Will the soap opera that is the St. Louis Board of Education ever end? We’ve basically evolved into two opposite camps that both claim to be working in the best interests of the educational system yet I find it harder and harder to believe it. Much like Republicans and Democrats on the national level that back themselves into ideological corners, our school board members as well as others such as Mayor Slay continue to fight to defend positions and political turf.
I had high hopes for the school board when the majority changed from one camp to the other. I can see now that the camp supported by Mayor Slay is still able to inflict damage on the new majority, at least from a PR standpoint. Maybe it is the fault of the new majority — might they be as cold and calculating as the majority they replaced? This may well be par for the course.
When Downs & Jones were elected to the board and power shifted I did not expect them to just give into Superintendent Creg Williams. When I voted for this pair I wanted them to challenge and push Williams, not to make him leave but to work for a better school system. We all like to be challenged in our jobs. Without a challenge we have nothing to work towards and most often, we can do better.
Some say the board majority is micro-managing. Perhaps. If so, why? When Williams submitted his budget last month it was $4 million in the red with the full expectation we’d be $50 million in the red next year. When board members, expected to vote on a budget questioned expenses, Williams was not direct but was contentious (and yes, I was there). The four members of the board majority were doing their jobs when questioning why the budget was not balanced and looking at expenses to either justify deficit spending or ways to cut since the well-compensated first-time Superintendent failed to do so on his first budget.
Williams this week submitted a balanced budget. See, it was possible. The three dissenters on the board that were willing to pass the deficit increasing budget should be a little more than embarrassed for not going along with the other four to ask for a balanced budget. I expected the board to take fiscal responsibility of our tax dollars. If they cannot do that, they should resign.
A football basketball coach was effectively fired by the board this week as his department, as I understand it, was eliminated. Some are calling this a retaliatory act against coach Irons. Others say it was simply a way to send a message to Williams at the expense of Irons. The board says it was the responsible thing to do. Frankly, I don’t know that I care anymore.
No matter what actions, good or bad, the new board majority will take to correct the schools it will be spun to be an act to run out Williams or to give in to the teacher’s union or any other thing they think of to discredit the members. I’m certainly no stranger to spinning things as I am certainly opinionated on this site. However, I like to think I take an even approach to issues while still maintaining my urbanist values. The spin around the school board, possibly from both sides, is coming from different motivation. It is about defending political turf and discrediting the actions of your enemy. That my friends will not save our school system from ruins. Children, not Williams or coach Irons, are the victims here. In the big picture, we are all victims as not educating our youth will have long lasting effects on our region.
Had Clinksdale & Buford won the election rather than Down & Jones I don’t know that we’d be in any better position than we are today. We’d most likely have an approved budget that was in the red. We’d also have political fighting and energized board meetings. Either way I don’t really see us moving forward. I’m losing all confidence in Williams to show leadership in the face of adversity. If he cannot handle questions about a budget now how will he be next year when we face a $50 million deficit. If he is our best hope, we are in worse shape than I thought.
The best thing might be for the state to take over our schools. I don’t know the implications of that statement but I don’t see the new majority being able to accomplish anything if the mayor and Post-Dispatch are going to turn on them for every decision, regardless of merit.
The system is seriously broke. Financially and otherwise.
Our buildings are crumbling, our students population is decreasing and our costs seem to escalate. We do have some bright spots. Some of our schools have very high ratings in the region, state and nation. All those responsible should be pleased with their work. I’m not sure any credit should be given to this board, prior board or the current superintendent for these successes as this may have been coalescing for some time.
It would not surprise me if the teachers union was acting in their own interests, possibly protecting teachers and positions that should be eliminated. Nor would not surprise me if the Slay-board would have done things for political gain. We’ve gotten ourselves into this us vs. them situation and I don’t see a good solution to move past the political fights into thoughtful and reasoned solutions to the challenges facing our educational system.
Although the short-term embarrassment of having the state come in and take over the schools might painful it may well be the best long-term solution. If it were to happen, Williams should go out with the board. Start fresh all around. Leave none of the political fighters in place. Then, and only then, can we set about creating a sound educational system for the City of St. Louis.
– Steve