The upcoming election for two open seats on the St. Louis Public Schools Board Education is absolutely pivotal to ongoing positive efforts to rehabilitate a school district that has been plagued for many, many years with low student achievement. Errors have been made during a sometimes tumultuous transition period, in response to a crushing fiscal crisis and dysfunctional operations, but there was and continues to be a need for major reform to straighten out entrenched problems throughout the district’s entire organization.
The campaign for the school board seats should afford the community an opportunity to have an honest, constructive discussion about the district’s real problems and real solutions. Yet some of the candidates seem to be motivated more by personal ambition and malice than a commitment to support professional educators with records of proven effectiveness in improving student academic performance and boosting the achievement of low-performing schools. These divisive naysayers are reactionary, with their insistence on micromanaging the district rather than allowing Superintendent Creg Williams and his team to implement the reforms necessary to improve the quality of classroom instruction that leads to sustainable gains for students.
These negative candidates offer no alternative policy, but they show an almost ruthless mindset. A case in point is their unwarranted, demagogic attacks on the decision to hire Arlene Ackerman. Ackerman’s fitness to carry out her responsibilities with the St. Louis Public Schools is confirmed by Michael Casserly, executive director of the highly respected Council of the Great City Schools. Casserly cites her impressive record as superintendent in larger urban school districts in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.
“In both cities, Dr. Ackerman initiated reforms that improved the quality of classroom instruction and led to substantial gains for children,” Casserly says. “Her Dream Schools in San Francisco, in particular, provided a model for urban schools systems nationwide. They are studied for their innovation and effect.” She is widely recognized by her peers across the country as one of the nation’s top urban school superintendents. We agree and feel that St. Louis is fortunate to have her.
We also applaud the St. Louis Clergy Coalition and its leadership for their endorsement of incumbent board members Darnetta Clinkscale and James Buford. Keeping them on the board would ensure that Williams will have the support he needs to implement the solid changes he has outlined. Williams has made an impressive start, but he needs a majority on the board that is unafraid to stand behind a school leader whose priority is placing the needs of students first. We hope this influential group of ministers will inform their congregations and others in the community of the crucial issues that will be decided with this election.
The road to a future where higher achievement is the norm and high expectations are universal in the district is filled with daunting challenges. It is their demonstrated willingness to work, despite the difficulties, to achieve those objectives that compels our unequivocal endorsement of DARNETTA CLINKSCALE AND JAMES BUFORD FOR THE ST. LOUIS SCHOOL BOARD.