Confidence in the St. Louis Schools Hitting All-Time Low with Philanthropists

Philanthropists, business leaders, and educationalboard's ability to do the job. They have
advocates across the region have lost confidenceexperienced a lack of cooperation from elected
in the St. Louis schools board's ability to correctand hired St. Louis schools officials, who ?often
the ongoing problems in its district, according to aborder on hostile?. With such instability and the
September 2, 2006, article in the St. Louislack of goodwill from the administrators and board
Post-Dispatch.responsible for the district, it is difficult to maintain
The recent forced departure of Superintendentany sort of successes.
Creg Williams signaled to philanthropic groups andHere are just a few of the groups re-evaluating
business leaders that problems were escalatingtheir support of the St. Louis schools:
within the St. Louis schools. Many believed Williams? Vashon Compact ? An advocacy group
had a good plan and goals in place; yet the St.dedicated to improving student achievement in a
Louis schools board replaced Williams after only 16block of St. Louis schools. Executive Director Bill
months in the position, leaving many currentCarson stated they will not be renewing their
donors to re-evaluate their commitments offive-year contract, which ends at the end of
money and services to the St. Louis schools.September 2006.
Though many are willing to give the new? Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy ? They
superintendent, Diana Bourisaw, the opportunity toprovide guidance to 75 leading foundations in the
correct the St. Louis schools' problems, theirarea, including Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, A.G.
confidence in the St. Louis schools board has beenEdwards, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car's charitable
eroded.foundations. They recently established a group to
President and CEO of the St. Louis Regionalstudy the current situation of the St. Louis
Chamber and Growth Association, Dick Fleming,schools.
said there is no sense of real progress being? Pettus Foundation ? Managing Trustee James
made by the St. Louis schools board in terms ofFinch announced in July that in 2007 the
direction and improvement. Williams had broughtfoundation will stop funding organizations that
prominence and a reputation of success to thework with the St. Louis schools. They cited the
position of superintendent. Just when a sense ofpity politics of the St. Louis schools board, the
momentum was being seen within the St. Louismany factions within the board, the conduct of its
schools, it was abruptly changed with Williams'members at meetings, and their lack of progress
departure. It makes philanthropists and businessand successes.
leaders stop and re-access the situation.? St. Louis Black Leadership Roundtable ? They
Bourisaw is the sixth superintendent for the St.cautioned the St. Louis schools board that they
Louis schools in the last three years. She wasmay support a state takeover of the district, if
hired without a formal interview process by thethe board fails to address problems, such as low
St. Louis schools board majority, another eventachievement among African-American students.
that makes outsiders pause and re-evaluate. TheThese are not isolated sentiments. Many
St. Louis schools appear to be perpetuallyphilanthropic groups, advocates and business
unstable, with years of dismal test scores andleaders have been public with similar comments. Bill
constant financial upheaval.Carson of Vashon Compact believes a state
Though many community and regional groupstakeover may be the only solution that will entice
wish to continue supporting the St. Louis schoolsthe philanthropic groups to continue their
students, they are wary of the St. Louis schoolsrelationships with the St. Louis schools.