newslady's Blog

Well it is about time they voted her crazy butt out. She should have been long gone months ago.

You're right. The state can't screw it up any worse than it already is. I think they went about it all wrong, so it looks like a bad thing. However, I attended the SLPS several years ago, so did my sister, and my brother graduates next month.
The thing that doesn't get much publicity is the fact that the SLPS keeps dropping the graduation requirements to meet what the students are doing instead of working to bring the students up to the requirements.
When I started high school, 2 years of foreign language were required to graduate. While I was in high school, it was dropped to 1 year. Shortly after I graduated, it was dropped altogether. Same thing with other areas - instead of teaching the kids, they drop the requirements. How is that education???
The fact is, you can graduate from a SLPS high school at the top of your class, and you'll STILL BE WAY BEHIND if you go to college. That's reprehensible.

mr_wildflower, that's funny!

I don't think Ms. O'Brien ever truly cared about anything except herself. It is a positive move to remove her as board president, although if she "could care less", why is she still on the board at all? in my opinion, if any elected public official states to the media that they don't care about the position they hold, then they shouldn't be there. She is not getting paid, by her own admission, she doesn't and she is not attending meetings. Why doesn't she do us all a favor and leave? She doesn't leave because she would lose the limelight.
I feel the state has bit off more than they can chew with this takeover. The district needs to be divided into smaller districts which are as racially and economically diverse as possible.
It may only be a pipe dream, but if the Special School District would work with the City as they do with the County, change would be immediate. The State is in for some big surprises.
This should be quite interesting. I am on the front lines as a teacher within the district. I wonder what would the parents, my students, my principal or my coworkers would say if I declared that "I could care less." I intend to remain as long as possible, although this is not true for MANY other teachers.
Please say a prayer for the THOUSANDS of citizens, both young and old that will be immediately affected by what is happening.
I just hope that any person involved in the decision making process does not have the same lackadaisical attitude that Ms. O'Brien possesses... I pray that none of them say "I could care less."

I am so glad that the state took over the SLPS.
It was well overdue. I'm also glad that they removed O' Brien from the President seat. I just wanted to know why is she still on the board?

It's about time. Now how can they get her off the board? I have a feeling the problems that board has to face are many and complicated. I thought it was a good idea for the state to come in and take over for a while. Things look pretty messed up to me, but I do believe the Superintendant has a good head on her shoulders and wants to take the district in a positive direction. You go BOE, and remember every decision you make should be the very best one for the students. If long drawn out litigation is ahead with the state, you may want to rethink that one.

It is about time she was out!

There has to be a better way to deal with the situation. A reconstruction of the school district is imperative!

Hopefully all the coverage of the foolishness going here and in other cities will make people get involved and do some research on candidates before they vote...IF they even get out to vote.

I had no idea how much power the school board held until I started hearing about some of these boards gone wild. We've got some school board elections coming up and Tuesday and I'm trying to get educated about the candidates.

I hope I made it clear that no St. Louis County school district has offered to accept St. Louis city transfer students yet outside of the existing voluntary desegregation transfer program. Ritenour took some Wellston students several years ago, but has not decided what to do about St. Louis city students.