[imc-st.louis] School Board Candidates Respond to Survey

[Fitzdon at aol.com]

Gateway Green Alliance/Green Party of St. Louis
P.O. Box 8094, St. Louis MO  63156
314-727-8554  E-mail: fitzdon at aol.com  www.gateway-greens.org

For immediate release: February 23, 2007

Contact: Don Fitz, 314-727-8554

School Board Candidates Respond to Survey

February 23, 2007.  St. Louis, Missouri.  The April 3, 2007 election for the 
St. Louis School Board will happen under a cloud of state takeover of the 
school system.  Opponents of the takeover vow to use the election to voice their 
opposition.

In order to get a clear snapshot of their views, the Greens sent a brief 
questionnaire to each of the 10 candidates.  All except William Monroe and Robert 
Archibald returned answers.  Candidates were divided on items concerning 
charter schools, tax tuition credits and outsourcing custodial and food service 
work.  "Do you support charter schools?" got a "yes" from Paul Harris, "maybes" 
from Bill Haas, Ron Jackson and Douglass Petty, and "no" from the other 
candidates.

Tax tuition credits were supported by Paul Harris, with other candidates 
responding "no."  In response to whether it was a mistake to outsource to Sodexho 
and Aramark, Paul Harris and Ron Jackson said "no," Maurice St. Pierre said 
"yes" for custodial work and "no" for food service, and other candidates all 
said "yes."

The only item they agreed on was insuring that schools receiving tax support 
have the same accreditation requirements as public schools. Ronald Jackson was 
the only candidate favoring a state takeover of the St. Louis Public Schools 
(SLPS).  He, Robert Archibald and Bill Haas have withdrawn from the race, 
leaving 7 candidates vying for 2 slots. 

Candidates were asked to give grades of "A" to "F" for the superintendent and 
seven sitting board members.  Veronica O'Brien was the only person graded who 
received a "F" from a majority of candidates (5 of 7).  Diana Bourisaw 
received an "A" more often than any other person graded, but also received a "F" 
from Ron Jackson.

Every candidate graded Robert Archibald and Ron Jackson identically, giving 
both of them a "C," "D" or "F."  Every candidate also graded Peter Downs and 
Donna Jones identically, giving the pair an "A" or "B," except for Paul Harris 
who gave them a "C" and Ron Jackson, who gave them a "D."

The questionnaire asked candidates if they favored declaration of a lead 
emergency in the City, how many of their children attend SLPS, how many 2006 board 
meetings they attended, and their approach to resolving problems confronting 
the City schools.

Full results of candidate responses to all questions are available at 
www.gateway-greens.org

The survey was in preparation for a forum for School Board candidates at 7 
pm, Wednesday March 7 at Legacy Books and Café, 5249 Delmar (near Union).  All 
candidates still in the race confirmed their intention of being at the forum.  
It is free and open to the public.

-30-



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