This seemingly heart-felt statement, not only gives me hope for our city and its politics, it sealed my decission as to for whom I will vote on August 8. Jeff Smith, you have my vote.

Besides Mayor Slay, where are all of the other St. Louis city municipal, state, and federal elected officials' comments on this absolute disgrace? Finally, a respected administrator with a proven track record is brought in and has an actual plan to turn the St. Louis School District around and he is forced out by a person who used their last superintendent position to extort a six-figure shady settlement. Why would a person with this baggage even be considered. Jeff, thank you for once again illustrating your leadership and why you are undoubtedly the most qualified candidate to represent the 4th Senate District.

"I am very disappointed ...While some individuals raise legitimate concerns about decisions made during his tenure, I am not convinced that he was
guilty of the gross negligence of which he has been accused." Really going out on a limb isn't he?
This is typical of the double talk and do and say anything to get elected coming fromt his campaign. Where was Smith in April? He was telling both sides that he was supporting their candidates. He was for Downs and then he was for Clinksdale and Buford and then he was for Downs again.
This further reinforces that you can not believe anythign this kid says. At a debate I hear him bragging aobut his great charter school. Then I read on anohter site that it is underperfomeintg the St. Louis schools. I chekc and it underperforming all groups of St. Louis school kids. It is underperforming black students, special needs studets, everyone. But Edison keeps getting their money and they are funneling it back to Smith's campaign. They come out ahead and the children continue to suffer.

This is a great opportunity for Edison Schools, which Smith helped bring to StL.

Cha-ching.

Have any of the other candidates in the 4th Senate Race made a statement on the SLPS situation yet? Where are they on this issue?

You are right Larry. Double talk from the kid with no experience. Of course he was saying he supported Buford and Clinksdale, and Downs and Jones. He will say anything to win,. It will be interesting to find out what why Edison Schools from New York keeps giving him money. Maybe they want to take over all the schools , and have only charter schools-Smith's pet project. Public education is the best education in this country. The problem is Smith and folks want to destroy public education. Now in the middle of a race, Smith wants to talk about how he cares..Really pitiful and really too late.

Bubba1,
Since you are posting with the e-mail, acorn@moacorn.org, I am going to assume this is the infamous Cross, from El-Amin's latest press release (found here http://www.archcitychronicle.com/archives/people%20for%20el-Amin.pdf).

Since you are coming to the boards, can I quickly ask you that if neither Yaphett nor yourself paid for the poll ... who did?

Also, maybe you could clarify your candidate's position (either standing with the group that backtracked on the things they campaigned for or speaking against them) instead of attacking the only candidate who happens to have leadership abilities to take a stand on a controversial issue, or at least make it known.

Jeff Smith wants "to destroy public education"????

That is one hell of a claim you have there Bubba1! Got anything to back it up? Any secret plans, tapes of nefarious conversations, of Jeff plotting and planning the demise of the SLPS? Oh you don't! I can't believe that, your statements seem so tempered and wise. I guess we'll all have to take your word for it.

==You are right Larry. Double talk from the kid with no experience. Of course he was saying he supported Buford and Clinksdale, and Downs and Jones. He will say anything to win,.

Ummm....no. He supported Darnetta from the start. He then decided between Buford who was a horrible candidate and showed no passion and he looked at Downs, but after one of, ahem, Downs' exaggerations of the finances, that pretty much ended any admiration for Downs energy. I honestly don't know who Jeff voted for though I'm pretty sure Darnetta was one of them.

Jones? When?

==The problem is Smith and folks want to destroy public education. Now in the middle of a race, Smith wants to talk about how he cares..Really pitiful and really too late.

Like when he worked for the schools? He helped start Confluence out of frustration with the SLPS and it's bizarre politics that put jobs in front of students.

Edison doesn't even make money in St. Louis. The only places it does okay financially is where they take over clusters as management. It's rather bizarre how many people insist they know a lot about education, but have never heard of anything outside of Saint Louis.

Has Edison donated to Jeff Smith's campaign? If so, how much?

Is this the same Jeff Smith who started the charter school, Confluence Academy? If so, this comment appears contrary to his actions. If he was so concerned about public education for children in St. Louis, why didn't he try to help rather than open a charter school. Is Confluence Academy the charter school that had MAP scores below the St. Louis Public Schools? Initially I had thought he would be a good state senator, but I think now he is self-serving and seeking to further his political career as has been stated previously.

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