Parents and taxpayers deserve answers By Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay An exaggerated budgetary shortfall is the major focus of the recently elected St. Louis School Board and the turn-around team it hired. As they undertake drastic and disruptive measures to address their concerns, there are simply too many unanswered questions and no discussion of important issues like student welfare and performance. As a parent with a child who attends the St. Louis Public Schools, and as an elected official who fought to return local control of the school district to our community, I am very concerned about the direction the school board is taking with their turn-around firm. Along with the other citizens and parents, I challenge the school board to step forward and address our concerns. The board must address several issues. They are: * The overall welfare of the children * Presenting a true and accurate financial picture * Slowing the turn-around team's effort to resolve the school situation at break-neck speed * Reassessing the Foundation Formula for school funding which comes from the state * Status of accreditation goals for the school system * Consider the creation of sub-districts to ensure diverse representation on the school board in future elections. Above all, I am concerned for the welfare of the children. This concern goes beyond jobs and politics. What is going to happen to the children? The primary duty of the board is to guarantee the education of the students, yet the board and the new superintendent have not told us of their plans to maintain and improve the educational level of the school children. How do their proposed changes in the school system relate to student/teacher ratios, improved test scores and full accreditation? Financially, we do not know the true amount of the budget deficit. With figures ranging between $24 million to $90 million, one thing is apparent, the district needs an independent audit. We know that the previous administration used accrual accounting to juggle accounts at the beginning of the school year to survive to the end of each year. Now, the new administration has switched to a cash flow system and misrepresented the expected deficit, which while very real, is not as big in actual dollars as they say. The changes include an approximate $40 million reduction in state funding; $10 million being funneled to charter schools; another $10.5 million in teacher salary increases; and a $19 million judgment. Certainly, these circumstances, while unusual, still do not add up to a $90 million deficit, with the accompanying school closings, layoffs, firings and program cuts. The financial crisis has been overstated and used as an excuse for a wholesale overhaul of the system. There should be an audit and it should be ordered by the governor and conducted by the state auditor. The rush to out-source school services is hasty and unsubstantiated. For example, why would you out-source the food service operation that is making some $1 million a year for the school district? Outsourcing in school districts never has proven successful. The board is taking quite a chance. We are entering new educational territory with a group with no educational experience. In the rush to get rid of staff and out-source services, one has to wonder if you already had a list of vendors, ready to go. Certainly, we do not want more situations like the technology director who was fired and his job out-sourced at twice the old salary. We have no data on savings or expenditures from out-sourcing. It just defies logic for a cash-strapped school system to have the most expensive school chief in the country, one with no school experience. No wonder people are raising serious questions and voicing their concerns loudly. Is the district driving blindly into the unknown, without a destination in sight? There seems to be no plan other than to eliminate jobs, create chaos and destroy lives. What are the benefits when you rip the heart out of a community and leave only pain and suffering? Is there any concern? Do they realize that the school district represents the community in a multifaceted manner? The school district has many nuances and a proud history that should not be ignored for the sake of unarticulated corporate principles. Your actions only raise more questions about your goals and intentions. Briefly stated, why were there neither discussions nor adequate study of the fiscal problem before you began implementing changes? It should have taken much longer and the community should have been more involved in any decision to close the community's schools. That seems to be the biggest flaw. There has been no discussion on how any of the changes will lead to lower class sizes, increased student morale, improved test scores or many other factors that will ensure accreditation for this school district. Clearly, you needed more time to study the problem before you affected the community in such a drastic manner. This school board should look at all the issues surrounding school funding. We should examine the Foundation Formula, the Hancock Amendment, as well as tax abatement. For example, how would a new Grand Center TIF and tax abatement effect school district income? The school board does not represent the geography of the city. The board lacks adequate representation by citizens who reside north of Delmar Boulevard. We should elect our school board by sub-districts. Senate Bill 781, which forged a settlement of the desegregation case, included election of school board members by sub-districts. The Missouri Supreme Court threw out that provision of the law on a technicality. The Missouri General Assembly, led by local legislators, should restore the provisions that allow St. Louis School Board elections by sub-districts. Unfortunately, with school set to begin on September 8, the school system and its constituents are not prepared. How can you start a school year with layoffs, firings and the budget axe swinging day and night? Teachers are scared, administrators are scared, parents are scared and I would think children are frightened as well, as they will transfer to different schools where they can expect to be strangers. I do not think the state of Missouri and the city of St. Louis can justify the current treatment of St. Louis' teachers, staff, students and families. The St. Louis public school system and the residents of St. Louis do not deserve this grief.