I find it interesting that during the Purdy, Hilgemann, and Haas years, the points are high because they doctored the numbers of dropouts to artificially inflate the accreditation points.

The points went down under the current board because, this board decided that hiding the problems of the district cheats the community, cheats the children, and keeps any real progress for reform from moving forward.

I'd rather hear the real story of what's going on in those schools than listen to Lying Bill Purdy any day of the week.

Oh don't give me this crap that they just doctored the numbers. Even if they did, why do the numbers continue to fall. If the reporting was falsified during the earlier years, then when the new board came they stopped faking it, I understand a one year drop, but they are continuing to plummet. There is something else going on as well... Don't just tow the line, face it, Schoemehl and his assclowns don't do anything for the schools.

don't think that the board members really spend time where it counts. these numbers are based on facts of life about the district that depend on the good efforts of the people on the frontlines. (and no the missouri hitorical society boardroom is not the frontline...)

these numbers fell recently because good teachers are leaving and we didn't have a real superintendent. forget the board -- bill roberti was bad for everyone and the numbers show it. williams is at least a professional educator and i think the numbers may be going up in years to come. roberti's tenure was rock bottom for slps.

I will admit roberti was not there for educational purposes, he was there to fix the financial mess left by the Purdy Board. The district was within two weeks of going bankrupt when the new board members came into office.

I don't blame the board members for fixing the finances of the district. I think it may have been a little difficult to teach children without being able pay teachers.

But the educational issues we are losing accreditation points for, are for kids who the system failed over their ENTIRE academic careers.

Folks, these kids who are in 12th grade and can't even begin to read near their grade level didn't have all that education erased from their brains by William Roberti. These kids were failed by the district when they were in 3rd grade, 5th grade, etc...

We can't start addressing the educational problems of the district until the district faces the facts about its failings. And being truthful about the real state of the district is the first step to identifying problems and then finding the solutions to fix them. Mr. Williams is only a few months into this process that will take years to acomplish.

Accusations of "doctoring" numbers and referencing someone as "lying" are strong indictments, if not character assassinations. Such statements are more easily made behind the cloak of anonymity and with no facts to back up the statements.

Many, if not most, are open to truth and facts if they are presented objectively. Name calling, however, is the lowest denominator in public discussion or debate. And then not to identify oneself doing the name calling lowers it way below the bar.

The school district was in terrible shape before the current board or the arrival of Bill Roberti, no argument there; and it was many years in the making. Nevertheless, the management team allowed insiders who had personal agendas to get their ear and to give direction as to whom to dismiss and whom to promote. No objectivity or integrity was practiced in what was called "reform." Ergo, "reform" descended into city politics as usual.

"Southsider" stand up to your convictions and accusations if they are based on the least scintilla of truth or fact by identifying yourself. If slander or libel are involved, such statements are not just sad, but cowardly as well.

Helen Louise Herndon
(A fellow southsider, but not a disgruntled former employee as "Southsider" once wrote. Some of us really care about the school system that wonderfully educated us from K-12 and about today's children.)

Helen,
the numbers doctoring is a fact and commonly known, and when I called Bill Purdy a Liar, well, I just call like I see'um, and I don't feel the least bit bad about it.

Southsider,

As to doctoring numbers of the dropout rate, Houston, Texas was great at that, and many, if not most, of Roberti's consultants who came in to dismantle the school district came from Houston! Now that is more than a commonly known fact; there were actual articles published in national newspapers about it since Rod Paige came from Houston.

Southsider,

The Post-Dispatch has a great rule of thumb for its on-line BLOG: "Agree not to post anything libelous, defamatory, obscene, harmful, vulgar, threatening, harassing, abusive, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, racially or ethnically objectionable, or otherwise illegal...All we ask: Be kind; be honest; be civil; discuss issues, not personalities."

Name calling without substantiated evidence or proof presented results in questioning the name caller rather than the person attacked. What lies were told (substantiated) that allows one to be called a liary publicly?

What if someone referred to a person serving on an important board and making important decisions as alledgedly continuing on coke or was rehabbed for coke use and abuse? Now that is a city-wide commonly known rumor. Wouldn't that person have to substantiate such a statement even though it is used to explain the abusive behavior toward others in public meetings and settings? Personally, despite all the talk, I think such talk should be ruled out for use on BLOG site. Don't you? Which is worse, lying or using a contraband drug? What would you chose to write?

Essentially, namecalling is the nonintelligent way to oppose someone or something. It doesn't productively contribute to the discussion or the debate. Consequently, no one is enriched or benefits.

Helen thanks for your comments. This is all the "powers that be" know how to do-is name call. They are making our city the laugh of the country. When they don't like something they buy a "chicken dinner" for some poor soul to print or say bad things. Can we get some real leadership in this city???