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)

St. Louis Public Schools Power Struggle Ended

Missouri Supreme Courts decided earlier this month to judicially validate the takeover of the St. Louis Public School District. The suit, brought forth by previous board members, is just another example of misdirected and self-guided efforts and the denial of the serious education crisis afflicting the district.

The court agreed that the unaccredited status, that went in to effect June 2007, was based on valid criteria and objective information, including the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's evaluation of the district's performance.

Not that the verdict is in, leaders need to unite with a focus on actually improving the schools--fighting for our children, not themselves.


Want more on the topic?

The case

New York Times: Missouri Schools Takeover Upheld

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (story & local comments): Elected city school board loses again

Missouri Lawyers Weekly: Supreme Court upholds state takeover of St. Louis Public School District

Kansas City InfoZine: Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Decision on St. Louis School District’s Loss of Accreditation

KWMU: Mo. Supreme Court upholds state-appointed school board

We can't rule out school choice

The issue of school choice was brought into the public forum by way of the courts this week. A judge dismissed a case of families seeking reimbursement for their tuition to send their children to a public school outside the unaccredited St. Louis Public School District. Though a retrospective lawsuit (that could unpredictably lead to infinitely more cases) is not the way to bring about this reform—the issue of parental choice is serious and extremely necessary! Parents deserve options in the face of failing schools—despite their financial conditions. Plans have been developed for Missouri using economically sound and empirically-proven methods. It is important for parents, the public, school officials and government politicians to come together behind school choice reforms—therefore creating the educational improvements our children deserve.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch news coverage