“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Since Vanetta Rogers retired from the board in 2006, St. Louis has not had a representative on the Missouri State Board of Education, which supervises instruction in the state’s public schools. That will change, if the Missouri Senate confirms Gov. Jay Nixon’s new appointment to the board, Mike Jones.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jones lives in the city of St. Louis, is a proud alumnus of Beaumont High School (Class of 1967) and works for St. Louis County as senior policy advisor to County Executive Charlie A. Dooley.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jones – who said he “did not hesitate” when approached by the governor to undertake the unpaid board commitment – was thinking of the importance of public education just last week at the funeral of Lee Winfield (Sumner High school, Class of 1965), a former NBA player and legendary coach.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I was at the Lee Winfield wake and funeral, looking at all the guys who came through with success, and that was all made possible by great public education,” Jones told The American “font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Education is one of the foundations in your life. That’s been one critical thing for me and my entire generation.”
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Now, the district that educated Jones, Winfield and their peers is unaccredited by the state and only recently stabilizing after years of turmoil. Even the nation’s best-performing public schools rate low by international comparisons. In January the National Center for Education Statistics released the “Nation’s Report Card” on Science, compiling data on public and private schools. Only 60 percent of 12th grade students performed at or above the Basic
level, and
only 21 percent performed at or above
“font-style: normal;”>Proficient
performed below the national average for all students.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I look at a kid today – whether black, white, city, suburban, rural – and if they are not from a privileged family, I can’t imagine they could make it this far in 50 years,” Jones said.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The odds are so slight – and this, in an era where we have less structural barriers than ever before in the history of this country. We have not found a way to educate our children, which I consider a moral imperative.”
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>That said, Jones realizes the limitations of board duty as an oversight function for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, currently led by Commissioner Chris Nicastro, former superintendent of the Hazelwood and Riverview Gardens school districts.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jones said, “The board’s job is not to run the place but to give guidance and support to the professional staff as far as developing standards and advocating for public education in Missouri.”
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>By law, the board sets accreditation standards for public school districts, establishes academic performance standards for public schools, sets education and certification requirements for all district personnel, and establishes regulations and requirements for the distribution of state and federal funds to local districts.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A spokesperson for state Sen. Rob Mayer, who chairs the Senate committee on gubernatorial appointments, said there had been no action yet on Jones’ nomination, though the committee is caught up on considering all of the interim appointments and “98 percent” of all appointments are confirmed within two to five weeks.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>If confirmed, Jones will take the place of David Liechti, a Democrat from the
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>6th Congressional District, whose term expired in July 2010, although Liechti continued to serve on the board. That means one position on the eight-member board remains vacant.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Jones would become the second African American currently serving on the board; the Rev. Stan Archie of Kansas City is the other. Jones would be the only member from the St. Louis area, and as such would fill a critical void.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“St. Louis is the population center of the state and the economic foundation of the state,” Jones said, “so the quality and effectiveness of the schools in the St. Louis area determines the economic viability of the state of Missouri.”
