Citizens can commend the naming of state Senator Robin Wright-Jones and state Senator Wes Shoemyer to the Senate Education Citizenry 2020 Committee – they have both been staunch proponents of public education.
Perhaps the idea was to balance the committee with the likes of state Senator Jeff Smith and state Sen. Jane Cunningham. They both appeared in front of lead-contaminated Scullin School for a press conference with elements of Team Rex (Rex “Billionaire Republican” Sinquefeld, that is) – something about prioritizing the making of a profit over putting children’s safety first.
Parents and teachers might suggest that perhaps the abatement of lead and asbestos in the St. Louis Public Schools be put on the agenda long before 2020.
Folks like Sinquefeld, Smith and Cunningham who claim to be “for the children” (mythical children of 2020) may not have the immediate interest of St. Louis’ real, current, children high enough on their to-do list.
I would sincerely love for Senators Cunningham and Smith to prove me wrong by filing a bill to get the lead out of the St. Louis Public Schools. Please sponsor a bill today that would help protect our children. There may not be a direct profit motive today, but the long-term benefits for the community may be, as they say, “priceless.”
Byron Clemens, teacher
St. Louis Public Schools