The past six years have been hard for the Riverview Gardens School District, said staff and community members.
“It’s been …I probably can’t say it in public, but it starts with an ‘H,’” said Mary Oswald, secretary for the district’s Board of Education.
Administrators stealing money. Public distrust. Unaccredited status for the past two years.
On Thursday, January 14, community members listened to two superintendent candidates, Kansas City’s Clive Coleman and Hazelwood School District’s Grayling Tobias, as they told a concerned audience about their plans to turn the district around.
Both candidates earned approval from community members, who said it will be a tough decision between them.
“Flip a coin – I’m serious,” said Shonte Young, president of the City of Moline Acres Board of Alderman. “Dr. Tobias has passion, and Dr. Coleman has confidence.”
Local candidate Tobias has been at Hazelwood School District for the past eight years, serving as director of secondary education and assistant superintendent for school accountability.
Tobias was a principal in the Riverview Gardens district from 2000 to 2002. He said, “It was probably the hardest job I ever had, but I’ll say in the next breath, it was probably one of the most rewarding jobs I ever had.”
And that’s why he wants to come back. Tobias grew up in North St. Louis and was educated in St. Louis Public Schools.
“I feel I have a strong connection to the kids and the community,” Tobias said. “You can’t tell me that our students can’t be successful because I’ve seen it just a short time ago.”
Originally from New Orleans, Coleman just completed an eight-month interim superintendent contract with the Kansas City School District during one of its most difficult times. The district faced a $17 million budget shortfall, loss of its accreditation and a labor dispute that lasted 57 weeks. Coleman said he helped to put the budget on the right track.
From the chaos, he learned how miscommunication between board members and veering away from the board’s protocol can cause major problems.
As an educator and administrator for 30 years, he said he is interested in Riverview Gardens because “there is positive opportunity to make change a possibility.”
Experience vs. experience
Both candidates have similar backgrounds of more than 25 years experience as teachers, principals and administrators. But their voices couldn’t be more different.
At the public forum, Tobias spoke like a librarian reading a book to school children. His voice was calm, quiet and articulate, with occasional hesitations for effect. His plan emphasized listening and building solid relationships among staff and community members before deciding on a strategy to revamp the system.
Coleman focused on action. He came with a bullet-pointed plan and a promise to start before his July 1 contract began in order to meet with the staff, local politicians and parents.
Coleman’s words rang clear to Gerald French Sr., president of the Riverview High School PTO.
“I liked that he came with a plan and knew what he wanted to accomplish,” French said.
Linda Jackson, a district bus driver for 16 years, said though she liked both candidates, Coleman’s readiness also interested her.
“For me, I liked the idea that he would get in and get a feel for it,” she said. “I believe in getting there early and being prepared ahead of time, because we do need that.”
Katie Kirchhoefer, retired from district transportation after 21 years, said she would like to see the superintendent come out and get acquainted with the support staff as well.
“I think they need to know. Nobody ever showed up at the transportation department. We were like little stepchildren,” Kirchhoefer said.
“And it’s still like that,” Jackson added.
Kirchhoefer was born in the district, and she and her children graduated from district schools. “I’m an old cat. I’ve seen a lot of changes,” she said.
When the board members asked community members what they wanted out of a candidate, Kirchhoefer – and many others – answered “integrity and honesty.”
“I think we had a lot of bad feelings among the residents in the district because of some of the past things that happened.”
Tommie Pierson, president of the school board, has served on the board for seven years.
“I saw this district lose its accreditation, and I just know that it’s critical that we get good leadership,” Pierson said.
“Bad leadership got us where we are, and I believe good leadership will take us where we need to be. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing now.”
The hard times came to a point when a state audit showed that the former superintendent was stealing money, Pierson said. Others were suspected of stealing as well.
“It’s time for a change,” Pierson said.
“Unfortunately in a school district, change is slow because we have to get board members on board. Some had to be voted out. So it’s just taking awhile, but I think we’re on the right track.”
Pastor Carleton Stock, of Northminster Presbyterian Church, serves on the district’s Community Advisory Committee, which includes clergy and community leaders.
“The life and wellbeing of our church is the school district as well,” he said.
Shonte Young, president of the City of Moline Acres Board of Alderman, feels the same about the city as a whole. She said that the community is excited about the new playground they built together – and for a new direction.
“We’re trying to work with the school district,” Young said. “We have to impact it or it’s going to impact us.”
As far as making a decision between the candidates, Young is particularly excited about Tobias because of his work in local school districts. Tobias worked under Chris Wright when she was superintendent of the Riverview Gardens and Hazelwood school districts.
When Wright left Riverview Gardens to go to Hazelwood, she took Tobias with her, Young said.
“The things that she accomplished in Riverview Gardens and at Hazelwood were extraordinary,” Young said of Wright. “And I would be excited because I know he has that background that he can bring here.”
Wright has since adopted her married name – Chris Nicastro – and serves as the Missouri Commissioner of Education.
Closing statements
For Coleman’s final statement to the community at the forum, he said, “I’ve come committed to the point where I’m ready to work now. I understand the ramifications of accreditation and accountability for our district. I also understand the responsibility of the superintendent to make sure the district upholds those standards and also improves the public perception of what goes on.”
In Tobias’ closing message, he focused on his experience in the district.
Tobias said, “I was here when the district was fully accredited and the commissioner came here to congratulate us. And those are the memories that I hold. I want to work with the community to rebuild a trust and to build relationships, so we can do what’s best for the children.”
The school board was originally going to make its decision on January 19, but now the decision will be finalized sometime in February, said Mary Oswald, secretary for the district’s Board of Education. Not all of the board members will be in town until February, and Oswald said the board wants to make a seven-person decision.
This week, board members visited the candidates’ constituents in Hazelwood and the Kansas City school districts to hear more about their work.
“We’ve tried to do this in a transparent way, so it was important to take time,” Oswald said. “This needed to be a situation where people were confident. You can’t start with a new leader without seeing that person.”
She said the work has been worth it to hear the community express confidence in both candidates.
“I think it shows that we are moving forward from where we were – which was a terrible place – that we have competent, qualified people who are interested in our school district,” Oswald said.
“We have students that deserve the best.”
