The most amazing thing is that it only took a leather cover and about two pounds of air to throw SLPS into this upheaval.
A basketball. It’s at the center of the latest controversy that could throw the state’s largest school district into the hands of neo-conservatives, voucher backers and straight-out haters of all things urban.
In a nutshell – and nuts is the right term in dealing with the current SLPS board of education majority – the board pulled the wool over Vashon coach Floyd Irons’ eyes in a secretive meeting last Tuesday night and stripped him of his title and coaching position.
Williams lashed out at the board majority, along with board members Robert Archibald, Flint Fowler and Ron Jackson.
Little did an unsuspecting St. Louis know that O’Brien, Peter Downs, Donna Jones and (especially) Purdy were just getting started. At some point Friday, they browbeat a disheartened Williams into resigning. Yet another fiery closed-door meeting followed, then O’Brien announced that Williams was no longer the superintendent. This energetic black man with a plan had been replaced by a re-tread white woman, Diane Bourisaw. In 2000, she had been asked to hit the bricks and get to steppin’ from the affluent Fox School District.
What has she been doing for the last six years? Probably kickin’ it on the $375,000 settlement that attorney Chet Pleban helped her secure from Fox.
What is Williams doing today? Probably kickin’ it in Chicago with part of the $250,000 salary he negotiated to receive to leave his post.
Meanwhile, school starts in six weeks and the district is a complete disaster – again.