Board of Education’s Citywide Plan Committee

October 25, 2021, 6 p.m.

First Meeting to Introduce: Citywide Plan

Timing 12 – 18 month

Purpose: This meeting is a first step in support of the Board of Education’s resolution calling for a moratorium on the opening of schools in St. Louis City before the development of a citywide plan to ensure a quality education for all students.

The Board Chairs Alisha Sonnier and Antionette Cousins opened the meeting with appreciation to the Board of Aldermen for their vote in support of developing a citywide plan.

On October 21, the Board of Alderman’s Education and Youth Matters Committee and Chair Megan Green (Ward 15) and sponsor Alderman Jesse Todd (Ward 18) led discussion which led to approval of a moratorium on new school opening until the development of a citywide plan.

On October 22, the Board of Alderman voted 24-1 to join us in this effort. Ultimately, the plan is to prepare to take this concept to the state level and then through the governmental process.

Ms. Sonnier said that the process will take the community through the root problems caused by no plan such as concentrated poverty, trauma and teacher retention.

Ms. Cousins said that here will be focus groups targeted and committee reports that will help to chart a path forward.

Dr. Adams took a roll call, as there were four board members present. The chairs then called the meeting to order (Board Secretary Matt Davis was in the audience and three board members were on the committee).

Special Guests: Mike Jones, District/City Liaison, Dorothy, SLU Fellow and former board member

Co-Chairs: Alisha Sonnier and Antoinette Cousins

Attendees:

Dr. Joyce Roberts, Board President

Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Isaac Pollack, Network Superintendent, Elementary Network 2, Associate Superintendent, School Innovation, Turnaround and Charter Partnerships.

Megan Green, Alderperson Ward 15, Chair of the Education and Youth Matters Committee

Dr. Nicole Williams, SLPS Chief of Staff

Byron Clemens, Local 430

Javon Humphrey, Local 420, 8th Grade Teacher, Yeatman Middle School

Bridget Jones, President and CEO SLPS Foundation

Dr. Derrick Mitchell, SLPS Network Superintendent

Lori Willis, SLPS Deputy Superintendent Institutional Advancement

Angela Pearson (for Wilford Pinkney)

Kelly Anderson, Comptroller’s office

Lance Knuckles, Director of Strategy, St. Louis City Development office

Ms. Avis Funches, Parent at Mason Elementary

Nicholas Crumble, Parent at Stix (not in attendance)

PRESENTATION: The Board of Education asked Dr. Isaac Pollack, by virtue of his position on the St. Louis Charter Schools Collaborative (SLCS), to present information as an introduction to the relationships that currently exists between charter and public schools in our City.

The SLCS is a collection of public school and educational leaders in the City of St. Louis who believe that better educational outcomes can be achieved for all children through collaboration with each other. Members currently include leaders of the St. Louis Public School District, charter schools operating in St. Louis City, their University sponsors, and supportive parties who agree to this Statement of Purpose and Guiding Principles. Currently, the Collaborative is an informal collection of individuals with no legal standing or binding authority.

In his remarks, he described this meeting as a show of, “Solidarity in the belief of a path forward.”

Dr. Pollack went on to explain what a charter school is, how it is established and how it functions. He outlined the various ways in which the District collaborates with charter schools to the extent possible given on-going litigation. He then explained his appointment to the St. Louis Charter School Alliance and how they work together to facilitate the close of schools or other matters having impact on education in the City.

 

The Missouri Charter School Alliance was formed in (2012).

Missouri Charter Public Shared Committee 2012 - RsMo-160-425

He explained that a major difference between charter schools and public schools are that charters are able to look at the child sitting right before them and make decisions based on that child’s needs. Attractive as it is to every parent, public schools are not able to make decisions based on what’s best for some. We must honor this process while working equitably as a system of schools across the city must exist.

Pollack explained that SLPS is an LEA, so is KIPP – institutions of several schools. The District rents space to KIPP and receives their scores as we receive ours. Other than that, the district has no other connection or tie to this school.

Pollack explained that over the past 10 years, 19 charter schools have closed and two others never made it off the ground. The reasons for these closures are varied and often not stated.

This relationship, Dr. Adams says, has existed for six years with data for the first three. He agreed to provide a year-to-date analysis of attendance and growth.

Our mission should be, “How do we help our kids anyway we can. The deseg programs ends 2026.

Last year, the District closed eight schools.

This process offers a unique perspective on the City and schools relationships. It’s not a charter/district collaboration, nor is it a union effort. It is an intellectual and honest conversation on what children need.

He spoke of fruitful pressurization: vaccine, Restart, transfers/withdrawals and setting “intellectual priorities” among all executive directors of charter and public schools.

We have a shared set of commitments all parties agree to follow. We will stand with you in the light on what is best for all children. Come into the light.

Ms. Sonnier – We are not here to solve or define what this committee is at this time. There is so much history and background – we are simply verbalizing the existence of a path forward. We want to distill all we learn down to a set of commitments.

Eventually, more groups will be called to the table, including the Better Futures team but the Board of Education will lead the charge.

Ms. Sonnier, we have reached out to others but are awaiting response.

Dr. Adams said that the district has no affiliation with KIPP other than the space and scores.

Can charters be unionized?

Charters can be unionized but there are no unionized charters currently in the City of St. Louis although, it does take place across the country.

When charters close, does SLPS pick up students?

Yes and we can provide some historical information on that. The state tracks students by an ID number and we can use that to determine where students go unless they move out of state and then, we wait for a request for records transfer.

Dr. Roberts asked for a review of slide 17.

The statement of intent run counter to what was printed on the slide. Mr. Pollack said that the slide was created when the process started and will be updated.

CONCLUSION: Ms. Cousins said, “Our goal (board) is to make this process as transparent as possible. Mark sure meeting are posted and people know what we are trying to do. Going forward, committee members will receive much earlier notification of the meeting (acknowledging that some did not receive all the information prior to this meeting).

You may view the live stream of this meeting at slsp.org/virtualboe or the printed PDF at that same site. Meetings of the Board of Education’s Ad Hoc Committee for a Citywide Plan are open to the public (Rm 108 - Covid-19 room capacity 30) and will be live streamed.