By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Just minutes after the new school board president assumed his new post, he and a past board president butted heads over a request to have the superintendent release information about her meetings with the man that may soon hold more power than all of them combined. Labels: Schools
Past President Veronica O'Brien wanted Superintendent Diana Bourisaw to give board members a report of any conversations she may have had with the new St. Louis Schools Czar Rick Sullivan, particularly those talks dealing with the district's legal firm of Lashly & Baer.
New President Peter Downs told O'Brien she should make a formal information request. But when Vice-President David Jackson made such a motion, O'Brien and the other members declined to second it.
Video shot by Gabe Bullard. Edited by Antonio French.
37 Comments:
The Board has its own "house brand" of water???
6/13/2007 12:33 PM
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6/13/2007 2:48 PM
I noticed that too. Government schools...all priorities are in order here.
It looks to me that V O'B wants to take her ball and go home to pout.
6/13/2007 2:49 PM
Anyone want to guess how much that bottle of water cost the taxpayers? $5? $8? $10? They need to just send someone over to the Save-A-Lot store at Grand & Page to get whatever water is on sale.
Where is Elliot Davis when we need him...
6/13/2007 3:04 PM
> The Board has its own "house
> brand" of water???
Evidently. I always thought cameras collected light — Antonio's sheds it.
I don't quite know what to make of this little display. It appears to me the school board is supposed to follow Robert's Rules of Order which is where the "Motion - Second - Discussion - Vote" format that so evidently confused Ms. O'Brien comes from. Also, individual members of the board have no independent authority. I guess the bylaws weren't in Ms. O'Brien's materials packet either.
It is incredible to me that even with an invitation from Mr. Downs she won't make a motion to require a report from Ms. Bourisaw. She wouldn't even second Dr. Fowler's motion to require a report from Ms. Bourisaw and let the board vote it down. No, she wants to file a lawsuit under the Sunshine statutes. The word that comes immediately to mind is "Grandstanding".
t
6/13/2007 3:32 PM
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6/13/2007 3:51 PM
> Where is Elliot Davis
> when we need him...
So contact School Board President Bill Purdy and tell him what you think. After all, you paid for it.
Maybe Mr. Purdy will place the question on the board's agenda and we can watch a whole thirty minutes go down the tubes. I can see it now:
Mr. Purdy: "Whereas St. Louis has some of the best tap water in the nation, and whereas it is the height of hypocracy to advocate public education whilst drinking private water, I move that we at once start drinking tap water at meetings of the board and quit paying for special bottled water with really bad labels. It should be served in pitchers with ice, and disposable cups so we do not have to let an dishwashing contract. Do I have a second?"
Ms. O'Brien: "I can't understand a word you're saying, but I expect Perrier."
Dr. Fowler: "Point of Order. There is a motion on the floor — it is not the time for discussion. And I second the motion."
Ms. O'Brien: "Are we looking at the wrong agenda? Is there a reason I can't have Perrier? Let me make it real simple: I want Perrier."
Mr. Purdy: "Motion has been made an seconded. Any discussion?"
Ms. O'Brien: "I want San Pellegrino instead...."
Mr. Purdy: "The question on the floor is whether we should begin to drink tap water."
Ms. O'Brien: "Does that mean I'm not gonna get my San Pellegrino?"
What a hoot! Antionio should have his camera at this meeting. Or maybe his intern can do a JibJab of it. He's got time, right?
t
6/13/2007 4:30 PM
Veronica should not be unhappy if the judge stops this inconstitutional takeover bs.
I think she might function better as a gadfly than she did as president. She will not get to do that much with the takeover board.
I do not want to be disrespectful towards the majority with whom I generally agree----but was Veronica that much wrong in raising questions about the Lizz contract?
6/13/2007 4:34 PM
> but was Veronica that much wrong
From what I have observed, she's not so much wrong with the what as she is with the how. It is not enough to be right on the facts.
t
6/13/2007 4:38 PM
Flint Fowler also expressed a desire for information when it was his turn. But then he declined to make a motion as well. It was a little confusing...First Ms. O'Brien declined to make a motion after raising the issue...then Mr. Jackson made the motion but neither Ms. O'Brien or Fowler would second it...then Mr. Fowler declined to make a motion but expressed his interest in what Mr. Jackson had said...
I wish they would have made the motion and seconded it because if there are talks going on I agree with Veronica O'Brien on this one and would like to know as well...
6/13/2007 4:55 PM
Oh Tom the request was made for a report to the board per policies. Try following the board policies and proceudres. I am confused? Confused as to how a guy that looks like you would post a photo?
Before you know it Star Jones will be after you.
PS I HAVE THE DATES AND TIMES. JUST WANTED TO SEE BOURISAW LIE ON THE PUBLIC RECORD LIKE ALWAYS.
Have fun
6/13/2007 4:56 PM
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6/13/2007 5:02 PM
Contributors
LRS
Tom Leith
6/13/2007 5:06 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
6/13/2007 5:08 PM
Is this Tom guy a priest? What the heck is going on?
6/13/2007 5:16 PM
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6/13/2007 5:20 PM
uhhh-karaoke in Crystal City---tonight!
I host it.
Gonna start with a rolling stones classic--
You can't always get what you want.
I hope everyone gets what they need.
6/13/2007 5:24 PM
Dedicate one to the Governor for me...Sympathy for the Devil
6/13/2007 5:29 PM
Yeah baby!
6/13/2007 5:33 PM
Well let us all have a drink on that one.
6/13/2007 5:35 PM
If there are talks between the superintendent and Sullivan that need to be revealed, how about revealing the talks between the mayor and O'Brien.
Touche!
Rex T.
6/13/2007 5:47 PM
One does not exclude the other.
Here's a novel idea: Why don't we just tell the truth?
6/13/2007 5:58 PM
O'Brien handled this correctly. She asked for a report in the administrative meeting and Bourisaw agreed to make the report. No motion was needed. Like always Peter was operating in thw orld of Peter. O'Brien made her point. She showed Bourisaw's real colors. I think O'Brien said she would make a Sunshine Request.
6/13/2007 6:57 PM
Tom, are you a priest? Are you a friend of the priest that worked in the district and was arrested? There is a letter in HR where Prsident Purdy praised him for his work with young children.
6/13/2007 7:37 PM
It must be the water that make them crazy.
6/13/2007 9:39 PM
I agree O'Brien did what was right. It was Peter that seemed out of control. He has a bad temper.
6/13/2007 10:29 PM
> Is this Tom guy a priest?
> What the heck is going on?
> Tom, are you a priest?
Apparently I've been anonymously outed as a scary, medieval, anti-intellectual Catholic who surely protects pederasts and doesn't care about children. I am not a priest.
What I think is going on is that somebody thinks Catholics should not comment on public matters, but if they do anyway everyone should be warned.
t
6/13/2007 11:29 PM
Peter has a bad temper? Have you ever seen Peter walk into someone's office, disconnect their telephone call with someone and point their finger in their face?
Now who has a bad temper? What lengths someone will go to slander others!
6/14/2007 7:43 AM
Sounds like Bourisaw has her husband posting again.
6/14/2007 12:11 PM
Let's all refrain from assuming that anonymous posters are who they proclaim to be. And from attacks on people's religion that have nothing to do with the current debate.
We'd hate to cut off anonymous posting rights again.
6/14/2007 12:16 PM
Bourisaw's husband didn't post the video and fingerpointing posting. A city resident who was shocked and disturbed by such behavior posted it.
6/14/2007 12:40 PM
We just heard her husband had a history with postings and other things back in Calif. and in Missouri that points to such behvior.
What is strange is that when people call Slay, Ron and others names that this Blog allows it and does nothing. Have you read the slanderous postings on your past issues? Be fair Antonio.
6/14/2007 1:01 PM
Looks like Peter is toast. Thank God.
6/14/2007 1:47 PM
And what about all the slanderous postings about Purdy?
Don't tell us you "just heard." Tell us you read a report and link us to it.
6/14/2007 2:01 PM
Back to the issue. Bourisaw said she had not spoken with Sullivan. We all know that is a lie. She disappointed me Tuesday when she said she had not spoken with him. She told us that he said she and her staff were keeping their jobs and there would be no changes. I think something is up with this lady. She is making it bad for all of us at the district. Maybe she should go so we can have some piece. All she has doon all year is be in the middle of trouble.
6/14/2007 7:44 PM
==All she has doon[sic] all year is be in the middle of trouble.==
Whoa! Hold on there anony 6/14/2007 7:44 PM I never had secret meetings. Keep me out of this.
TRouble
(this is sarcasm Adric)
6/14/2007 8:53 PM
Anonymous 7:44 p. m. sounds uneducated. Could this really be someone with the district?
6/14/2007 10:47 PM
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