Historical Summer 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Court-ordered desegregation, aging buildings, a high drop-out rate, underpaid teachers, under-achieving students: this is a partial laundry list of problems of the St. Louis Public Schools system.
Most city residents agree that these and a host of other problems facing the schools need solutions. One Skinker-DeBaliviere resident decided to spend the next six years devoting herself to finding those solutions. Renni Shuter, 62xx McPherson, was elected to the School Board in April as part of the “Kids First” slate. Interviewed recently in her comfortable home. Shuter was full of ideas and energized about the future of our schools.
She said she had been “thinking about running for School Board for ages: but that family responsibilities had prohibited it. Shuter’s own four children are all grown and she is now a grandmother.
She felt the time was finally right to devote herself to the education of other people’s children. Noticing a new emphasis and commitment to education in the Clinton administration. Shuter was encouraged that Gov. Carnahan was also committed to education in Missouri. ‘It seemed like a time when action could be taken’ was finally at hand, she said.
She feels Mayor Bosley is also likely to support education. Underlying all is Shuter’s firm belief that “kids are the future of this city and country.” Shuter has many ideas about ways to revamp and revitalize the city school system.
She is committed to a concept called “site-based management” in which teachers and parents at each school have more input on books, curriculum, and methods of teaching.
Another idea on the table is the Community School Program.
A $1.5 million pilot program is planned for 15 schools. Shuter explained that each school’s program could look a little different, but the goal of the Community School Program is to make the school a true community center. School buildings would be utilized 6 days a week, year-round, evenings as well as days. Schools might offer day care. preschool, and adult education, and would be a place for kids to go during the summer and on weekends for learning, structure, and enrichment. Shuter points out that year-round school has met with success in other school districts in the St. Louis area.
While no one is suggesting keeping students and teachers in class 6 days week, 12 hours a day, the school would be open for a variety of programs and would be a comprehensive community center perhaps offering medical and social services as well. Key to the success of ‘the Community School Program is involving older adults and other adults without children. Shuter noted that in areas where Community School Programs are successful, adults and children get to know one another and reports of neighborhood harassment and vandalism decline. Shuter is glad she joined the School Board at a time when factions are gone and “the agenda is now education.’ She finds a new cohesiveness that will make,. solving problems a reality. “There is not unanimity, of course, but what is agreed upon is that each child can learn,” said Shuter. Only in office• a. few. months, Shuter is already deeply involved, attending school functions and meetings,, and fielding calls from the community.
She welcomes invitations to visit the schools and to speak to community groups. Shortly after taking her place on the board. she resigned from several other boards and committees in order to have the time to devote herself more fully to the St. Louis Public Schools. Shuter’s term will take her into 1999. What does she see for the public school system as we end the 20th century? “I want to see a thriving Community School Program and revived interest in the schools by the citizenry.
I think we will also see computer literacy in the students and, hopefully, a much lowered drop-out rate,” projected Shuter. Quite an ambitious agenda, but Renni Shuter definitely seems up to the challenge.
Original photograph caption
Renni Shuter, newly elected School Board member. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_06.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 3; PDF page(s) 1, 3.
