Committee Chairs

• Antionette "Toni" Cousins, Chair of CWP Committee and Board member
• Alisha Sonnier, Vice-Chair CWP Committee Chair and Board Member  

Project Manager

• Mike Jones

Committee Members

• Dr. Nicole Williams, Interim Superintendent of Schools

• Dr. Joyce Roberts, Board of Education President

• Dr. Isaac Pollack, Associate Superintendent

• Kelley Anderson, Attorney and St. Louis Community Leader  

• Byron Clemens, AFT St. Louis, Local 420
• Mary Goodman, Board of Alderman Representative
• Dr. Nicole Freeman-Williams, SLPS Chief of Staff
• Avis Funches, Parent Advocate
• Carol Howard, 14th Ward Alderwoman 
• Dr. Derrick Mitchell, SLPS Network Superintendent
• Jervon Humphrey, Yeatman Middle School Eighth Grade Teacher
• Carron Johnson, AFT St. Louis, Local 420
• Lance Knuckles, St. Louis City Director of Strategic Growth and Development
• Emily Looby, Mayor Tishaura Jones’ Scheduler
• Gloria Nolan, SLPS Parent Liaison
• Wilford Pickney, Jr. St. Louis City Director of Children, Youth and Families
• Don Roe, Exec. Director, Planning and Urban Design Agency
• Square Watson, SLPS Deputy Superintendent for Operations
• Lori Willis, Deputy Superintendent for Institutional Advancement

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT MORATORIUM ON NEW SCHOOL OPENINGS IN ST. LOUIS UNTIL: a comprehensive city-wide plan for education is developed

WHEREAS, the population of school-age children ages 5-19 decreased by 18.6% between 2007 and 2018;

WHEREAS, the public school system in the City of St. Louis includes both traditional district schools and charter schools;

WHEREAS, in 2007-08 there were 103 public schools serving 60,642 children and in 2019-20 there were 110 public schools serving 49,939 children;

WHEREAS, the local, state, and federal support for school choice programs continues to create a system of schools and programs that fight over a declining population of children;

WHEREAS, Saint Louis Public Schools has closed schools and continues to face the challenge of future school closures in order to best serve the current student population;

WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis needs a city-wide plan for education to ensure the public school system provides a quality education for all kids, all the time;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis supports a moratorium on new school openings in the City of St. Louis until a comprehensive city-wide plan for education is developed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be delivered to the members of the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis and other local and state elected officials to encourage discussion of and action toward the urgent need for the development of a city-wide plan for education, and to encourage the adoption of a resolution in support of a moratorium on new school openings until such a plan is developed.

Adopted this 9th day of February, 2021 as attested by:
Dorothy Rohde-Collins, President, Board of Education of the City of St. Louis.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Aldermen commits to engaging with education system leaders, education practitioners, community stakeholders, city- and state-level policy makers, and scholars in the development of such a plan to design a system of excellent schools which provides consistent education opportunities across all schools, neighborhoods, and wards.