St. Louis Public Schools to Open On Time

The St. Louis Public Schools are moving forward under the direction of our new Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. All schools will open on August 28th on time, as scheduled. Parts of the old system had been dismantled and Dr.Bourisaw has already begun to rebuild our district. Dr. Bourisaw, Board President Veronica O'Brien and members of the Board of Education worked all weekend in order to be certain that every major area of responsibility was fully staffed. In fact, a number of experienced St. Louis Public Schools professionals are back in place, ready to move the system forward in the days ahead, without missing a beat.

Though Mayor Slay and some others have raised issues in the media about the viability of SLPS, our schools are more focused and prepared to move forward today than they were just a week ago. Principals are preparing for the first day of school, and teachers are excited about a new forward motion that will add to the key positive decisions that were made over the last year. The best of the previous administration will be made even stronger by a group of SLPS professionals working hand in hand to be sure that our children receive the very best education possible.

Over the last several years, the points needed for accreditation have declined. That decline will end this year. The focus is being put on the well being of our students. Academic standards will be in place, and our top flight teachers will work together with this new Administration in order to keep morale high and scores on the rise. We know this can be done, and we know that our very fine teachers are prepared to work as one with this Administration in order to attack the problems that face most urban districts across America.

The St. Louis Public Schools are going to attack the crisis of urban education in America with every professional tool that we can bring to this district. While the budget and the various building issues will continue to be evaluated and addressed with the greatest professionalism, the most important issue will be the manner in which our children are moved towards an exciting new day of educational success. We know that it can be done, and we intend to be sure that confidence in our purpose moves up and stays up.

There will be no more important issue in front of this public school system from this day forward than the well being of our children and the support of the very fine teachers who are committed to the success of our St. Louis children. No one expects our scores and our accreditation numbers to reach 100% in a day, but we will begin the process of moving those numbers upward every single day, from this day forward.

Dr. Bourisaw believes that we can make this district what all parents want it to be, a professional environment in which academic excellence is the number one goal. Our community and our Mayor and our Governor and the entire State of Missouri can watch us as we address the problems in education that face all of America. We believe that we can show America how to do it, and we are prepared to work with all levels of government in order to make this happen.

As the process moves forward in the days ahead, we will be keeping our community abreast of developments as we forge a strong partnership between top administrators and top educators in pursuit of academic excellence for our children.