Tornado response spurs anger among St. Louis Public Schools superintendent, board

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

ST. LOUIS -- Tempers flared as the St. Louis Board of Education debated a plan to relocate tornado-damaged buildings by the first day of school next month.

The plan from Superintendent Millicent Borishade to combine campuses did not consider safety concerns particularly for middle and high school students and staff, said union leaders and some board members at their meeting Tuesday.

"I would really prefer that you listen, that this administration, this board listens to what Local 420, the teachers and the people who are on the front line have to say because it's very, very dangerous out there. It's dangerous in the classroom," said longtime board member Donna Jones. "It's different here in St. Louis. I'm very worried about mixing kids together."

Union leaders representing teachers, principals, nurses, bus drivers and other staff said they were not consulted about the indefinite closures of seven St. Louis Public Schools buildings in north city after the May 16 tornado blew out windows and damaged roofs.

Amid financial fallout from Trump's megabill, Missouri governor set to sign tax cut St. Louis police arrest 'dozens and dozens' after July 4th fireworks downtown Former Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel arrested for alleged DWI Police bust Jefferson County gas stations for alleged illegal gambling machines 'Got kicked in the teeth': What change(s) Cardinals are forced to face after Cubs dominate 2 killed in wrong-way crash in St. Louis were a 'concert lover' and a grandmother Exclusive streaming of Cardinals-Cubs on July 4 will be bitter Apple for some: Media Views Former Cardinals broadcaster Bob Carpenter set for final fling in his hometown: Media Views St. Louis sheriff grew up in politics. But some claims about his history don't check out. Cardinals factored 3 elements in top prospect JJ Wetherholt's leap to Class AA Brentwood said geese culled from park were donated to food banks. That didn't happen. Seniors sue to boost St. Louis-area property tax breaks. It could have statewide effects. Hochman: Cardinals must replace Erick Fedde. He's not the only problem as deadline looms. Cardinals remain confined as friendly conditions lead to Cubs' 8-homer, record-smashing romp Bison charged, injured owner because of too many people and distractions, she says

The SLPS board did not vote on the relocation of Sumner, Soldan and Beaumont high schools or Yeatman-Liddell Middle School. They also rejected an amended relocation plan that only included Ashland, Hickey and Washington Montessori elementary schools.

Before the meeting, posters were propped up in the boardroom that combined the mascots for Sumner and proposed host school Clyde C. Miller along with the motto "Stronger Together United for Excellence."

It is unclear where the plan stands, although the board's president Karen Collins-Adams set a deadline of Friday for a compromise.

An initial meeting held Monday between union leaders and two of Borishade's cabinet members was a "one-way conversation," according to Carey Cunningham, president of the Administrators Association of SLPS Local 44.

Borishade said she did not attend the meeting because the union leaders have been "disrespectful" in the past.

"I'm going to say that it becomes extremely difficult to hear people when they are cursing at you. It becomes extremely difficult when people are yelling at you," she said.

0 Comments