St. Louis Public spells out plan to sell old school buildings
Want to buy a St. Louis Public School building? Not so fast.
The St. Louis Public Schools just spelled out considerations before it will sell old school buildings to charters.
The board voted unanimously last night in closed session to lift deed restrictions barring school groups from buying old SLPS buildings.
But the policy doesn’t go into effect until June 30, 2009, “to allow the district ample time to evaluate the facility needs for the upcoming school year in light of several new academic initiatives presented at (last night’s) meeting by Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams.”
Among those issues, the release says, are:
• Assessing the required classrooms and schools needed for initiatives, such as pilot independent schools, before and after school programs, and alternative education programs which are included in (Adams’) academic plan for the district.
• Providing alternate school sites for buildings undergoing lead paint abatement during the summer of 2009.
“We have worked with our elected leaders at the state capital in resolving this issue, and we appreciate their support in finding a resolution where we can enhance the education for all of our City students,” said Rick Sullivan, President & CEO of the Special Administrative Board.
The deed restriction has been a long standing issue from past school boards, and it was determined by the Special Administrative Board to be in the best interest of student education in St. Louis to revisit and revise the policy.
State Representative Tim Jones (R-89) said, “I appreciate the willingness of the St. Louis Public Schools to revisit this policy. I believe that by working together, we have reached a solution satisfactory to all parties for the betterment of education for the children in the City of St. Louis.”
State Representative Chris Carter (D-61) added, “I support the Special Administrative Board in this decision that will help make our neighborhoods stronger. This decision allows the St. Louis Public Schools to do what it believes is in the best interest of all the students in the City of St. Louis.”
(sorry for my tardiness) yay! Go St. Louis! It does slightly worry me that these buildings can become something other than schools. With the amount of kids testing below basic in core subjects (reading, writing, arithmetic), i think that the SAB should come up with a matrix on how to decide to sell the buildings. Yes I get that this is a way to generate money. But on the other hand, the SAB could actually use their double edged sword by selling to the highest bidder who will also increase the reading levels of our children. Whether that be Kumon, Kaplan, Sylvan, charters, Technical Schools, etc…
I also wanted to comment on Yaz23’s comment about academic coaches. In no way is PD for teachers a slap on the wrist, or an insult. There are a lot of people who want teaching to be looked at as a professional field. We as parents/aunts/uncles/supporters, are looking for people who will teach the next leaders of our communities, and we want those people to be well trained. That said, everyone should be held to a standard, and be given a chance to improve on their craft. If you have time to look it up, the east coast has a taxonomy master named Doug Lemov who has written the “Taxonomy of Effective Teaching Practices.” This PD is being used by Teach for America and other national organizations. It is a video collection of what good teaching looks like. People are breaking down his door for a piece of his coaching. Academic coaches are just like the NBA coaches that coach players who get paid millions of dollars. Academic coaches are just like Hockey Coaches who coach men to go out and fight each other, i mean play hockey on the ice. And Academic coaches are just like your boss who tell you how to get a raise or move up in your organization—or you serve as your own coach and aren’t willing to share your knowledge with others. Don’t knock the training or the lingo—the greatest heroes of our time have their own version of an academic coach.
Finally to ProSLPS’ comment just saddens me. Do you really think that some charter school will be the demise of the SLPS? But it seems as if you’ve interviewed ALL the teachers who’ve left SLPS and returned. Could you send us those figures? Being a graduate of the SLPS it hurts that if I were still at student you would not want me to get an education, just because you disagree with the words ‘charter schools.’ And I say the words ‘charter schools’ because you’ve used a blanketed statement to say “most charter schools fail anyway”. Research is the answer to the question of what you haven’t done. My kindergartners would be happy to tell you different.
Ok that’s all from me (for now) who’s going to open a school!? Keep us updated!