Participants in the St. Louis Public Schools sit-in had been sleeping in the Mayor’s waiting room lobby since Wednesday afternoon.
Students wanted to send a message to the Mayor to stop his support of a planned state takeover of the city schools, which could result in the district losing its accreditation.
Sunday the students held a press conference, and announced that they were ending their sit-in.
Seniors say they’re worried losing accreditation, because it could mean the loss of college admissions and scholarships.
School District Superintendent, Diana Bourisaw, says her office has been contacting schools in Missouri and Illinois to find out the impact on college bound seniors.
Protestors say losing accreditation will not only affect this year’s graduating seniors. It is believed that drop out rates will sky rocket.
Mayor Slay met with the students on the second day of their sit-in. He said that he was not backing down from supporting a state takeover.
The Mayor’s office says while the students who participated in the sit-in are well spoken, they are not representative of the district’s struggling majority.
This coming Wednesday, students will have a meeting in Jefferson City with the Missouri State Commissioner of Education.
Kent King will be making the recommendation to the State Board regarding accreditation of the district on Thursday.