State control is not the answer to solving the St. Louis Public Schools’ academic, financial and administrative quandary. A change in our priorities and focus on the kids are the first steps we must take to solve SLPS’s problems. Accountability and leadership are also requisite first steps.
Taking away local control of the SLPS will invariable shift the responsibility and accountability for its success or failure to people who’s vested interest is not the same as those who live in St. Louis, grew up here and may have children in the SLPS. What can the state do for SLPS that it can’t do for itself? Does the state have intimate knowledge of the needs, wants, abilities and social factors affecting our students? I would argue that they don’t understand our problems like we do.
William Danforth and Frankie Freeman and the others on the panel I’m sure have good intentions. However, their recommendation that the state take over SLPS for a six-year term and extend the term if necessary is the wrong decision for SLPS and St. Louis.
Carl E. Harris
Political Action Network STL