By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, September 14 at 8:15 AM
To the SLPS Board Members:
I must start off by saying that I am very disappointed in the School Boards decision last night to make Diana Bourisaw the permanent Superintendent?
Mrs. Veronica O'Brien, I emailed you this week on two separate occasions expressing concerns. I asked you why the new superintendent has not made a visit to Vashon High School? You stated and I quote, "As for Dr. Bourisaw, she is doing an excellent job and it is rare that we hear negative feedback regarding her performance. Most everyone has been pleased with her performance."
Who is most everyone, many parents and students at Vashon High School beg to differ because if Diane Bourisaw was so interested in making things better for the district, that she is now superintendent of, she would have made an attempt to visit Vashon High School and listen to our concerns.
School has been in session for three weeks and you and some of the school board members have decided that she is the perfect person for the position? What are some of Diana's accomplishments that warrant giving her this position because she has not been in the position long enough nor made any major accomplishments that justify making her permanent.
I also want to bring to your attention that you did not answer the direct question when asked, Why the superintendent has not made a visit to Vashon High School? It is becoming quite obvious that our new superintendent does not care so can you tell me where the school board stands on this issue?
Mrs. O'Brien, you mentioned in your email that the school board does not address specific school issues at each board meeting, which is understandable, but do you not feel the urgency to address the issues that have been going on at Vashon since the summer? What is really important to this School Board?
When I asked why neither the Superintendent nor the President of the School Board has addressed the concerns at Vashon, you stated, "For the record, for the past three years I have been one of the only board members that would even show up at a Vashon graduation. I also gave support to the school during time when the media portrayed Vashon as violent school out of control."
"I spoke up for Vashon and did visit the school. For me, it is difficult at this time to say I will sit down and visit with parents due to the anger that seems to be a bit out of control. I spend most of my time visiting with schools and families to listen, but not be screamed at and cursed out by the crowd. I am always willing to meet and listen with those can do so in a civil manner."
Veronica, whether it is you or Diana, we have been asking for a meeting since the first day of school and you have not obliged. If you were truly willing to meet, a meeting would have been scheduled by now.
I said this in a previous email and I will repeat myself by saying, the damage has been done and to try to rectify this situation and apply damage control, a committee can be formed of concerned parents and students of Vashon High School, people that the community trusts to present their issues, and a meeting should be scheduled so that all voices are heard and these concerned be addressed.
Felisha McCaster
Vashon High School Parent
39 Comments:
As a parent, I respect the desire to meet with the officials and I agree with you that they should have at least contacted you about setting up a meeting. Good for you for not giving up and for standing up for the Vashon kids.
The one point on which I differ with you is the one about hiring Ms. Bourisaw without time to see what she can do. That's pretty much how things go--people get hired and if they don't do a good job they get fired; bosses don't hire every new employee with the word "interim" in front of the title while they try them out. If she can't hack it, she'll go the way of the rest of them whether "interim" is in front of her title or not.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:37:00 AM
More whining from Vashon. What makes you think this school is so special? Why is it so important that the Superintendent and the Board President has to make a personal visit? Instead of writing commentaries complaining about what you want people to do for you why don’t you get up and do something about the problems Vashon is having yourself. You comment about how the Media has portrayed Vashon being a violent school. Prove to me other wise. Because other parents whom I have talked with at various sporting events and teachers who have taught there say otherwise. I also know of a certificated teacher who was transferred to Vashon spent three days trying to teach and then quit and is now subbing for a couple of districts. This teacher told me the students were out of control. In three days he/she broke up ten fights. What are you going to do about getting alternative education back into this district? To get the students who want to bring in their gang activities into the school. Sending students to UMSL or other places will not solve the problem only move it. Then again if your anger is still about Irons being fired then you need to get over it. Irons is gone end of story.
You also ask about Dr. Bourisaw qualifications. These have been discussed the first day she was hired as interim superintendent (see July 2006 postings). Many bloggers also commented on her qualification. You can also do a search on Google (or other search engine) to check her out. I agree with the Board name her Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools. The biggest accomplishment that she gets credit for is opening schools on time (even though most of the plans were in place). I am sure there are a lot more that we are not seeing otherwise the Board would have not voted her Superintendent.
You also comment about the families who are screaming at you for the various issues they have. Keep this in mind when you see the students who attend Vashon (actually any school you may visit). Children are mirrors of their parents. If parents are only handling their problems through intimidation and violence the how do you think the students will handle their problems?
What I see as being important to this school board is student success. Not on the playing field in the case of Vashon but in the classroom. Getting back to the real basics of education. Even talking with a Board member our conversation was about getting the district finically accountable, sound programs for education (with ample training before the program is implemented), and stability (even if the state didn’t form this committee).
According to the newspaper Dr. Bourisaw visited two schools on opening day. I have yet to hear of any complaints from Metro, Soldan, Sumner, Roosevelt, CVPA, or any of the middle and elementary that I didn’t mention. I have yet to see Dr. Bourisaw be the circus barker for a dog and pony show that we had a year ago. Your school is no more or no less important than any other school in this district. The problems at your school are not unique to Vashon.
Stop wishing for someone else to solve your problems when you can solve them yourselves.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:40:00 AM
Although I think that Downs and company did not try to work with Williams and that they made a big mistake in their actions this summer, I want some stability for my grandbabies.
Let's not have a 7th superintendent. All seven board members need to stop acting based on emotions.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:31:00 AM
This board seriously needs to get a mediator!
Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:47:00 AM
The Superintendent will come to the Parent Assembly meeting on September 14 at 6:30 PM. Dinner provided. Meeting at Metro H.S.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:51:00 AM
I don't remember any superintendent's or board president's visits when I was going to school (18 years). I believe that the PRINCIPALS used the organization chart to get their concerns to the supt. The Principals should be very assessible through the PTA or Student Council. Simple arithmetic tells us that the the supt couldn't have visited all of the schools in such a short time, even if visiting schools was her only job. She has some big fish to fry with the fiscal/organiazational/confrontational/accredidation issues facing the district. These are not new issues, these issues were left for her to clean up. Can she do it? I don't know, but I think her time can be better spent than going to "bitch" sessions. Sure the media likes to focus on Vashon...Why do you think that is?? I don't know how anyone can expect a command performance from someone with such huge responsibilities. Like it or not she is in a position of LEADERSHIP. Oh what the hell, if you can't get the supt of schools to respond to your beckoned call, why don't you call the Mayor, Governor or President and expect them to show up at your command performance.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 1:07:00 PM
The tone of the above is really disturbing. Parents are continuously reprimanded for not being involved and caring, and here when they are trying, they get demeaned for it. Sure, Bourisaw has a lot on her plate and getting to every school can't have happened yet. It's amazing how a response from Bourisaw's office, not even necessarily Bourisaw herself, that she has heard the request and would like to meet when things settle down might have given the parent who wrote the letter at least the feeling that she mattered and would have prevented this whole thing. It didn't sound to me like the parent was commanding a performance, just that she was trying to set something up and wasn't getting a response.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:01:00 PM
What is disturbing is the fact that one school in the district wants all of the attention. Wants all of the problems solved for them. What about the problems all of the other schools in the district are having. Vashon is the pet of the media because it shows everything wrong with the St. Louis Public Schools. Also remember the media is very racist. The added features Vashon has over lets say Roosevelt is Vashon is on the North Side 99% black, and is a brand new school (lets say fairly new) compared to other schools like Cleveland, CVPA, and Roosevelt. What about the requests that parents from other schools are making on Dr. Bourisaw. For example, the parents of the girls who use to attend Meda P. Washington High School made their feelings known? When are their complaints going to be heard? There are fights, class cutting, insubordination, and other discipline problems at other high schools but take a look at what happens when a fight breaks out at Vashon – parents get involved in the fight that their sons and/or daughters started. I haven’t seen that at other schools. This is what is I find disturbing.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 3:09:00 PM
Vashon isn't the ONLY school in the district so stop acting like it is. All the effort Vashon parents have put into complaining and whining would be better used towards making sure their children are attending school, following school rules and completing their assignements, communicating and working together with the teachers, principals & counselors in the best interest of their child and volunteering at the school.....
Thursday, September 14, 2006 3:17:00 PM
Well, I have to say I agree with most of the above posts. We had a problem getting Dr Williams to come to our school. Our school is the top school in Missouri and he wanted to make changes. When we asked him to meet with us, he also didn't answer for quite sometime. We were not sure why he even wanted to make changes to a school that had virtually no problems. We felt he had enough on his plate with all the failing schools and a district with only partial accreditation. It took a lot longer than 3 weeks to get him to our school to meet with us. When he did, he still refused to see our points until it was too late. Now we are dealing with many issues that we knew we would have if his changes went through. But we used all our voices, not just one letter from one person. We had representatives at all meetings, Parent assy's, school board meetings etc. We, as a group of concerned parents, let him know we were not going to give up. We all emailed him over and over. We as a group formed a planning committee, and we will continue to try and work with Dr Bourisaw. Sometimes we don't always get what we want, when we want it. But if you guys at Vashon truly want to make changes at that school, you will have to do better than that one letter from that one person. Get involved with the PTO, get as many parents involved as you can. Show people, including the superintendent, that you, as a GROUP of concerned parents care and you will not give up until you get your meeting. But for goodness sakes, don't make it a personal attack on the woman. Stick to your concerns about your students and your school. That is the best advice I can give you. As the old saying goes, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil". She will not want to respond if all you want to do is bash her, the school board and this district. Make it count.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 4:10:00 PM
I wonder what the problems alluded to in the letter are at Vashon, and if they have been addressed with the Principal by the parents, and if so, what the outcome of those discussions were.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 4:15:00 PM
I'm not at Vashon but I suspect their problems can be seen in nearly every other school in the district (and other urban districts around the country). I'll start the list...
1. Violence
2. Classroom overcrowding
3. Insufficient numbers of security personnel
4. Lack of supplies
5. Poor quality and insufficient quantities of food
6. Not enough counselors
7. Poor curriculum
8. Staff burnout
9. Broken copiers
10. Lead
11. Asbestos
12. Insufficient discipline alternatives
13. Dysfunctional home lives
14. Stolen license plate tags
15. Broken glass
16. Lack of sufficient Special Ed. opportunities
17. Roaches and rodents
18. Out of control paperwork
19. Brown water
20. Denial by those who have the authority to make a difference with numbers 1-19.
Feel free to add to the list...whining doesn't seem to solve much...but it kind of makes you feel better!
Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:04:00 PM
jim:
It is very interesting that many of the items on your list coincide with the results of my recent poll on the same issue.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:20:00 PM
Jim & Others,
You're just adding to the negative connotations that my school already has. Our scjool is not what you list looks like. We had and still have a few dedicated teahers, an OK principal. Yes we are lacking school materials, but thats throughout the whole district, maybe throught all public school systems in the nation.
For the record, technically, our building is still considered new. We have a beautiful building with great classroom space and a excellent library. Don't believe me? Google Vashon High School, St. Louis, Mo. Our water isn't brown, we don't have pest, however, we can enforce dicipline codes more often. We don't have a lead problem, target some of the area high schools, such as Beaumont or Cleveland, some of the older schools. Why does it always have to be Vashon? Security is not a problem at the V, and teachers are not burning out. You need to be focused on our politics, because at the end of the day they have the last say so of everything- republican or democrat.
This year, like previous years at Vashon High School, Floyd Irons and Dorothy Ludgood or not, failure is NOT an option, we are making a change, we are about academic rigor in excellence in the community.
How about you and everyone else, come and give us a visit, 3035 Cass Ave St. Louis, MO 63106. 314-533-9487, Barbara Sharp, Principal.
Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:52:00 PM
Senator, Like I said, "I'm not at Vashon..." My experience is coming from 100+ year old buildings on the north side. So forget Vashon everybody, what about the other 90 schools? I'm glad they don't have these problems...so why does the Supt. need to visit?
Friday, September 15, 2006 5:22:00 AM
Senator,
You claim Vashon is about academics by the school hasn’t shown any improvement in Communication Arts or Math test scores. Reread what you have just written. You and Brian Harris must have slept through English class. The grades the students must be getting must be inflated. You claim you have a few dedicated teachers the rest must be pushing the students through the building to get them out. One teacher left because he/she claimed the students are uncontrollable, another one commented on the fact that he/she needs the job and will try to make the best of it, many first years who started at the same time I did are all gone. The building does look nice but having a nice building does not guarantee academic success. A building is only a shell but if the school continues to have discipline problems that drive teachers away then it is not much of a school. You do not have to have a brand new building to have academic success.. White washing a rotten fence does not fix the problem.
Friday, September 15, 2006 7:34:00 AM
Ms. McCaster
Good for you for taking the time to write a letter and work for the betterment of your school. As I have always said, if we don't advocate for our own kids, and the betterment of their schools, who will?
With that said, I would also ask you to be patient with our new supt. and her team. She does have a huge task managing this district with its many schools, and many ISSUES. ....That's not to say you should stop communicating with her and her office staff, or expecting a timely reply, but that you continue to work with other interested parents, teachers and especially your principal to address some of the issues you may have.
Good luck with making your school communtiy a wonderful place for the teaching and learning of "our kids"!
Friday, September 15, 2006 8:03:00 AM
This parent and the students at Vashon High School should feel that their school is important to them.
And as far as the comments regarding the whining, you people are such hypocrites. If the parent wouldn't have taken a stand she would have been accused of being an unconcerned parent and when she does get involved and ask questions and expect answers she is being accused of whining???
Ms. McCaster, I applaud your efforts for trying to take a stand for Vashon and I challenge other parents and teachers to speak up on behalf of their schools. Don’t stop doing what you’re doing because you have people that respond with such opinions that don’t and will not affect them directly.
Friday, September 15, 2006 9:59:00 AM
Look more talk with no action. Get off your butts and do something instead of waiting for some else to it. Yo may be waiting a long time. The Vashon population should take some note from Metro and Cleveland.
Friday, September 15, 2006 12:07:00 PM
To the Sentor:
The district as a whole would not lack needed materials if the district wasn't paying $20,000 a month for security for someone that can afford to pay for it her self!!
Friday, September 15, 2006 7:08:00 PM
Gina,
I agree with you. We just need to hold a meeting somewhere, like Vashon, with the "new" superintendant and board members and get some stuff straight.
We need computers, but how can we get it when our district is mismanaging money, and spending money on a non-paid elected school board member.
It's a lot of stuff we need to get and should have, like calculators, computers and other academic resourses that would help us achieve in academics and actually be interested in school. Unlike when I was in elementary school, I wake up saying "I don't want to go to school today".
All I am saying, is that I am tired of the negative input from the "community" and they don't actually come up to Vashon and see, and get the chance to meet some of these so called "hoodlums" that they are always denying the "American Dream" to, because the fact of the matter is that I attend Vashon High, and I am realizing the so called "American Dream" and if any of you so called activist are representing it... I want a new dream. "We all have the ability to access the road ahead, but if that road seems bleek or unpromising, then we must step off, onto a new and more promising road".
As the Senator said. come and give us a visit and see how many intellectual students are at Vashon, and be amazed. We are located right off of Grand Ave at 3035 Cass Ave. 314-533-9487, Barbara Sharp, Principal.
Failure is not an option.
I want to meet Diana Bourisaw, I wonder why hasn't she returned phone calls or emails? Is she in it for a more promising resume or more fame?
I would also appreciate it if we focused on the upcoming Terra Nova test, in which we are not getting prepared for. The School Board is the problem, why do we need a school board? Answer me!!!!
Get us some college tours, ACT Prep, internships, career days, and motivation. Like I said we need to get a lot of stuff straight, and parents this starts AT HOME. Give your child something to be hopeful for, instill in your child discipline and respect. Show them some pride. Show them how to prioritize. Make them do homework, spend "quality" time with them. Lets make SLPS for the future and actually build towards 2011.
Let's be about the future, ambitious for new leadership in a powerful, promising and correct direction. Effective leadership, making a change.
Friday, September 15, 2006 8:19:00 PM
Vashon is not the only school in the district. Everyone is tired of hearing them complain about attention. Maybe the complainers should have a study session on how to educate children rather than scream and curse at the sperintendant and the board president. Word is they have both been to Vashon.
Friday, September 15, 2006 10:44:00 PM
They were at Vashon on Friday, but who knew? We were in class, who were the students to meet the,? Why didn't they alert the parents, telling them that they were coming? That's miscommunication, leading to complication.
Saturday, September 16, 2006 7:43:00 AM
If the Supt. (or anyone else who wants to get a true picture) is going to visit a school, then she should NOT announce her visit to anyone beforehand. Sorry parents, even you.
I have seen over and over how a school instantly becomes a different place when a "surprise" visit takes place. All of a sudden the disruptive students disappear somewhere, the toilet paper shows up in the stalls, paper towels appear and "extra staff" are patrolling the hallways. (Of course, this "extra staff" has been pulled from their regular duties for the visit.)
The Supt. should show up unannounced and stay throughout a typical passing period, morning routine, lunch routine, after school routine, or whatever. Then she should schedule a meeting with the parents so she can address the concerns with a little personal knowledge of the situation.
I understand that time is precious and the Supt. cannot afford to spend so much time in one school, all I am saying is any school can be "straightened up" for a day or two. At the same time, a normally "good school" has bad days sometimes. Stick around for a week if you want to see the true atmosphere and quality of a school, good or bad.
Saturday, September 16, 2006 9:09:00 AM
what jim h. just said-------read it twice. So very true.
By the way---I have no way of knowing---is Mr. irons teaching social studies at Vashon?(or anywhere else) If so, or if not, does it make any difference to anyone?
Saturday, September 16, 2006 2:03:00 PM
Jim should stop posting comments if he doesn't attend Vashon High or any SLPS school. Instead of always downing my school, try lifting us up and giving us a hand.
That goes for everybody.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 9:40:00 AM
Life is tough, Nerdboy. If you don't lift yourself up, there isn't anyone that is going to do it for you in this world. If you sit around waiting for someone to give you a hand, you will be wasting a lot of time that you could be working at improving your own skills. Go to the public library and read everything you can. It's free and it's how our taxes are already working to give others a hand.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:00:00 PM
Nerdboy, I didn't know that it was a requirement to attend Vashon in order to post an opinion. You have the freedom to disregard them. I do, however, work for the SLPS. I am a teacher at Ashland School. I hope others don't interpret my remarks as downing Vashon. From speaking to colleagues I know Vashon has a great and proud tradition. If I came across as downing anyone, I apologize. However, if there are problems in ANY SCHOOL I don't think we should deny them. Nothing will improve if we don't first acknowledge the problems. Every day I do my best to give a hand up. Whether or not my efforts are good enough...who knows? We can only do what we can do.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 3:24:00 PM
Gina, you are so naive. You said: "The district as a whole would not lack needed materials if the district wasn't paying $20,000 a month for security for someone that can afford to pay for it her self!!"
Ridiculous. How much did the district lose through a coach who cheated it out of thousands of dollars?
Gina, the district paid for Ron Jacksson's legal costs, beaucoup for Darnetta Clinkscale, and for Bill Purdy's legal costs. All of these far surpassed the $20,000 tha was allotted to a school board president who has been threatened and stalked.
It was the Police Department that said she needed to be protected.
Please get the facts straight.
Monday, September 18, 2006 8:24:00 PM
What is ridiculous is when people such as yourself and others continue to bring coach Irons name up in these conversations. Coach Iron's name is only mentioned when a "hater" wants to through accusations. “He that is without sin let him cast the first stone.”
Coach Floyd Irons is to Vashon like Joe Clark was to East Side High in Lean on Me OR Coach Ken Carter of the movie “Coach Carter.” I made reference to these two movies because most African Americans can see the relevance while most Caucasians cannot. These two movies tale a story of how some of our students live are on a daily basis and Coach Iron’s understood this and was there to offer much needed assistance. To the readers that have nothing good to say about coach Iron’s, answer this question, “where are YOU when a kid needs money for school (lunch, uniform shirt, shoes, etc.) that the parental home cannot provide, or when a child is being held in juvenile detention for something minor and just needed some guidance, or when the kids parents are no where to be found but the kid wants to overcome the situation and finish school” the list goes on and on. Most of you can’t and will not be able to answer these questions, so I will answer it for you. Where are You when a kid…. I don’t know where you are but I definitely know where you are NOT.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 11:49:00 AM
Yes, anonymous, but in those two movies, the folks doing good works weren't raking in six fiqure salaries and money on the side from deals that aren't accounted for anywhere. Why did Williams get so upset about losing Irons, but drop the Academic Olympics without batting an eye? The Academic Olympics were the only non-sports district wide high school competitions we had and he took that away. You jocks have your teams all season, and we only had once a year for ours.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 1:09:00 PM
Philo-Teknos, I am as naive as you are incompetent. I know what I said but I guess it took for you to repeat it in order for you to comprehend it. I don’t reside on the plantation any more and I am entitled to an opinion and I should be respected enough to do so without getting ridiculed.
Let me educate you on some of the facts that I seem to be so “naive” about.
The facts are, the district has compensated 6 superintendents within the last 3 years. What evidence can you obtain your claim concerning a coach that has cheated the district out of thousands of dollars? The judge found no wrong doing and all charges were dismissed. I was there.
Philo-Teknos, the district paid for Veronica O’Brien’s legal expenses as well as Ron Jackson's and if Clinkscale or Purdy would have pushed the issue they would have gotten theirs paid for too.
The facts are, you’re on the outside looking in. I’ve been there form the very beginning. It was not the police that stated that Ms. O’Brien needed protecting; it was her and her lawyers that cried about protection. If the judge felt she was being threatened and stalked then she would not have been denied the restraining order three times by different judges. I was there.
The facts are, it was more than one police from the STL Police Department that testified against her, obtain a copy of the police report. I was there.
The facts are, the parents were threatened, called crack head mother f******, thugs, and our kids were called unkempt. Obtain a copy of the tape from channel 4 news because they were there. I was there.
The facts are, Channel 2, 4, and 5 were there from the beginning to the end and they too also showed it as being a peaceful protest. I was there.
The facts are, we have the right of freedom of speech.
The facts are, we as African Americans have to install in our children, “If you don’t stand for something, then you’ll fall for anything.” We are no longer taking things lying down.
The facts are, the district is no longer making it about the kids. It’s all about politics and who has the most authority.
Philo-Teknos, challenge those facts.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 4:56:00 PM
Gina, very well put.
thank you.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:10:00 PM
Oh for heaven's sake. How would anyone know what race you are, Gina, if you didn't tell them? This plantation comment really detracts from anything relevant you have to say. If this were all being done in person and a white person was treating a black person in an obviously demeaning way, then okay, make the comment, but don't drag it in when this is all anonymous and there is no reason to suspect philo-teknos has any idea what race you are. A discussion in search of truth involves challenging each other. Disagreement and discussion are not ridicule.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:18:00 PM
Gina and Anon at 11:10:26, you only know what they want you to know. I didn't just come off a plantation either, and I've seen plenty in this distirct from the side as parent, then as employee. If you knew even half what I've seen, you would be shocked. Believe me, that lady needs protection. I only wish the young man who was murdered had gotten protection before his life was taken. You need to put your ear to the street - if you can take it. What I have seen and heard would scare the daylights our of most judges in this town.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:27:00 PM
Regarding Irons and having done nothing wrong--
"After thoroughly reviewing the report, we concluded that due to the insufficient bookkeeping practices maintained by Vashon at the time, it was impossible to determine whether or not there was crimininal behavior on the part of any Vashon leaders," she [Jennifer Joyce] said Wednesday.
I would say that having insufficient bookkeeping practices is something wrong in an of itself. That is shoddy administration, and allows for greater wrongs to go undetected.
Did greater wrongs take place?
I have no idea as the trail has gone cold.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 10:57:00 AM
Wow, if you people from Vashon put half the effort that you did in these blogs and the protests, your school might not be in the position it is in. Why not use that effort to support change in your school with your principal, parents and students???? Why does race always have to be dragged into everything? No one cares what race anyone is on this site. We care about improving the district as a whole for the students who attend district schools. If Floyd Irons was such a great Athletic Director, why was the basketball team the only winning team? And to the above post-here, here. You've hit the nail on the head. There was so much insufficient bookkeeping by your Athletic Director and his sidekick that they couldn't begin to determine where all the money went. He received money from Nike for uniforms and then went out and spent more. Our school has to have fundraiser after fundraiser to buy new uniforms. Our parents have to volunteer at the Rams games to make any decent amount of money for our sports teams. It's a darn shame what that man actually did to your school when you look at the big picture.
Thursday, September 21, 2006 1:15:00 PM
I watched Fox 2 News You Paid For It and it was brought to my attention that the St. Louis School Dist. has spent more than $200,000 out of taxpayer's pockets to pay for eighty five Blackberry phones and their outrageous bills! They have been given to our board members and top administrators to be used not only for business but personal calls as well. Ron Jackson even admitted to personal usage of his Blackberry. I couldn't help but to investigate this more and found that this was a problem concluded in an audit report dated 2004. Although this was identified in 2004, total costs of bills topped $229,080 between July 2005 and January 2007. I believe the St. Louis School District needs immediate changes in policies in regards to unnecessary expenditures such as these and should be watching the district carefully to make sure they follow through with those policies (i.e. monitoring the personal usage of business related cell phones,etc.). They are taking away from our children's education so that top officials can have a free cell phone for unmonitored personal usage at the taxpayer's and children's expense. There needs to be disciplinary action taken for those that take advantage of privileges such as complimentary cell phones. This is completely crooked and the problem needs to be addressed. Thank you for taking the time to listen and will hopefully consider acting on this and other problems of the same nature. You can find the You Paid For It Report and other important links at myfoxstl.com.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 12:44:00 AM
I watched Fox 2 News You Paid For It and it was brought to my attention that the St. Louis School Dist. has spent more than $200,000 out of taxpayer's pockets to pay for eighty five Blackberry phones and their outrageous bills! They have been given to our board members and top administrators to be used not only for business but personal calls as well. Ron Jackson even admitted to personal usage of his Blackberry. I couldn't help but to investigate this more and found that this was a problem concluded in an audit report dated 2004. Although this was identified in 2004, total costs of bills topped $229,080 between July 2005 and January 2007. I believe the St. Louis School District needs immediate changes in policies in regards to unnecessary expenditures such as these and should be watching the district carefully to make sure they follow through with those policies (i.e. monitoring the personal usage of business related cell phones,etc.). They are taking away from our children's education so that top officials can have a free cell phone for unmonitored personal usage at the taxpayer's and children's expense. There needs to be disciplinary action taken for those that take advantage of privileges such as complimentary cell phones. This is completely crooked and the problem needs to be addressed. Thank you for taking the time to listen and will hopefully consider acting on this and other problems of the same nature. You can find the You Paid For It Report and other important links at myfoxstl.com.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 12:44:00 AM
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