Schools' stimulus money comes at a heavy price

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- An effort to use $3.5 billion in federal stimulus money to turn around underperforming schools has targeted 65 in the St. Louis region, but the grants come with a cost.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that to get the money, some schools must replace staff, remove principals, reopen as charter schools, or even shut down completely.

Those seeking grants have until the middle of this month to submit detailed plans to state education departments.

Many of the schools in the St. Louis area are making their plans. The Normandy School District has already replaced eight principals. The Ferguson-Florissant district is adding hours to the day at some schools, adding weekly training for teachers, and partnering with colleges so that upperclassmen can earn college credits. Hazelwood East Middle School plans to remove its principal and half its teachers, though they will get jobs at other schools in the district.

The U.S. Department of Education has offered money before through School Improvement Grants to troubled schools trying to improve. The difference this year was that the department asked states to identify 5 percent of their schools deemed "persistently lowest-achieving."

Missouri targeted 52, with 37 in St. Louis or St. Louis County. Twenty-one of those are part of the St. Louis Public School District, the most of any Missouri district. Illinois identified about 800 schools, including nearly 30 in the St. Louis area.

Another change: In the past, schools determined how they used grant money. To get grants this year, districts must agree to one of four programs:

--Replace the principal, at least 50 percent of a school's staff and the curriculum.

--Reopen failing schools as charter schools that are managed by an outside agency.

--Close a failing school and enroll its students in better schools in the district.

--Replace principals, do a better job training teachers, overhaul the curriculum and lengthen teacher planning time.

In previous years, Missouri would get about $9 million for School Improvement Grants. This year, it is getting $45 million extra in stimulus money, said Margie Vandeven of the state education department.

Illinois usually gets about $20 million a year in grants. This year, Illinois will get $137 million, said Monique Chism, an administrator at the Illinois State Board of Education.

Ferguson-Florissant Superintendent Jeffrey Spiegel said the grants are aimed at encouraging districts to make "bold statements."

"When you make minor changes in the educational program, you may see a slight increase in student achievement, but it only lasts a couple years," he said. "What we're trying to show is dramatic change and lasting change."

The change isn't always easy, or popular. Ferguson-Florissant has been criticized by some patrons for considering merging Berkeley Middle School into the high school as part of its improvement plan. That part of the move has been postponed.

Some Hazelwood East Middle School parents were upset by plans to replace half the teachers and principal Sonya Ptah. Parent Natalie Williamson told the Post-Dispatch that Ptah has helped the school since arriving in 2006.

"Now that's going to have to be rebuilt," said Williamson, whose daughter will move to high school next year. "It's putting the school right back to where they were."

___

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com