Intro: Senate Education Committee chair says state takeover of St. Louis schools not first priority
The commments came from Senator Gary Nodler after the Missouri Education Commissioner hinted that the school district would fail to meet state academic standards again this year, which could trigger a state takeover.
But Nodler says that while the district needs help, a state takeover is not the state's main objective.
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| Description: Nodler says the first objective is to help the St. Louis School District be successful, not dismantle it through a state takeover. |
In a provision of the 1999 desegregation settlement, the state has the authority to establish its own transitional governing body for the district if it fails to meet state academic standards for two consecutive years.
So far, the state has created an advisory committee to investigate the school district and its shortcomings due to release its findings in December.
In Jefferson City, I'm Robbie Fisher.
Intro: The St. Louis School Board president says state intervention is coming too late
Intro: The St. Louis School Board president says state intervention is coming too late
The St. Louis School Board president says the board has made changes that should yield immediate results for the struggling district, making the state's involvement unnecessary.
The State Education Commissioner has hinted that a state takeover is possible because of instability and the district's failure to reach state academic standards.
School Board president Veronica O'Brien says the state's participation in the district's efforts is welcome, but adds that the district has already made changes.
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| Description: O'Brien welcomes the state's help, but says the School Board is taking care of its own problems. |
According to O'Brien, the problems of the last two years have stemmed from a controversial curriculum and the poor leadership of recent superintendents, both of which have been addressed.
The school district has had six superintendents in the past three years.
Intro: A state takeover is possible if accreditation is not achieved in two years
The Missouri Deputy Education Commissioner, Bert Schulte, says that a state takeover of the St. Louis School District is possible, but not imminent.
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| Description: Schulte says district will most likely lose accreditation and that is why state has chosen to become more involved. |
Under Missouri law, the state is able to take control of the school district if accreditation is not reestablished within two years.
Schulte added that the state would continue to help the underachieving school district, but that administrative stability was needed for the process to succeed.
In Jefferson City, I'm Robbie Fisher.
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