think is good for all parties.”

The ban had angered charter leaders searching for homes for their new schools, as well as dozens of state politicians tired of seeing the old buildings sit unattended in their districts, drawing crime and vandalism. (See prior coverage HERE.)

Word began to leak out at last night’s meeting that board members, in closed session, had voted to lift the ban. St. Louis Public wouldn’t confirm the news, but charter supporters began whispering.

Then, this morning, St. Louis Public made the news official.

State Rep. T.D. El-Amin, a Democrat who represents much of north St. Louis, said so many people were leaning on the board, it was just a matter of time. “We knew it was a levy bound to break,” he said.

Charter school advocates began celebrating early.

“This is a win for families in St. Louis who are seeking better education options for their children and for all of the taxpayers in the city who paid for these buildings,” said Earl Simms, state coordinator for the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri, a charter advocacy organization. “These buildings can now be sold to organizations seeking to open public charter schools. That not only gives more education options to parents, but the sale of these buildings will also provide more dollars to educate the district’s students.”

Others said the decision will help charter schools open more quickly.

“Charter schools often find alternative facilities to serve students - empty commercial space or other buildings constructed for purposes other than education,” Aaron North, director of the state charter school association, said this morning. “Making unused public school buildings available for purchase or lease will provide new and existing charter schools with more options to best serve the students and families in their charge.”

Still, the practical implications of the board’s decision are unclear.

The move doesn’t require the district to sell to charters, just to consider their offers.

School Choice Video

Lastest Deed Restriction Video

The Children’s Education Council of Missouri released a new video today once again highlighting the St. Louis Public Schools’ policy of restricting the sale of closed buildings. The restrictions do not allow purchasers of the buildings to reopen them as public charter schools. This video details the genesis of the issue going into Thursday’s SAB meeting.

I would like to ask you to forward the video on to others that you think may be interested in the issue. Let's make change happen!

Urban Education March & Forum

A march of concerned citizens will take place Friday (April 17th) in St. Louis to call attention to the issue of urban education. The march begins at St. Louis City Hall at 10:00 AM and proceeds to the offices of St. Louis Public Schools. It will be led by Rev. Horace Sheffield and DFER chairman Kevin Chavous and include many of the panelists From the Urban Education Forum.

The Urban Education Forum is taking place this Saturday (April 18) in St. Louis. It will be a platform for communication and information on education in urban areas. Community leaders, political officials, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders will come together to discuss solutions to the problems specifically facing these schools. It will be at Harris Stowe State University's Emerson Theater from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Radio station Hot 104.1 FM will be broadcasting live.

Panelists include:
Mayor Francis Slay
Dr. Kelvin Adams (Superintendent, St. Louis Public Schools)
Mary Armstrong (AFT Local 420 President)
Dr. Benjamin Chavis (Co-Chairman, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network)
Kevin Chavous (National Reform Author and Activist)
Missouri State Representative T.D. El-Amin (57th District)
Aaron North (Exec. Director, Missouri Charter Public School Assn.)
Mayor Alvin Parks (City of East St. Louis, IL)
Rev. Horace Sheffield (Detroit, MI)
Earl Simms (State Coordinator, Children Education Alliance)
Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith (4th District)
Joe Williams (Exec. Director, Democrats for Education Reform)

DFER-Midwest Director Rodney Hubbard will take any questions:
(314) 402-2517.

Sinquefield/Shock Sue to Lift Deed Restriction

Today, Rex Sinquefield and W. Bevis Schock filed a lawsuit against the St. Louis deed restriction in the Missouri District Court.

"These deed restrictions do nothing to help the poor and undeserved children of the City of Saint Louis," Sinquefield said. "In addition to denying young people an important educational opportunity, they contribute to the economic instability of our neighborhoods and create a dangerous situation for families. Clearly, this decision by the SAB is short-sided, and they should completely rescind this egregious disregard for Saint Louis children and the taxpayers who paid for these structures."

Since finding a building is often the hardest part, the current restriction is a blatant attack on charter schools. Unfortunately the victims are our children and our community.

Sinquefield, Schock sue St. Louis Public Schools to lift building sales deed restrictions (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Open Enrollment: Officials Discuss

New Deed Restriction Video

Lawmakers speak out against policy that restricts sale of abandoned school buildings. House bill 1040 would prohibit deed restrictions on public property being sold to another public entity. This would remove the St. Louis Public School's deed restrictions on closed buildings and allow the buildings to be purchased by charter schools.

Obama's Calls for Change in Education (Charter Schools & Merit Pay)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

YAY Charter schools! No more limiting them to only the Kansas City or St. Louis areas when children all across the state deserve high-quality education. No longer allowing children to suffer when schools to continually under-preform. And finally giving hopeless parent's a voice and a choice. CHARTER SCHOOLS--let's make it happen!!

"School buildings belong to the community."

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated in an interview with the Washington Post:

"School buildings don't belong to us. They don't belong to the unions. School buildings belong to the community."

The statement is extremely relevant to the St. Louis Public School deed restriction issue. The public school board and unions need to listen to the outcries of the community.

The current deed restriction is ethically, economically and logically absurd! And those living in the areas with closed/closing schools and even the U.S. Education Secretary publicly agree.

BAEO Battles Deed Restrictions at the State Board Meeting

The the Black Alliance for Educational Options (Missouri Chapter) battles the St. Louis Public School's deed restrictions at the State Board of Education meeting on February 20, 2009.

"These school buildings were built for education, and we want to see these vacant buildings do wonderful things in our community. Once they are open, they will become an anchor, particularly in the black community."

St. Louis City NEEDS Education Options

A sad reality for the St. Louis city from the Suburban Journals:

An unseen line separates here from there. Yet this simple, intangible barrier causes strain on the lives of Kelly Polson and her family.

They live in Clifton Heights on the western edge of the city. It's their home and they love it, but with a second son entering Catholic high school and the first of two young daughters readying for pre-school, they have a decision to make. Do they stay and pay tuition or move to St. Louis County to take advantage of the public school options offered there?

With the high cost of Catholic education, Polson would choose public schools in the city, if she thought they were working. She doesn't.

"I realistically cannot send my boys to St. Louis city public schools," she said. "We want to stay in the city. We love our home. It's just the schools are the problem. It's a constant conversation in our house of what we're going to do."

Families have been having similar conversations for years. A large number of them leave the city.

Charter schools have taken some of the enrollment, but not all, said Dan Schmidt, a demographer who worked on the report.

"Children are being born that are leaving the district before they enter a school there," Schmidt said.

The migration to the county started in the 1970s, said Robbyn Wahby, education liaison for Mayor Francis Slay. Even looking at the decline since 2000, Wahby said 9,000 of the students lost went to charter school, but the rest went to the county.

"The greatest competitor to the St. Louis Public Schools are the 25 school districts in the county," she said.

Tracy Garrett, head of school at St. Louis Charter School, said while some parents have chosen charter schools, she is concerned that people are still leaving. A lot of the students who leave the charter schools go to the county, she said, but some never enroll.

"You have young people moving into the city, starting their families and just when they're starting to be a little more economically stable, they move," Garrett said. "They feel they have to move."

Much of the concern comes from parents who are aware of the district's turnover of superintendents and the former feuding of the elected school board, said Kathleen Sullivan Brown, an associate professor in the college of education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

"Parents would look at that and say, 'I don't want to necessarily start my child in a system like that and have to deal with that for all the years my child has to be in school,'" she said.

People have a negative perception about the district, Sullivan Brown said. If people have the financial resources to pick another option, they do.

"If people have no options, the local school is where they have to send their children," she said.

The bottomline: Families need school choice options. Charter school expansion needs greater support. The SLPS district needs reform. And the St. Louis community desperately needs better education options!

Missouri School Board Spending Secrets

The Columbia Daily Tribune recently ran a report of the Missouri School Board purposely keeping the public in the dark about important money issues, especially at the association's annual forum.

Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson even praised his school board for not paying close attention to the district’s spending habits. Board members are welcome to talk about long-term goals, he said, but shouldn’t get into details of the day-to-day spending."

Independence has thousands of budget codes that school board members “don’t want to know,” he bragged. And, while board members are welcome to ask about district bills in private, they shouldn’t do it at a public meeting, Hinson advised. Apparently, there are "more important things to do at board meetings" than scrutinize district expenditures.

“The board doesn’t get involved in the daily operation of the school district, absolutely not,” Hinson said. “If they did, I wouldn’t work there.”

Shortly after Hinson spoke, Rick Nobles, a consultant with Patron Insights, urged school leaders to be vague when trying to get voters to approve bond issues or tax increases. For instance, he said, rather than telling district patrons that bond money would be used to add six classes, tell them the money would ease overcrowding. Patrons just don’t want to be beat over the head with details, he said.

Among Nobles' advice: Don't tell voters "it's for the children," he said. "That doesn't pull heartstrings the way you think it will."

This is absolutely unacceptable! The public deserves to know specifically how their taxpayer money is being used! This lack of openness just makes everyone assume they have something to hide. Education dollars need to be accounted for!

Even More Against the Deed Restriction

The community opposition grows against the SLPS deed restrication.
The American Association of Architects (St. Louis Chapter) and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis have joined the fight for our children's education.

Basically, charter schools are currently banned from acquiring any of closing or already empty school properties in the St. Louis School District. Our children or the community were clearly not considered in this ridiculous policy by the Special Administrative Board. Why wouldn't school buildings be allowed to be schools?! No one, including the appointed administration, has an answer.

But for answers to your questions on the issue check out the Children's Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM) video.

More Deed Restriction Coverage

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch caught wind of the ridiculous deed restriction clause that stops charter schools from buying closed public school buildings.

Approximately 29 more buildings are supposed to close. There are currently six properties on the market in St. Louis city and 15 others that have been closed and abandoned.

A former school building could be purchased fairly for between $800,000 and $1.5 million, compared to converting a nonschool building, which would cost $2 million to $6 million! This money could be better spent on our children instead.

Community outrage continues to grow. "You losing all these schools," said Lamarr Paige, 38, a father of six. "And all the buildings just sitting there, just sitting there!"

Resolutions has been proposed in Jefferson City and board members have stated that the subject will likely be revisited.

Charter schools ARE public schools, allowing MORE children a BETTER education CLOSE to home.

SLPS Deed Restriction

Outrageous!!

The Children's Education Alliance of Missouri webpage

Missouri Political News Service Coverage

CEAM Conference: United for Missouri Kids and Communities

Many leaders from across the state united yesterday for the Children's Education Allence of Missouri's (CEAM) yearly conference to discuss bringing education to our children and hope to our communities.

It is very encouraging to see such a diverse mix--including everyone from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder to groups such as BAEO--coming together to fight--in the both the public and political fields--for education reform.

Supporting charter schools was a main topic. With an increasing number of public school closures all with deed restriction clauses in effect, it is obvious that this school choice NEEDS this support.

School Choice in Columbia

Columbia Public Schools board member Ines Segert has been receiving criticism lately for her decision to enroll her son in the private Columbia Independent School.

The quality of education at this school is revered throughout the community. Which is obvious given the fact that parents, including Dr. Segert, think it is worth 10 grand a year per child.

Dr. Seger's decision reminds us of the importance of fairness in Missouri's education. As legislation currently stands, Charter Schools (or free public alternative schools) are not allowed in Columbia (or anywhere in the state for that matter--besides Kansas City & St. Louis). Therefore, those that can not afford the cost of private institutions are basically stuck, leaving parents powerless against poor performance or unmotivated teachers.

This controversy can also be used to illustrate that school choice efforts SUPPORT public schools. When parents are given options, ALL schools are held accountable, therefore public schools improve and all children are better educated!

School choice must enter any public and political discussion on education!


School choice up to parents

CEAM Charter School Video

The Children's Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM) sets the record straight! After seeing the truth, how could anyone disagree with the promise charter schools offer?! Academie Lafayette is a perfect example of the hope this reform offer can bring.

Missouri needs more charter schools! In fact, as law currently stands, these schools are only allowed in Kansas City and St. Louis. But ALL of Missouri deserves this promising opportunity. ALL families deserve educational options. MORE charter schools in ALL areas of the state will significantly help the current education crisis!!

School Tax Credits Help Kids and the State

The financial slowdown is prompting many families who can no longer afford both taxes and private school tuition to move their children into public schools. The accelerating closure of private schools in urban areas will only add to the pressure. Public schools will suddenly need to spend more -- even as tax revenues drop. With this kind of budget problem, lawmakers need to take a look at an important benefit of programs that make it easier for families to choose private schools: School choice means huge savings for state and local governments.

There is a way to avoid getting slammed by huge new demands for public school spending while saving money and improving education: A broad-based, moderate-size education tax credit would help families stay in private schools and save their children from burdening taxpayers with the public schools' (much greater) price tag. The credit would also help others make the switch to the private sector, easing the burden on taxpayers even more.

Education tax credits reduce the amount a taxpayer owes the government for each dollar one spends on his child's education or on scholarships for children who need them. That money comes straight off a person's tax liability, so it's a dollar-for-dollar benefit: You can send it to the government or use it on the kind of education you want to support. Tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations help support school choice for lower-income families.

Legislators and overburdened taxpayers have literally $millions$ of reasons to support school choice!

School Tax Credit Can Help Kids and the State by Adam Schaeffer of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom.

Black Neighborhoods Support More Parental Options

Matching Missouri's 2007 Show-Me institute research, parents in Virgina have high levels of dissatisfaction with their public schools and overwhelmingly support school choice for parents.

The majority black neighborhoods favored a variety of educational reforms including tax credits for personal or corporate donations to K-12 scholarship funds, grants to allow students with disabilities to attend the private school of their choice and public charter schools.

It is inspiring to see this support for fairness of opportunity through school choice. And it is time to provide new options for Missouri children at risk of failure, regardless of ethnicity or income. Give the people what they need!

Survey conducted by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy and the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO).

Read More on the Issue

Home Schooling is on the Rise

KSDK Report

Research shows over 1.5 million children are being home-schooled nationwide.

Though traditionally they were seen just as conservative Christians, the survey proved that more and more families are utilizing home-schooling as a means of school choice. Home school can help ensure personal attention and provide an option outside of the public schools.

Theses options are the key to school improvements and ensuring every child receives a proper education.