By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, July 20, 2007 at 6:26 PM
St. Louis Public Schools CEO Rick Sullivan all but apologized to his two fellow Special Administrative Board members last night for failing to include them in the decision to fire, or RIF (Reduction in Force), 34 district employees earlier this month. Labels: Schools
Board member Richard Gaines said he believes that under state law, the Board of Education — and so now the Special Administrative Board — must approve such firings first, which it did not.
29 Comments:
He has no idea what he's doing. He is (in his mind) running a one man show in charge of the SLPS.
lbuxx
7/21/2007 1:19 PM
Most times when I study a situation like this takeover thing, I can kind of come up with good guys, bad guys, outrageous motives, hoped for outcomes, and fearful consequences.
Blunt and Slay--bad guys, with the familiar republican education agendas---hiring the perfect guy for the job---developer Rick Sullivan. Or, from another point of view---good guys, for the same reasons.
So right out of the gate, Sullivan goes up to Harvard with the woman who has been an anathema to the takeover advocates, Diana Bourisaw, and they are getting in sync with budgets and reductions to the point where he has to practically apologize to Gaines for jumping the gun.
Nice things are said about how much has been accomplished in the last year, to repair some of the damage which led to loss of accreditation. Pledges are made to continue the fight against the evil forces----wait a minute---the evil forces which led to their appointments.
The first meeting, we hear talk of doing the things necessary to make themselves unnecessary----Peter Herschends---president of the state board who thinks a 12 year takeover by the state would be appropriate, must be appalled at such talk.
Couple of things which surprised me about Diana Bourisaw when i googled her-----she was, about 2001----maybe she still is---a registered republican. She has been quite critical of charter schools, claiming they do not perform all that well---yet---
I am just going to paste this from an old bio----
Dr. Bourisaw has authored successful charter school proposal in several states and served to establish several innovative small high schools sponsored through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (really?) She was seeking a patent on her methods. So if the bad guys had this charter school agenda----they were ignoring an expert right under their noses. Unless she has reached a point where she is so expert she thinks they are hopeless.
She was appointed to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory board, and Mayor’s Transportation Task Force. (Mayor Slay?)Also, Diana wrote a book about how women are discriminated against in superintendent selection processes---this was before Veronica helped her get the job at slps. (Make no mistake---I continue to be an admirer of Dr. Bourisaw).
I can't quite read Sullivan---does he think so highly of Bourisaw that her job is relatively safe (that would be a new way of doing business at slps), or is he trying to figure out a way to save the district 210,000 per year---we don't need no stinkin' superintendent---we have a ceo.
Also, the ever-present Veronica seems not all that enthused about Sullivan, in spite of her wanting the takeover. SLPS actually has a member of the three man board who is opposed to the takeover, (Gaines), and a couple of elected members who favored the takeover.
I apologize for rambling---maybe someone can tie things up for me in a nice neat package, and make the story less fun to observe.
kjoe
7/21/2007 4:57 PM
kojoe you are a freak and talk to much abiut Bourisaw. Are you in love with her or a stalker?
7/22/2007 1:53 AM
Never met her--doubt if I will. I pointed out contradictions regarding her---but mainly, it is the overall story which I find full of puzzles.
Glad you have it all figured out. Sorry about rambling. kj
7/22/2007 2:12 AM
Anonymous said...
kojoe you are a freak and talk to much abiut Bourisaw. Are you in love with her or a stalker?
7/22/2007 1:53 AM
SOUNDS LIKE VERONICA AND IS ABOUT THE TIME OF THE MORNING WHEN SHE WRITES. IT ALSO CONTAINS MANY OF HER BASIC ENGLISH ERRORS.
WHERE DID SHE GO TO COLLEGE, AND HOW DID SHE GET A DEGREE?
ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS AREA HATES AND IS JEALOUS OF BOURISAW, AND WE KNOW WHO THAT IS.
7/22/2007 10:20 AM
I doubt that came from veronica.
One time I got a really nice response from veronica on here---I think there is no shortage of people who dislike Bourisaw, Sullivan, Peter Downs, Veronica, Purdy----you name the player--they all have detractors. I have been pretty hard on Slay and Blunt----and Archbishop Burke.
I noticed an article about Sullivan by Giegerich today--- it was not in the metro section---it was in the Sunday editorial section.
I think Jim has been keeping an eye on things like that---the PD's reporting is part of the puzzle. They really do blur the lines. kj
7/22/2007 1:19 PM
KJ, sorry, but this time you are probably dead wrong.
7/22/2007 4:43 PM
One 'inconvenient truth' that has been omitted is the fact that the voting public of St. Louis has been disenfranchised by politicians of both parties and by an insolent judge. Make no mistake--this IS A LITMUS TEST to see of voter disenfranchisement will fly with lower income populations. This movement has come both from ultra conservatives and from the 'new progressives' such as Jeff Smith. The intent is to rob the public of their right to vote, and to steal the money from the last pot of public money--namely the schools. There will be a time when these neofascists will be held accountable and will face the public for the crimes they have committed.
Jos N. White
7/22/2007 4:58 PM
"and by an insolent judge."
This is something else which puzzles me. When i learned Callahan was to be the judge deciding the takeover issues---I googled him---and quickly decided he must be a good judge---he struck down the photo id thing for voters as an unconstitutional interference with voting. Maybe that was a no-brainer--upheld 6-1 by the mo. supreme court.
His actions, and lack of actions has given me a much different impression of him---when pushed he will back the disenfranchisement---mostly he seems to want to stall. I don't know if Ronnie White stepping down and being replaced by a Blunt choice will make a difference in an appeal---I get the impression that the fight to allow slps constituents to have full voting rights is coming too little and too late. Hope I am wrong. kj
7/22/2007 6:06 PM
The person that keeps writing about Veronica O'Brien sounds like they are the hateful negative one. We not agree with O'Brien on all issues but tends not hide how she feels about Bourisaw. I always wanted to support Bourisaw but I must say O'Brien was right about her.
Comments like jealous and etc. sounds like a childs mind. Why would O'Brien be jealous of her?
So maybe you should stop hating on Veronica O'Brien.
7/22/2007 8:55 PM
I love vinyl siding and tract homes. Oh, those cul-de-sacs are so inviting. And there is no blacks for miles. St. Louis is my kind of City.
7/23/2007 12:05 AM
I just got the following email and it seems that Percy Green is advising Richard Gains. Wow. Does that mean Lewis Reed and Percy are together on this?
Richard,
So far, you are doing a good job on Rick Sullivan’s Board. I saw you in action on PudDef the other night.
To bad you don’t have the support of Melanie Adams. Of course, she was put there to carry the water for Sullivan. One has to consider who put her there.
“Absolute power does corrupt absolutely.” Adams should know that. Rick Sullivan telling you, Richard, that you can publicly scorn him if he abuses his absolute authority is no remedy. You already have that option. But, what good is that after the fact? The damage would have been done. And, Adams is NOT going to vote with you to reverse that
damage. How sad.
It is also interesting that Adams does not seem to have the cleverness to abstain from voting rather than vote against your experience as a former school board member. The white power structure sure knows where
to find their negroes among Black people. It’s a known fact that Adams is going to rubber stamp everything “Boss” Rick brings before that board. It is also known that Robin Wahby in the Slay’s office is writing her script.
‘til later,
Percy
7/23/2007 7:57 AM
^ "...Percy Green is advising Richard Gains. Wow. Does that mean Lewis Reed and Percy are together on this?"
I'm sure Richard Gaines wishes he could get off Percy Green's mailing list too, just as we all do. His heart's in the right place, but his methods are often inappropriate and destructive to his own cause.
7/23/2007 8:24 AM
First we should thank Percy for trying to help. However, Percy's goal is to defeat anything that is associated with Slay.
Mr. Gaines is a very smart man and I am sure he talks to Percy but Gaines knows how to put things in perspective. Gaines knows Percy sent this to egg him on. Percy needs to feel important and he can be if he followed issues and not people.
Percy's goal seems to be to do away with me and Slay. Why? Because we both effectively rejected him.
Percy I have always respected you for what you use to stand for but now you represent nothing.
Percy your day has come and gone.
We thank you for your services.
VERONICA O'BRIEN
7/23/2007 9:48 AM
Kojoe, you are right, the negative comments are not mine but I think we all know who they belong to.
7/23/2007 9:50 AM
Sorry the following was from Veronica
Anonymous said...
Kojoe, you are right, the negative comments are not mine but I think we all know who they belong to.
7/23/2007 9:50 AM
7/23/2007 9:51 AM
Response to the following comment
SOUNDS LIKE VERONICA AND IS ABOUT THE TIME OF THE MORNING WHEN SHE WRITES. IT ALSO CONTAINS MANY OF HER BASIC ENGLISH ERRORS.
WHERE DID SHE GO TO COLLEGE, AND HOW DID SHE GET A DEGREE?
ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS AREA HATES AND IS JEALOUS OF BOURISAW, AND WE KNOW WHO THAT IS.
7/22/2007 10:2...
MY RESPONSE........My grammer is terrible. This is why I use a secretary in my office and have for about 25 years. Major was Political Science. Went to Law School. Good grades and get great reviews from those locally and outside of St.Louis. Have a very colorful background.
NOTE SOME OF MY ERRORS ARE BECAUSE MY SCREEN IS BUSTED AND I CAN'T SEE WHAT I AM WRITING.
As far as Bourisaw is concerned, I usually don't think about her. Would like to know her new title since Sullivan is the superintendent. Jealous? Interesting. I think Veronica O'Brien is doing okay.
Move on and stick to the issue of ADVANCING URBAN EDUCATION.
Thanks to you Kojoe for trying to stay on topic.
VERONICA O'BRIEN
7/23/2007 10:05 AM
OH KNOW I MOVED MY BUSTED SCREEN AROUND AND FOUND ERRORS IN MY PREVIOUS POSTING. BEHEAD ME
7/23/2007 10:10 AM
Why would Percy be writing to Gaines if they were not working together? I know that both Reed and Gaines were against the transitional school board. Looks like they are trying to kill it from the inside.
7/23/2007 10:48 AM
Veronica, may I suggest you sign up for a Google account (it's free at www.google.com/accounts/) and post your comments using that account from now on. That way, no one will be able to post comments under your name.
7/23/2007 11:19 AM
Percy Green has a large mailing list which he often CC's on his letters to public officials. I doubt these letters are intended to be private strategy sessions or talking points, but simply letters from an informed and active constituent to one public official.
7/23/2007 11:23 AM
Antonio---as you might remember---my posts always carried the heading kjoe (no matter how clueless, insipid, or occasionally on the mark they might have been.)
Now, I have to change it to anonymous and sign it kjoe---I make a try at regaining my status---about once a week---maybe i will figure it out one of these times.
I don't mind the crooked letters--except when there are 9 or 10 of them. I usually fail the first time, but post the second time.
By the way----I noticed a big difference of opinion between Bourisaw and Kent King regarding Texas Can (or Missouri Can) and whatever it is that Bill and Melinda Gates have.
I think it would really be interesting to hear what Sullivan thinks of those approaches.
7/23/2007 1:17 PM
tHANKS ANTONIO WILL DO JUST THAT.
VERONICA
7/23/2007 1:43 PM
Sullivan is showing his true colors. He didn't forget to include Gaines on the RIF, that was his "I'll play dumb" attempt. Adams would have already been instructed on the position she is to have.........
7/23/2007 4:37 PM
Percy sued the mayor. Percy is now suing the city, the police department, all SLPS board members, the district and security.
Is Percy going to used any settlement money for the Purdy/Bourisaw lawsuit?
7/23/2007 7:42 PM
I am disappointed that Gaines is working with Green. But what did we expect when Green was behind Lewis Reed's election. We will probably see more of Peercy Green now that Reed won election. Gaines is just the first volley.
7/23/2007 11:03 PM
Green has written several letters to Francis Slay and the Post-Dispatch. Are they "working with him" too?
7/23/2007 11:17 PM
Percy Green is working with no. Percy just give his veiws to try and help. The question is, does he really help?
7/24/2007 12:32 AM
Wow. Amazing nobody is actually commenting on the DISTRICT FIRINGS which seems to be the topic of this story.
8/20/2007 6:20 PM
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