“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>On Tuesday, April 5, East St. Louis voters have an opportunity to do a little political housecleaning and begin the long-overdue process of change in ESL public schools before even more students choose to make a mass exodus from School District 189.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Recent Census data as well as Illinois State Report Card figures reveal that 3,000 children (ages 18 and younger) out of 10, 774 do not attend ESL schools.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Given a school district in which only 14 percent of 11th graders met standards in reading and only 6 percent of those met state standards in math last year, no one should be shocked that parents would be less than enthusiastic about ESL schools.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>However, ESL School District 189 Superintendent Theresa Saunders, the very person who should be on top of these matters, said she is surprised by these latest revelations.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It’s important for us to find out why parents would not want put their kids in our school,” Saunders said to the
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>Belleville News Democrat
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>With a school district that is routinely among the poorest performing locally and statewide, you really don’t know?
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I will predict that of the 3,000 “missing students,” some are attending school districts outside of East Boogie using different addresses. Others, including children of District 189 teachers, are enrolled in private schools (if their parents have the means). While others have simply dropped out, the victims of years of miseducation and frustration.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Saunders would know these things if she stayed in town long enough to remain in touch with her school district. During one recent interview, by reporter Craig Cheatham of KMOV-TV, Saunders did a poor job of justifying thousands of dollars in travel by herself and school board members.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>One School Board member, Kinnis Williams, after attempting to deny specific travel expenses, had to reverse himself after being shown documentation by Cheatham). Then HE made matters worse by asserting that he traveled so much that forgets where he has gone.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>That’s why on April 5 ESL voters must clean house.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>For example, the “Back to Basics” school board ticket boasts one Khalil El-Amin (formerly known as Albert Jerome Crockett). According to records received from the U.S. Department of Justice, he is a former drug trafficker who was released from prison in El Reno, Okla. on April 29, 1974.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>One possible option on that ticket is Karen Cason, a retired educator with verifiable credentials and 35 years of experience as a teacher, district administrator and city council member.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Former educators Toni Perrin and Joe Lewis are also viable options for voters looking for a change and new blood for District 189’s educationally anemic school board.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I hope ESL voters see this as a golden opportunity to change the futures of their children and vote in great numbers on April 5. If they don’t, then they have no one to blame but themselves.
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.
