On Wednesday morning, about a hundred Ferguson-Florissant students in several schools staged sit-ins to protest the school board’s decisions to place Superintendent Art J. McCoy II on administrative leave. In the afternoon, many former students were driving home from college with one purpose – to rally behind McCoy at the board meeting that night.
On Nov. 6, six of the seven school board members voted to place McCoy on administrative leave because of “differences in focus and philosophy between the board and the superintendent.”
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, the state and local NAACP, mayors, parents and clergy have protested, calling the six school members’ decision “imprudent” and their explanation “weak.”
The school board is made up of six white members and one Latino – the lone African-American member failed in his reelection bid last spring. If the predominately white board wanted to show that they have an understanding of their predominately black student population and community, they are failing miserably.
As Rev. Dr. Freddy J. Clark, pastor of Shalom Church (City of Peace), said McCoy is beloved by the community and students, and the board cannot expect to “tamper” with McCoy without a fight. “We will fight, and we will win,” Clark said.
Dooley – who is embattled himself these days – said McCoy has proven his dedication to every parent and child in the district. But, he asked, has the board?
“I do not know what the difference in philosophy could have been with the board,” Dooley said. “It seems to me that he is doing exactly what he should be doing and that is making sure that every child is receiving a quality education. I cannot understand their motivation. If Dr. McCoy’s philosophy is different than the board’s, then what is the board’s philosophy?”
This is a question that must be answered – immediately – for the good of this district, its students and their families.
For one week, all of the board members have refused to speak to parents, elected officials, clergy, media and many other confused residents. On Tuesday night, board president Paul Morris sent out a letter to the district which was meant to assuage residents’ anger, but he provided no further explanation for the board’s decision. The school board must hear and respond to these concerns. If the board feels justified in taking a committed leader like McCoy out of his leadership position in the middle of the school year, they owe the community a thorough explanation.
As of now, the school board has lost the respect and trust of many families in the district. That lost trust won’t be easy to repair. Every day that they refuse to reach out to district families, they are severing more and more ties with the families whose trust they need for their students to succeed – which we can expect to be reflected in academic achievement.
As Redditt Hudson, a district parent and NAACP Region 4 field organizer, said, the board’s decision has “put all of our children at risk of not receiving the quality public education that they deserve.”
We predict that board has only begun to see the pushback that this community is capable of. Three of the board members – board president Paul Morris, vice president Chris Martinez and secretary Robert Chabot – are up for reelection in 2014. A threat at the ballot box should not be necessary to make these elected officials respond to the demand for public accountability in this important matter. Nevertheless, we urge the community leaders who support McCoy to think strategically to ensure more active participation in the upcoming local school board election and beyond.
