St. Louis Schools Watch

Green: Don't renew Williams' contract

By Antonio D. French

Filed Friday, June 16 at 5:00 AM

Legendary activist Percy Green has for decades been at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights and equality for African-Americans, a goal that over the years has found Green dangling from the Gateway Arch, sitting in the St. Louis City jail, and all points in between.

Green wrote an open letter this week to the members of the school board asking them not to renew the contract of Superintendent Creg Williams.

"It is my observation that the new board majority of the St. Louis Board of Education should NOT renew the contract... in the interest of spending taxpayers money wisely, establishing common-sense decision making, and exemplifying competence in the St. Louis Public school system," wrote Green.

In November 2003, Green found himself in handcuffs because of his opposition to the leadership of the last board majority. He was dragged from a meeting of the Board after a member of the SLPS security team claimed he was trying to incite a riot.

Green denied that charge and after hearing testimony from three witnesses, including school board member Bill Purdy, and judge agreed, finding Green not guilty Wednesday of all charges.

The 72 year-old activist continues to speak out about the direction of public education in St. Louis. "If the new board majority renews Williams' contract, knowing what it now knows," wrote Green, "then they would bring their own credibility into question."

"Neither the public nor I will see the difference between the new board and the old one, which would be most unfortunate for the public school children in the St. Louis community, and the future of everyone who live and learn in this community."

Click here to watch and download exclusive video of our interview with Percy Green.

17 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Antonio, I to admire Percy Green especially for his groundbreaking stand at McDonnell Douglas which benchmarked the famous case he initiated. If it were not for Mr. Green the African-Americans at the now Boeing Company, may not have seen the justice and good faith they see today. However, I wish that you had not posted his open letter about Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams is not the bad guy and it does leave a lot to be desired about Mr. Green's current position as anti-Slay. Dr. Williams however, has never projected pro or anti-Slay (ALL Superintendents have to have some sort of 'working' relationship with the Mayor in any state)...but Dr. Williams has ALWAYS advocated for the children from the beginning...and I know that this may not be the case, but it seems that Mr. Green has forgotten that. The only political game Dr. Williams has to play now involves finding the funding and qualified people to educate and help our SLPS students. Dr. Williams has always been upfront about his mission. I was a bit embarassed as well when I read Mr. Green's words. But, I still hold him in high regard.

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:25:00 PM

Yea, Percy sounding just like Bill Cosby now in his old age. He can't just attack Creg Williams like Williams is not good for nothing! That was not fair. Just like Bill Cosby ranting at the already poor African-Americans who already are beaten up by society. Basically those are just easy targets at the end of the day. But, Creg Williams is not even from here and sometimes I wonder do we St. Louisans have the same heart and diligence that he has when it comes to the SLPS. I mean I did not even really get involved with the SLPS until Williams showed up. And, I know plenty of other people who did the same thing. I mean Williams has gotten me back interested and actually WANTING TO HELP. I don't know what Percy was thinking by attacking the one person who it seems cares, whether he qualified or not...he's here and he got me here, my wife and like I said a lot of other St. Louisans who were born and raised in the SLPS like myself but we out in North County now. We are refreshed and energized about saving our former school district. Its a beautiful thing and so I say shame on Percy. But, that blogger is right, Percy is still a good man and he legacy deeds do speak for him. I just have to disagree on this one.

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:26:00 PM

People have been saying that Creg Williams is going to leave. Well, if he does...it will be because of US St. Louisans...with our mean, sometimes jealous, non-progressive thinking. WE are going to push him out. And that blogger was right, a man that seems to care sometimes more than us. Percy was wrong for picking on get this...another 'black man' for trying to help and Percy don't even want him to stay. We need to come up on our thinking and help the man, not put him down and tell him to leave. We just need to come up and I guess I just thought more of Percy.

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:27:00 PM

Since Creg Williams arrived here, there has been nothing but attention on the SLPS...and not all of it bad for a change. It seems that I am able to see the more positive things that the students and even teachers and administrators are doing, and for some reason that was not higlighted in the past like it is today. I do believe that although Mr. Williams has not had Superintendent prior experience I surely don't think that his performance has been so terrible that Percy can resort to calling Creg some sort of 'grease ball' or something un-called for like that. I too have become inspired to help and be apart of what seems to be a vision that just might work with the proper support, funding and qualified staff. I do understand Percy's position on Slay, but I think to target Mr. Williams and call for the Board to not renew his contact was way out of scope and after that open letter if Mr. Williams hears or reads it, my heart hopes that he does not think that Percy's word represents all the concerned citizens.

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:28:00 PM

Thanks to the blogger for the information about Percy being the "Green" in "Green v. McDonnel" I did not know 'he' was the one. WOW! What an accomplishment! Well, I too saw the open letter and have to say that I disagree as well. I feel good about supporting Williams. To my knowlege he tries to be as honest, open and upfront as possible in such a polital position. Its rare to find a person like that obviously. Its unfortunate that Green feels the way he does. But, if I were him...I would be more cautious in any reproach against Williams. There are many people in St. Louis who do feel that William's plan can work and finally turn a district around that has needed it for some time.

Creg Williams has always been the man for the job in my book. Whether he had the work experience or not...The moment I read his plan and saw the consistant determination he has for my child's education, I knew the Lord must have made him qualified to turn the SLPS into something wonderful. I thank God for Creg Williams...he gives me a glimmer of hope when there was none. Now use THAT in your next letter Percy!

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:30:00 PM

Yea, he should just gone ahead and fire all these teachers for real. I wish it was something he could do about that Board too. It don't make no sense the way the Board be acting with him. Can't even approve a budget. The man told them that SLPS was broke, now why would the Board not want to adopt a plan to at least tightly manage the little money that is there? Its crazy. I agree with the one blogger...we just gone run the man out of St. Louis...cause we crazy.

Friday, June 16, 2006 12:31:00 PM

All I know is Dr. Williams said he wanted the Teachers to keep their classrooms clean and they STILL complained about that. Thats all they seem to do and this man was still willing to give them a raise in the newly rejected budget. I would not have given them nothing. Mary Armstrong wants to know about 'mixed signals' and 'what is meant by the word performance?' What do you think it means? It means grade improvements, it means student accomplishments, it means did you meet your goals for the year. Until there are records of massive improvements throughout the SLPS (I'm not talking about just Metro) I'm not interested in hearing a word the Teachers Union has to say and Creg should take a moment and explain what the word 'performance' is to Mary Armstrong, because I'm afraid if she does not know the meaning by now, how can we expect that her school year was truly a 'high peforming one?'

I admire Percy Green tremendously for what he represents in St. Louis. Unfortunately on this point, I have to disagree. Only because as a fellow St. Louisan born and raised, I know how we respond to change. Especially if its mind blowing change. To me, Dr. Williams is an obvious agent for change...period. Sure, all of our ruffles have been featherd by the board and every single member. The point is...I believe that Dr. Williams is truly and honestly for the students. Yes, I agree that we have paid other leaders more money and what did they do to us?...Well, they are gone now, but if Percy feels so strongly I don't think Dr. Williams leaving is going to help matters. As a matter of fact, it will further hurt an existing wound even further. I think Percy will agree that sometimes big things come out of tiny or seemingly non-qualified packages...as Percy himself may have been looked at the same way in the beginning at McDonnell Douglas. We must help and support Dr. Williams. Another Superintendent leaving within a five year period puts St. Louis credibility on the line yet again, but not concerning the leader this time...concerning why St. Louis can't seem to work with or even support the leaders we pick, directly or indirectly. I think we have a chance here to do right, and the fact that Dr. Williams does not have all the ribbons and whistles of past Superintendent accomplishements leaves him open to hear and consider what St. Louis has to say. The Board will change with every new election, but Dr. Williams must be constant in his mission long term. Lets all start thinking long term and not on the constant changes of the board.

Thank you for reading Mr. Green and do have a pleasant rest of the day.

Friday, June 16, 2006 1:03:00 PM

Anon, it's easy to talk about firing incompetent teachers, but where do you propose to get their replacements? There were openings all year during 2005-2006 that were never filled, and many, many continuing substitute teachers every year. Until this country begins to value teaching as much as other professions, it will remain difficult to attract the best and brightest to educate our children. As long as there are not enough teachers, the ones we do have will get their choice of working in the districts with the fewest problems and the most support for their efforts. They need to send kids to college and save for retirement, too, you know.

Friday, June 16, 2006 5:11:00 PM

I noticed a lot of support for Dr. Williams here and in other places. I hope you who want him to stay will write letters to the various newspapers and newsletter showing your support. As someone here said, more than any other Superintendent, Williams seems like he is for the kids and if he leaves it is because of us in St. Louis.

Please send your support to the Post, the American, the Argus and the Sentinal newspapers. Maybe our show of support can help him.

Friday, June 16, 2006 8:14:00 PM

From the Journal Newspaper:

Editorial: When division equals subtraction

Oakville-Mehlville Journal
Wednesday, Jun. 14 2006

Do the math.

The St. Louis Public Schools has four critical issues on its hands. It must
handle a budget deficit, meet Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP)
requirements, meet No Child Left Behind mandates and fund maintenance of aging
schools.

Superintendent Creg Williams needs to tackle all four problems at once and he
needs the support of the Board of Education.

But there are elements within the district that seek to divide the board and
subtract staff support from the administration's reforms.

St. Louis Teachers and School Related Personnel Union, Local 420, recently
voted no confidence in the administration. The union took issue with Williams'
handling of school reconstitution, which includes having teachers and other
staff members reapply for positions in the district.

Williams pointed out that drastic changes are required at four middle schools
by No Child Left Behind. He said the high schools have major problems, so he
targeted the three worst for reconstitution.

Williams could have simply fired the staffs and started fresh. Or, he could
have switched them from one school to another. Instead, he chose a middle
ground through which he can cut some of the dead wood.

Union leadership at first said it was on board for the changes. Now, it
quibbles about them. It also has brought up non-issues, including teachers
receiving smaller final paychecks — although their total pay was the same.

We expect the union to try to exploit every advantage it has in looking out for
its membership. That's its purpose.

However, this agitation of the administration has been multiplied by some
school board members encouraging the union's tactics.

Board member Donna Jones asked to have an item put on the board's agenda to
review the firing of 33 teachers. The union supports these reviews. Jones said
Williams could submit the finding to the board for possible rehiring of these
teachers.

Board members Bill Purdy and Peter Downs voted in favor of adding the item to
the agenda, but the motion died for lack of a board majority.

Downs also has sought termination of the district's contract for outsourcing
work and a change to how teachers can use the managed curriculum.

The adversarial approaches these board members have taken with the
administration only serve to weaken public perception of the district.

Williams' staff has held public meetings on the budget. The superintendent said
he also wants to involve the public in the budget for next year, so it can help
decide the district's financial future.

Williams has not suggested a tax increase to make payroll and lessen the budget
deficit, or a bond issue to aid in repairing the district's aging buildings.
But if the district ever seeks such a fix, it must have public support. It will
not get this support if internal squabbles cause public uneasiness about the
district's stability.

The situation is dire. There is a great urgency to the work that must be done
to turn around the district's poor academic achievement and financial problems.

For the good of the district and its students, everyone must begin to work
together. This means the school board, the union and the administration.

It just adds up.

Saturday, June 17, 2006 6:42:00 AM

God bless Creg Williams. I don't know how he manages to run a school district with the nonsense he has to deal with. I applaud and admire his grace under fire but I wonder how much longer he will be able to tolerate such foolishness?

Saturday, June 17, 2006 8:05:00 PM

This district needs stability. Although I do not agree with every decision of Williams [for example, not accepting the help for the sport fields, not accepting the donation of a stadium for the students, etc.], I agree with many of his decisions. The continued chaos from so much instability at 801 far outweighs whatever benefits the board members and teachers that want to get rid of him would get.
Signed, Grannie

Sunday, June 18, 2006 7:17:00 AM

To the writer signed "Grannie"; Williams did accept the help about the Stadium,at least on the northside. I have been in various settings were he and the guy trying to raise the money have talked about it. I beleive Williams has written a letter of support, as has Mayor Slay.

Sunday, June 18, 2006 7:09:00 PM

why is everybody anonymous, All you scared MF.

Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:45:00 PM

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