SUPERINTENDENT ASKS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RETURN TO CLASS

St. Louis – Numerous high school students staged protests at Soldan International Studies and Gateway Institute of Technology this morning. Administrators at each of those schools were able to get the majority of students back into their classrooms.

This afternoon, students at Roosevelt High School also walked out of class. Once again, administrators at the school are working to get those students back into classrooms.

“I understand the desire of these students to have their voices heard,” said Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. “We are working to provide them answers to their questions regarding the proposed unaccreditation of the St. Louis Public Schools. In the meantime, I want them to all return to their classrooms.”

This morning, Dr. Bourisaw and Senator Maida Coleman met with seniors representing all SLPS high schools. Bourisaw shared with the students the results of the district’s research into how unaccreditation might impact college acceptance.

“So far our research has found only one private college and one public university where students may have difficulty in getting accepted if the district loses its accreditation,” she said. “However, the majority of our students should not have any difficulty in being accepted to college.”

Yesterday, Bourisaw met with the students currently holding a sit-in at City Hall and encouraged them to return to school. She offered to answer any questions they had and offered to follow-up on the college accreditation issue. This afternoon, answers to the students’ questions regarding college admission were delivered to them.

“We want all of our students to be in school every day,” Bourisaw reiterated.