A coalition of clergy from more than 40 metropolitan area churches is backing the school transformation plan put forth by St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams.
“We acknowledge there are components that people are unhappy about, unsure about and uncompromising about,” said the Rev. Earl Nance Jr. of Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. “We honor the concerns that people have. At the same time, we believe that it’s worth a try.”
Nance delivered that message during a recent press conference at New Northside Missionary Baptist Church. Flanked on either side by fellow members of St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, he highlighted the plan’s focus on chronically low-performing schools as a reason for their support.
“It is a commitment to serving our lowest-performing schools with all options considered,” Nance said.
Adams introduced the plan during a Special Administrative Board (SAB) meeting in March. Intended to serve as a roadmap for earning back full accreditation for the district, it calls for funneling roughly $6.4 million to 18 low-performing schools to pay for tutors, added social workers and teacher training.
If one of the 18 low-performing schools fails to show improvement during the coming school year, a nonprofit operator could be brought in during the 2015-16 school year and would have control over hiring staff and setting curriculum. That provision has drawn criticism from members of the elected but disempowered school board and the teachers’ union.
Clergy meet monthly with district officials and Nance said the merits of Adams’ school improvement plan were discussed during their most recent gathering. Nance said the coalition of religious leaders felt compelled to voice their support when Adams’ plan was compared to William Roberti’s school turnaround project more than 10 years ago, which resulted in job cuts and closed schools.
“This is different,” Nance said. “This is the superintendent’s initiative with a clear plan of how to effectively turnaround and support the 18 lowest-performing schools and bring them up to par.”
The coalition also announced plans for a week of prayer to begin on May 26 to raise awareness about violence. Rev. Rodrick Burton of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church asked those who have been affected by violence to step out their front door on Memorial Day at 9 p.m. with a candle or flashlight in their hand “so that we can all see the impact that violence is having on our community.”
“Our vision is that from the north of St. Louis to the south of St. Louis, the city will be unified in prayer,” Burton said.
The coalition also said it plans to spread the word about what resources are available for children and families struggling with hunger.
“Hunger relates to and impacts both education and violence,” said Rev. Traci D. Blackmon of Christ the King United Church of Christ. “If you’re hungry you cannot think. If you’re hungry, you cannot act appropriately. If you are hungry, you are desperate.”
With many poor students relying on meals provided at schools, Blackmon said, hunger is especially pressing as summer break approaches. Blackmon encouraged other religious leaders and community organizations to take advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.
“To parents out there, you are not alone,” Blackmon said. “We are not going to leave you by yourself.”
Edited for length and reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.
Revival at Gregg Chapel
Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church will host an Anointed Holy Ghost Filled Revival 6:45 p.m. nightly May 12-14 at the church, 4437 Elmbank Ave. The revivalist will be Rev. Dr. Timothy Tyler, pastor of Shorter A.M.E. Church of Denver, Colorado, former pastor of Wayman AME Church in St. Louis and the son of Bishop Carolyn E. Tyler Guidry, presiding prelate of the 8th Episcopal District of the AME Church. The host pastor is Kevin Jacques Sr.
