St. Louis Public Schools has not been adequately serving its students for decades, and the district is on track to slide further into decline. SLPS students lag significantly behind state averages in test scores, graduation rates and college readiness with wide racial and socioeconomic disparities.
The district is chronically underfunded, with state and local revenue continuing to shrink as families switch their students to charter schools, taking thousands of dollars of public money with them for each student. St. Louis continues to lose residents — and the local taxes they pay to support the district. School buildings, many of them crumbling or in serious disrepair, are severely underutilized.
We could go on and on.
St. Louis students deserve better. But it is clear it will not happen under the current superintendent, Millicent Borishade, who, along with her predecessor, has shown more interest in spending district money on her allies than on people, initiatives or services that could benefit students.
We have no confidence that she has the skills or political savvy to seriously address the numerous and complex issues — compounded by the effects of concentrated poverty — that are preventing our students from getting the education they deserve.
The school board should never have elevated her role as interim superintendent to a permanent one after the termination of former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett, who recruited her to the district. Both played a role in the fiscal mismanagement that has drawn the attention of state legislators and Gov. Mike Kehoe, who happily approved the state takeover of St. Louis’ police department earlier this year. The governor hinted last week that the state might consider seizing control of St. Louis Public Schools as well.
The school board hired Borishade as full-time superintendent in February without a national or local search. Toni Cousins, president of the board at the time, said Borishade demonstrated “strong, thoughtful leadership during her time as interim superintendent.” Cousins was resoundingly defeated in her re-election bid, and board member Matt Davis, who also voted for Borishade’s hiring, did not seek re-election.
The newly-elected board was saddled with Borishade when it took office, but it does not have to sit quietly and wait for the state to move in. The board should negotiate a buyout for the remainder of Borishade’s contract, name an interim and conduct a valid national search for the next leader of St. Louis Public Schools.
During her time working with Scarlett and Cousins, Borishade did not display the leadership qualities the district will need in coming days, months and years. The district’s future is clouded with deficits and declining student enrollment, which were exacerbated by the devastating May 16 tornado.
This week, nearly 2,000 St. Louis teachers and support staff gave Borishade a vote of no confidence. They are troubled by Borishade’s possible pursuit of closure of 37 school buildings, which is suggested in a consultant’s report, and other concerns. Because of the city’s declining population, shrinking tax base and dramatic loss of students, many schools may need to be repurposed due to their poor physical condition.
As interim superintendent, Borshade’s salary was reported at $230,000 a year. A negotiated buyout to replace her is worth pursuing, regardless of cost. Regional business, community and civic leaders who claimed during the mayoral election that we need to do what’s best for St. Louis should step up and help finance Borishade’s buyout.
Effective leadership in the superintendent’s office is critical, and it is impossible to have confidence in its current leader to lead the needed transformation.
St. Louis must stand up for itself and make improving SLPS the highest priority of its many needs.
A buyout of Superintendent Borishade’s contract will tell Kehoe and the state to keep its distance from SLPS. Without action, the state will likely barge in inappropriately, and another wall of the city’s sovereignty will crumble.
Excellent article full of knowledgeable and wise words! Every word is poignant and true
Saint Louis City Charter Schools are run by Saint Louis Public School District. Having the State take over the district would mean that tax money would be evenly distributed through out the state relieving some of the tax burden from local taxpayers. Also, the District School curriculum is already determined by state requirements and has been for decades. All schools by now should have central air, certified staff/teachers. Vacant school buildings should be demolished or taken back by the state making larger centralized campuses that would contain pre school, elementary, middle and high school in different sectors of the campus. A special school sector should also be included. This would make it convenient for those who utilize the services. It would help the community and students. The tools, resources, etc. Should be of the best quality. The state would have a better chance of supplying these things than local funding. Put an end to buy out of staff. That is just robbery of needed funds. Place more in security. If these things are not up to standards than neither should be the salaries of the Superintendent and Board members. For public schools to keep enrollment up they must be able to attract the public. It’s environment must be up to code and user friendly that will promote a positive work and learning environment.
Mason Elementary has a Great Schools rating of 8/10, doesn’t get much better than that.
I could not agree more!!!
Dr. Bori-shady is an unmitigated disaster and a vindictive tyrant.
I am an SLPS employee, and we are suffering greatly under her mismanagement and intimidation tactics. We are ALL being punished for the financial mismanagement and malevolence of a few “Seattle elites.”
Surely there are more than enough people in St. Louis who’s qualified to be the superintendent of SLPS in Missouri. Stop bringing in people from out of town to tell us how to run our business. This is the problem we been having for many years.
As a teacher in the district, who is teaching students impacted by decisions, I believe our utmost concern MUST be for children. To have people making decisions without consulting students, parents, teachers, and staff is as shortsighted as it is irresponsible. Thank you, St Louis American, for your voice.