Darnetta's Defense
The State of the St. Louis Public Schools
Leaders in the St. Louis Public School district live with many public realities. But sometimes public reality still shields the truth.
The latest report from the state of Missouri-the Annual Progress Review-highlights the district's "reality" but doesn't necessarily show us the truth. The report finds severe deficiencies in outcomes that measure the performance of middle-schools and high-schools. The district is failing when the attendance rate; drop-out rate; graduation rate and participation in ACT college placement tests are measured.
As a board we do not reject this analysis-we wholeheartedly agree. The failure after 6th grade in the St. Louis Public Schools is both heartbreaking and infuriating. And, it's why we ran for school board.
Evidence of the truth is hidden in the numbers provided by the state. Our most recent problem (though by no means our only problem) is that by and large the 11th graders in 2004-2005 did not take the ACT test. It was in this category that the district lost points.
This deficiency is being addressed. At the request of the Board, Superintendent Creg Williams has implemented an ACT Preparation Program in the district which will improve participation and eventually improve scores.
However, the bigger question is why aren't our high-school students taking the ACT test? Why are they dropping out of school? Why do they engage in unruly behavior?
Pundits will offer many excuses ranging from general poverty to a lack of parental involvement. Without question these can be factors. But let's go back to the state's numbers. When today's 12th graders were in middle school in 2001, only 12.6% of them were performing at grade level or above. These children are now in high-school, faced with the academic demands that high-school presents, and they don't have the skills. Most adults know what happens when children are placed into a situation in which they cannot succeed. They act up. They drop out. And, they don't take the ACT test because they surely do not see college in their future.
That's our district's hidden truth-the academic condition of SLPS middle-school and high school students. They are not equipped to succeed in high-school. And it is not the children's failure. It's the adults. The school district has failed them throughout their entire academic career.
I joined the St. Louis Public School Board on April 22, 2003 and was elected its President. The district had a $90 million operating deficit, crumbling buildings and academic performance scores that were among the worst in the entire nation.
In 30 months time we have put the fiscal house in order; negotiated a new contract with our teachers that will put their salaries on par with some of the best suburban districts in St. Louis; extended the school day to give our children more time-on-task; consolidated schools so that our efforts at building maintenance can be directed towards fewer buildings; implemented a standardized curriculum throughout our elementary, middle and high-schools; purchased more than $4 million in new text-books this year alone; dramatically increased the number of certified teachers in the district and delivered more than 190,000 hours of teacher training. Our state MAP scores, released in August, showed dramatic improvement at the elementary school level and gave us the first evidence that these reforms are going to work.
Despite this whirlwind of activity, we must do more. At our request, Creg Williams will be proposing some dramatic changes to our high-schools in the coming weeks.
We selected Dr. Williams as our new superintendent, in part, because of his past success at the high school level. We need to intervene with our middle-school and high-school students or they'll never have the opportunity to live up to their potential.
We cannot quit on these children. They aren't statistics. They are real people-individuals-that deserve a chance to succeed in school and in life.
Darnetta Clinkscale
President, St. Louis Public School Board
November 21, 2005
Oh Please "gang of four" stop acting like things are getting better. Now how many points have we lost? Are we showing improvements or is it that white kid's scores are falling and black kids are still falling behind? It is about time that the four of you admit that you all have screwed things all up and you don't know what to do. Things are not better, it is just that you all are better at covering things up-with the help of a few outsiders. As for the ACT "stuff" forget it. How about increasing MAP scores! Did you all know that if we do this our kids can take the ACT test in the 7th grade? Why don't we start in the early years, and guess what? Test scores might go up by the time the children reach high school. Now I am sure the "Southsider" or the "powers that be" will say there they go again not supporting the district or Creg. Hey, ever thought the district or Creg should support the children? We have the highest paid executives in public education and we are still falling behind. Come on "Southsider" let us see you release some of that hate and anger from city hall. Go ahead-let us see you make a fool of yourself and say poor 300,000 paid leaders in St. Louis Public Schools not being supported. Boy the tax payers feel really bad for you.
Posted by Veronica on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 12:47 AMOh Please "gang of four" stop acting like things are getting better. Now how many points have we lost? Are we showing improvements or is it that white kid's scores are falling and black kids are still falling behind? It is about time that the four of you admit that you all have screwed things all up and you don't know what to do. Things are not better, it is just that you all are better at covering things up-with the help of a few outsiders. As for the ACT "stuff" forget it. How about increasing MAP scores! Did you all know that if we do this our kids can take the ACT test in the 7th grade? Why don't we start in the early years, and guess what? Test scores might go up by the time the children reach high school. Now I am sure the "Southsider" or the "powers that be" will say there they go again not supporting the district or Creg. Hey, ever thought the district or Creg should support the children? We have the highest paid executives in public education and we are still falling behind. Come on "Southsider" let us see you release some of that hate and anger from city hall. Go ahead-let us see you make a fool of yourself and say poor 300,000 paid leaders in St. Louis Public Schools not being supported. Boy the tax payers feel really bad for you.
Posted by Veronica on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 12:49 AMIf this is the Veronica that I think it is, well there she goes again!
If not, than great impression of the nuttiest School Board member since Rochelle Moore!
I have no connection to city hall, I guess if I advocate for reform, I must be a pawn of City Hall? Don't think so.
Posted by The Southsider on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 8:55 AMOh and by the way, what is your big idea Veronica to help the children learn in the SLPS?
From what I read your ingenious plan is to cut the salary of the Superintendant and make 7th graders take the ACT. WOW! That just might be the silver bullet that we have searching for all along!
Posted by The Southsider on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 9:54 AMI thought the MAP scores went up for our children. If they did then I think this board deserves some credit. If they got rid of a $90,000,000 deficit then I think they deserve some credit. I don't think the job is done but I like the progress made.
Posted by Concerned Citizen on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 10:00 AMah, yes, it's all about efficiency, numbers and churning out products. i forgot that st. louis eliminated poverty, racism, bad parenting and the class structure. i didn't realize that the sw city set had stopped sending their kids to catholic schools and started sending them back to public schools, with resulting benefits. and i was wrong to think that the slay plan for the city is dependent upon attracting people who either don't have kids or hate public schools to move to the city. where have i been?
Posted by PublicGuy on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 10:24 AMI don't live in SW City, do have kids and don't hate the Public Schools, in fact I wish I could use them for my children. Thank you very much.
Posted by Concerned Citizen on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 10:42 AMI too, like the progress I am seeing. Because this Board was so concerned about "numbers" they cut a lot of waste and redirected more money directly into classrooms. Reform is never an easy thing. It challenges all of us, but it must proceed.
By the way, the ACT is a college placement test taken by students in the 11th grade. I don't know what the hell Veronica is talking about but I'd love to know what she scored on her ACT.
Posted by City Momma on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 11:02 AMHey there angry Southsider! You responded as I expected-like an angry City Hall player. Me nutty? At least I can identify myself. Would you like to have coffee so you can give me your advice? You should run for school board but leave the angry and name calling in City Hall. Are you mad enough yet? Veronica. PS What is your day job?
Posted by Veronica on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 11:09 AMSorry Veronica, my calendar is full. I suppose your plan is still to cut the Superintendant's salary and make 7th graders take the ACT? Can't wait for those results!
Posted by The Southsider on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 11:18 AMSorry Veronica, my calendar is full. I suppose your plan is still to cut the Superintendant's salary and make 7th graders take the ACT? Can't wait for those results!
Posted by The Southsider on Mon., Nov 28, 2005 at 11:20 AMElementary School MAP scores have dramatically improved over the last two years. IOW, the District is starting in the early years....
The problem is that there are many students already past that point that no one wants to give up on.
Posted by ArchPundit on Tue., Nov 29, 2005 at 3:18 PMThat's true, the implementation of the new curriculum implemented halfway through the school year last year has shown vast improvement for elementary school. The older students are recieving their new curriculum this year.
However, their problems are more advanced from years of inadequate instruction and district failure. They are further behind in the learning curve and will probably not improve as dramatically as the young children.
But High School turnaround is Mr. William's specialty.
Posted by The Southsider on Wed., Nov 30, 2005 at 9:42 AM
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