St. Louis schools plan sweeping changes

~ The program seeks $500 million -- without a tax increase -- for the underperforming district.

ST. LOUIS -- Superintendent Creg Williams paid a recent visit to a high school economics class expecting to hear discussion of the federal budget or the strength of the dollar. He was shaking with anger when he called school board president Darnetta Clinkscale later that day.

"This is what he heard -- a teacher instructing her teenage students how to use food stamps," Clinkscale recalled.

It was just that sort of defeatist attitude in the long-troubled, underperforming district that is prompting a sweeping five-year reform plan announced Wednesday by Williams and Clinkscale. The ambitious program seeks $500 million -- without a tax increase -- with much of the money to be sought from national programs, the federal government and St. Louis-area philanthropists.

"The city of St. Louis today faces a crisis of monumental proportion, one that demands an immediate and forceful response," said Williams, who has been working on the plan since he arrived 10 months ago. "Our school system is failing our children."

Among the highlights of the plan:

* Mandatory uniforms in some schools, with each school deciding individually whether to require uniforms.

* Extended school years for struggling students in grades seven through nine.

* Special focus on ninth-graders, 73 percent of whom do not currently have enough credit hours to move on to 10th grade, according to Williams.

* One boys-only, and one girls-only school.

* More emphasis on college preparation and a concerted effort to improve ACT scores.

* Realignment of high schools, creating some that will focus on specific curricula such as architecture, business, health, law and performing arts.

* Capital improvement projects that will include upgrading of grade school cafeterias, heating and cooling system improvements, and lead abatement.

* Stronger efforts to improve behavior, including expanded truancy programs, in-school suspension programs and increased parent patrols.

"This plan can -- and will -- transform the St. Louis public schools into the world-class district we all know it can be," Clinkscale said. "It will give our children the tools they need, and deserve, to succeed in life."

The plan, called Building Toward 2011, was developed with input from parents, business and community leaders as well as educators, Williams said. The school board signed off on the proposal Tuesday night.

In fact, Williams said one of the most talked-about changes came from discussions with parents.

"Parents said to me, 'We want uniforms,"' he said.

Some of the funding is already in place for the plan, but much of it must still be raised. Williams said a combination of capital improvement funding, grant money and realignment of the general operating budget will provide about $57 million for the coming year. He wants to raise another $70 million for the first year.

As for the remainder of the five-year plan, Williams said the district has in the past failed to go after funding from national sources and the federal government. He also noted that St. Louis is known for its many generous philanthropists, but the district has not reached out to them.