Glad At Least A Few Blocks Of Grand Were Saved From Demolition

I was in the Grand Center part of Midtown Thursday night. Grand Center is centered on a too short 3-4 block stretch of North Grand that was not razed for urban renewal to the north of Delmar or grass south of Olive. Many buildings stood vacant for years, some remain vacant today. One recently occupied is the former headquarters of Carter Carburetor at 711 North Grand.

ABOVE: Entrance to the Grand Center Arts Academy

The Grand Center Arts Academy is “a charter school for visual and performing arts.”  The school moved into the building last year. I’m grateful buildings like this weren’t razed by short sided people so it could contribute to the streetscape along Grand and provide comfort to me as I waited on Delmar for the bus home. Hopefully I’ll get  a tour of the inside soon.

 - Steve Patterson

Raising Urban Kids

One of the great things about downtown’s Citygarden is I almost always seen someone I know when I pass through.

ABOVE: A friend plays ball with his young son as another friend watches.

Last Sunday was no exception, I stopped to talk to two friends and the young son of one friend. It seems like just last week when his son was in a tiny infant, now he’s playing ball. How’d that happen so quick? Downtown has a growing number of young kids being raised in the region’s most urban area. As you might expect schools and education is a concern for these parents. Rather than immediately flee the suburbs or exurbs a growing number of urban parents expect they can continue the walkable urban lifestyle they love while ensuring their kids get a good education as well as being exposed to a broad range of people.

These kids won’t be sheltered, they’ll know how to walk to the store alone when their older, they won’t be shocked when their out with friends in college and they spot a homeless person. The idea of a cleanup project won’t be a foreign concept either.

- Steve Patterson

New Mission & Neighborhood for Ittner’s Henry School

Last year’s redistricting meant I was now in the 5th ward, rather than the 6th. As such my polling place for voting changed from the senior apartment building on Olive west of Jefferson to Patrick Henry Elementary on North 10th St.

ABOVE: Henry Elementary at 1220 N. 10th, click image to view in Google Maps

It’s official name is now Patrick Henry Downtown Academy:

Nestled in the heart of downtown St. Louis, Patrick Henry Downtown Academy, located at 1220 N. 10th Street, offers a tuition-free world-class urban educational experience for children grades Pre-K-6th. We are beginning the first phase in the implementation of a GREEN School Model. We will emphasize ecological sustainability, environmental health, nutrition, personal responsibility, leadership and a comprehensive, high-quality academic program.

Patrick Henry Downtown Academy will serve as a unique springboard for students who will be at the forefront of the industries and disciplines of the 21st Century. There will be an emphasis on the environmental sciences, energy alternatives and conservation, recycling, organic gardening and the food sciences, and the emerging “green” economy, students will focus on developing the math, science, writing and “hands-on” skills that will make them successful leaders to make a difference in improving the environment for humanity. Our goal is to be the first urban GREEN Model Pilot School in the country! (Saint Louis Public Schools).

The Henry school is one of many designed by architect William B. Ittner (Landmarks Association, Wikipedia). Voters entered through a basement entry to get to the small gym so the areas I saw weren’t grand spaces designed by Ittner. They were nice and clean and students going from class to class were well behaved. School staff were clearly in charge of the students. Those working the polls were helpful.

Last November I voted absentee but I’m glad I went in person on Tuesday, even though I had to walk down numerous steps. The area to the east was the Cochran Gardens high-rise public housing projects. Cochran has been replaced by Cambridge Heights, a mixed income neighborhood. Now that construction is nearly complete I’ll be visiting and posting about the changes, including pictures of the high-rise buildings before they were razed.

- Steve Patterson

BWorks Moves Worthy Programs to New Soulard Location

Since 1988, BWorks has worked with youth in St. Louis.

ABOVE: BWorks' new home in a historic Soulard building

The organization recently moved from a cramped storefront in the Shaw neighborhood to a much larger space in Soulard:

St. Louis BWorks was built on the idea that everyone deserves the chance to be more and to gain the skills they need to pursue their dreams. We believe that “at-risk” children — or any young people for that matter — can thrive when they have the opportunity to challenge their abilities in a safe, supportive environment. (full mission & history)

Originally the only program was St. Louis Bicycle Works where kids could learn to repair and maintain a bike. Later St. Louis Byte Works was added where kids learned computer skills and they could earn a reconditioned computer.

St. Louis Book Works was founded in 2011 to promote verbal, visual and cultural literacy through creative expression. Young people in the program work with volunteer editors to write and and illustrate their own books.

As the programs offered grew, so did their space requirements. BWorks outgrew their old space long ago.

ABOVE: Reconditioned bicycles await new owners after completing the St. Louis Bicycle Works program

ABOVE: St. Louis Book Works classroom space

ABOVE: Computer lab at St. Louis Byte Works

ABOVE: Shop area where donated computers are refurbished

ABOVE: Shop area where bikes are reconditioned

Each year St. Louis Bicycle Works sponsors Cranksgiving in St. Louis:

“Want to be a part of the biggest food collection ride in the country? Join us at Schlafly Bottleworks on 11/6 for a bike ride at 10 A.M. (5, 10 or 25 mile courses) and get some food for Food Outreach.

 2010 had over 650 riders collecting over 6000 food items for Food Outreach making it the largest Cranksgiving in the country. Lets keep this record in St.louis! Join us this year at a even better event.”

BWorks is looking for volunteers and contributions. Click here to learn how to get involved. The reuse of the building is extraordinary.

- Steve Patterson

Readers: Imagine’s St. Louis Charter Schools Need to Close

ABOVE: The Imagine school at Chouteau & Spring

Nearly two-thirds of the readers that voted in the poll last week think charter schools operated by Imagine Schools, Inc need to close:

Q: Should Imagine’s Charter Schools in St. Louis Close?

1. Yes 55 [62.5%]
2. No 15 [17.05%]
3. Maybe 6 [6.82%]
4. Unsure/No Opinion 7 [7.95%]
5. Other: 5 [5.68%]

The five other answers were:

1. If they are not getting results, shutter them. Haven’t followed the issu too cl
2. How about expelling the students who don’t care to be taught/can’t act properly?
3. some should
4. don’t know enough to make an educated choice
5. The entire charter school system in Saint Louis needs to be reevalualed.

Thoughts?

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Should Imagine’s Charter Schools in St. Louis Close?

ABOVE: The Imagine school at Chouteau & Spring

Controversy about poor performing schools was recently focused on charter schools, specifically six operated by Imagine Schools, Inc:

Mayor Francis Slay called for the closure of Imagine charter schools in St. Louis on Thursday, for the first time singling out the poorest-performing charters in the city.

[snip]

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of traditional school systems. In Missouri, they’re allowed only in St. Louis and Kansas City as alternatives to struggling school districts.

The Virginia-based Imagine Schools Inc., the largest charter school operator in the country, has six school in St. Louis. They ranked at the bottom among charter schools and most St. Louis Public Schools on the 2011 Missouri Assessment Program. (STLtoday)

Seems unusual to have a mayor calling for school closures. The Missouri Charter Public School Association is also calling for their closure:

MCPSA believes the Imagine Schools’ performance trends reflect most poorly on the management company, Imagine Schools Inc. and is not a condemnation of the teachers and staff within the schools. Often a significant issue leading to such poor academic performance is a lack of resources and supports available to the teachers and staff by their employer. Another issue, often, is charter public school governing boards not being able to execute the oversight authority they are statutorily entitled as the management company has contractually assumed that authority. (Beacon)

So what do you think? The poll is in the right sidebar.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Missouri Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday a Good Idea?

Readers: St. Louis Public Schools Must Improve To Stop Population Loss

In the poll last week readers agreed that our K-12 schools must improve to stop population loss:

Q: It has been said by many the St. Louis Public Schools must be improved to stop population loss. Agree? If so, how?

1. Agree, no clue how to improve them 61 [36.53%]
2. Agree, need more students from higher economic backgrounds 53 [31.74%]
3. Other answer… 28 [16.77%]
4. Agree, the schools just need more money 11 [6.59%]
5. Disagree, children are becoming less and less important in future demographic trends 7 [4.19%]
6. Agree, cut out competition from charter schools 6 [3.59%]
7. Unsure/no opinion 1 [0.6%]

The top answer, not surprisingly, was “no clue how to improve them” with students from higher economic  backgrounds a close second.

ABOVE: This school closed after the sponsor revoked the charter in April 2010

Charter schools are often seen as the solution by some and the problem by others.

The following were the numerous “other” answers submitted:

1. The Schools need more than just money and diversity to improve. What though?
2. Vouchers for all schools
3. Agree, schools need more funding/teacher evaluations/more comprehensive approach
4. Revitalize neighborhood schools
5. Agree, but needs more than just money.
6. agree, schools need more money and real involved committment from adults.
7. eliminate city corruption
8. Good students must have the ability to learn separated from misbehaving students
9. Charter Schools won’t fix poverty present in our neighborhoods
10. Agree provide more competition from more charter schools
11. more responsible parents willing to work on improving the SLPS
12. Agree but there is no 25 words or less solution
13. its a combination of things. not just bad kids with bad homes
14. Agree, better smaller administration
15. Make it a point of community pride; require parent service hours and outreach.
16. Go to a voucher program – problem solved, especially for low income families.
17. A total revemp of the system, including the important step of parent involvement
18. More charters less control from the divided leviathan.
19. No, this is still a white flight issue. Keeping our kids away from “them”
20. Agree, but only good parental involvement
21. Of course, this is a no brainer
22. Agree, Gens Y and Z may not all have kids now, but we will soon.
23. These options are laughable.
24. Families aren’t moving to the city with high crime rates no matter the scho
25. Decertify the NEA
26. Replace all public schools with charters.
27. Agree, city families need access to great schools chartered, district, private
28. More charter schools-city schools irretrievably broken

I highlighted #9 because I really liked the comment, no school public or private is going to fix poverty.  Face it, a school with low income students of any race will not be the best learning environment.  On Sunday 60 Minutes did a story on a charter school in a poor neighborhood in NYC that is focusing on getting the very best teachers to improve the student’s test score:

(CBS News) With state after state confronting massive budget problems, several governors have been looking to extract whatever they can from public employees like teachers, going after benefits packages and guaranteed job security that unions have won for them. But would teachers be willing to give up those protections for a chance to earn a lot more money?

Test scores overall are still low but some individual students have jumped two grade levels in reading in a single year, very important to their future.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Must St. Louis Public Schools Improve To Stop Population Loss?

ABOVE: St. Louis' Gateway Middle School on north Jefferson

For years it has been suggested that underperforming St. Louis Public Schools must be turned around to stop the loss of population. Do you agree? If so, how?

The counter argument is  fewer and fewer households have kids.  St. Louis should focus on attracting aging Baby Boomers & Busters (Gen X) whose kids are grown and Generation Z who don’t yet have kids. This is the subject of the poll this week (see upper right of blog).

- Steve Patterson

Historic Urban School to be Razed for Parking & Playground

ABOVE: The old Hodgen is center left and the new Hodgen is on the right. Via Google Maps, click to view

The old Hodgen Elementary School at California & Henrietta is to be razed, the exact date is unknown.  Yesterday I had to admit to two friends, when they asked my opinion,  I was behind on my reading.

ABOVE: Along California Ave the old Hodgen relates to the street whereas the new Hodgen does not. Source: Google

The Post-Dispatch had the story on January 27th but the demo was one sentence: “The old Hodgen School will be demolished to make way for more playground and parking at the newer Hodgen Elementary School on California Avenue.” Michael Allen posted on the school later that day.

I keep hoping we are beyond razing our great urban fabric for parking.  The new school is tolerable only because of the existence of the old school.

Further reading & great photos:

• Preservation Research Office
• St. Louis Patina

- Steve Patterson