Calling the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools’ approval of massive cuts of programs and personnel “ridiculous,” Alderman Terry Kennedy told the American on Wednesday to expect action from black aldermen.

Kennedy, chair of the Aldermanic Black Caucus, said most members of that body “do not agree with the cuts and want to get further involved.”

Kennedy said, “We’re discussing what action we might take.”

Last week, the SAB unanimously approved about $30 million in budget cuts for the coming fiscal year, impacting hundreds of jobs, preschool programs, free lunches and more.

The three-member board - comprised of CEO Rick Sullivan, Melanie Adams and Richard Gaines - admitted, though, that the district can’t reach accreditation without more support from the State. It is sending a written plea to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education restating its position that the district will not improve without the State finding it more resources.

While he voted to pass the $320 million budget that includes the cutbacks, a frustrated Gaines said, “We cannot accept cut after cut after cut and still make this school system work.”

Sullivan said that while a budget was passed, it will be a topic of discussion into the fall and could be amended to save some jobs and/or programs.

“These cuts do no service for the quality of education in this district. We are imploding from the inside while being attacked from the outside,” said Mary Armstrong, president of Local 420, which represents district teachers and other staff members.

The following positions and programs face elimination:

-- Position reductions ($16.6 million)

-- Reduction of Parent Teacher Organization days

-- Elimination of free feeding programs

-- Reduction of community education centers

-- Ending truancy contract with City

-- Reducing health benefits ($1.5 million).

Staff reductions could include:

-- 10 social workers

-- 10 school psychologists

-- 46 early childhood teacher assistants

-- 47 magnet teacher assistants

-- 31 librarians

-- 39 counselors

-- 57 school administrators

-- 25 Central Office staff

-- 265 positions.

The district will also now employ LPNs rather than RNs.

Armstrong said the result is that the district is less attractive to city families.

“(The SAB) is making it impossible to compete with charter schools,” Armstrong said.

Targeting some specific cuts, she said the elimination of early childhood teaching assistants would create a teacher-student ratio of one teacher to 10 students.

“We can’t afford that. Are we going to not allow preschool children to come into SLPS?” she said.

She called teacher positions for instructing young patients at Cardinal Glennon and Children’s Hospital “a beacon of light in this district that is being turned off.”

Armstrong said, “The truancy program with the city is being eliminated. That means more students will be on the streets.”

The decision to expand the zone for bus transportation from one mile to one-and-a-half miles means more students “must walk through very treacherous neighborhoods,” she said.

Armstrong said, “Charter schools are advertising that they will come and get you anywhere in the city. (The SAB) is forcing parents to choose another system.”

Armstrong said the SAB is eliminating free food programs while charters are advertising hot, free lunches.

“More importantly, a lot of our students haven’t had a meal at all,” she said.

The SLPS elected Board of Education released a written statement saying the cuts are “designed to thwart the public will.”

“Tragically, the education cuts announced by the appointed board further deny city children access to the opportunities available to children elsewhere in metro St. Louis and throughout the state,” the elected board said.

Kennedy said “there is still a disconnect between the appointed board and the needs of the community.”

Kennedy said, “Not all needs are about dollars. These massive cuts in various areas in no way will help improve the quality of education.”

Kennedy said city residents should contact the governor’s office and state board of education.

“Let your voices be heard,” he said.

This SLPS Board News Update is from the Public and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Elected Board of Education and was created to help keep you informed about what is happening in the St. Louis Public Schools. Please feel free to forward this News Update to others who might be interested. IF AT ANY TIME YOU RATHER NOT RECEIVE THESE E-MAILS REPLY TO SLPSBOARDNEWS@AOL.COM [1] WITH "UNSUBSCRIBE ME"