While Smith puzzled or incensed many supporters of public education for dragging out a decision that seemed slam-dunk by his own campaign playbook – after all, he is on record as being anti-voucher – state Rep.-Elect Jamilah Nasheed is showing her inexperience in a different way by calling on the Missouri Department of Education “to conduct a public hearing in St. Louis on the report issued by the Special Advisory Committee, which recommends that an appointed three-person committee run the St. Louis Public Schools for the next six years.”
This play is no doubt heartfelt and will be popular in her district. It also overlooks the fact that the Special Advisory Committee has been doing its business in public, as required by the Sunshine Law. Also, if the powers in play wanted the fate of the pubic schools decided by the folks who show up at school board meetings, then it would never have appointed this committee in the first place.