By Susan Turk

June 15, 2011-St. Louis—Today marks the 4th anniversary of the removal of accreditation from the SLPS and the imposition of the transitional school district and its appointed Special Administrative Board to govern the St. Louis Public Schools.  The Watch will mark the anniversary by noting a few of the SAB’s accomplishments.

The district has been governed by 3 superintendents during the past 4 years, Dr. Diana Bourisaw, Dr. John Wright and Dr. Kelvin Adams.

Dr. Adams’ contract was renewed last February through June 2014.  No details were provided on the terms of the contract, such as salary and bonuses.  

Drop Out Rate

In June, 2007 when the SAB took control the drop out rate was 12.1%.  The latest public data for a district drop out rate is the 09-10 school year’s.  It is 19.6%. 

The Watch asked for this year’s drop out rate and was told that the number will not be available until DESE compiles and publishes it in December. In other words, they don’t want you to know.

ACT Data

In 2007, 93.7% of the 1,489 students in the senior class took the ACT and the average score was 16.3. 15.2% scored at or above the national average.

In 2010, only 83.1% of the 1,767 students in the senior class took the ACT and the average score was 16. Only 11% scored at or above the national average.  So, while the graduation rate increased, the percentage of students taking the test dropped and their achievement level dropped.

Discipline Incidents 

In 2007, there was a disciplinary incident rate of 2.80 per 100 students.    In 2010, according to DESE’s statistics there were 5.30 incidents per 100 students.   Incidents are up.

Out of school suspensions went from 867 or 2.70 per hundred students in 2007 to 1,172 or 4.70 per 100 students in 2010. 

MAP Scores

MAP scores are up though.  The percentage proficient or advanced in Communication Arts was 19.5 in 2007 and 30.7 in 2010.  Math increased district wide from 17.2 to 26.9. Unfortunately, the increase was too small to meet annual yearly progress requirements and gain standard points for accreditation.

Enrollment

According to DESE’s records K-12 enrollment in 2007 was 32,361. The district reported 1,306 in pre-K for a total of 33,967.  This school year it was 25,226 including pre-k. Approximately 25% of the district’s students in 2007 have declined to continue their education under the SAB.

The mainstream stream media and the powers that be tell us that the SAB is doing a fine job running the SLPS.  They must have low expectations.

Teacher Bashing   ByPeter McGivern

So I’m awake wondering why someone who has a masters degree + 45 post-grad hours and 30 years in the profession (during which I’ve contributed more to my pension than workers do to Social Security—and I will not get SS—even though for 12 years I paid into it) has to apologize for what I make, which, in fact, is less than the average salary for someone in my community. And, I wonder why the subject of well-paid teachers is a foul topic to start with. It’s as though teachers are mendicant monks who shouldn’t ask for more than a subsistence wage.  And I marvel at America’s absence of memory.  My God, this is the 19th century era of Robber Barons, anti-labor, corporate greed, and anti-regulation all over again. And the business interests have duped America—again. Why can we give tax breaks to those who make more than $250,000 then turn around and complain that veteran teachers (who make less than $100 K) are overpaid?! And we’re going to cut their benefits. Why does the right not complain about bonuses to Wall St. execs who trashed the economy, but God forbid teachers should get a contract with dental insurance. And I’m reminded of my (borrowed from many an historian) lesson to students that unions probably saved capitalism. If workers did not have unions to turn to check the abuses of capitalism, then workers would have demanded wholesale economic change and not just reform. Wouldn’t socialism be more appealing to workers living in a nation where 1 percent of the population controls a quarter of its wealth?  Unions are about reform, not revolution. Take away collective bargaining rights and you lose the workers’ peaceful means of righting the system. ‘Ahh, the government will protect workers,’ you say. But No. Look at lax government regulation in so many areas (mining disasters, environmental hazards, inadequate civil protections against floods, oil spills, the housing bubble, Enron and Wall Street). All inspire little confidence.  My union does more to ensure Special Ed  students’ educational rights than the  District aka—management does. Richard Hofstadter wrote a book years back titled Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. His thesis was that this country does not value those who work with ideas. We want practical professions who, at the end of the day, produce something tangible.  So plumbers and electricians get paid more than teachers, and inventors are valued more than theorists, and it’s OK to criticize school teachers but heaven help us if we speak ill of MBA’s. My advice to my kids SADLY—stay out of teaching. The abuse isn’t worth it. Now, I’m going to the ‘Y’ to work off this morning’s 3 cups of coffee.  

Calendar

June 16, Thursday, regular bi-monthly SAB meeting, 6 p.m., 801 North 11th Street, room 108. The public is given time to address the SAB at all meetings.  To speak, arrive before 6 p.m. and sign the sheet at the lecturn at the front of the room on the right.

June 30, Thursday, regular bi-monthly SAB meeting, 6 p.m., 801 North 11th Street, room 108. The public is given time to address the SAB at all meetings.  To speak, arrive before 6 p.m. and sign the sheet at the lecturn at the front of the room on the right.

July 12, Tuesday, regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, 7 p.m., Carr Lane VPA Middle School, 1004 N. Jefferson, dance studio. The public is given time to address the BOE at all meetings.  To speak, arrive before 7 p.m. and sign the sheet at the lecturn at the front of the room.

Please note, The Schools Watch has a new mailing address, P.O. Box 1983, St. Louis, MO 63118. Our email address continues to be SLS_Watch@yahoo.com

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Send them to SLS_Watch@yahoo.com

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