Historical Summer 2007 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
For several weeks, our council office and neighbors in general have debated whether the St. Louis Public Schools should locate an alternative high school at the site of the Des Peres Middle School (Des Peres at Westminster).
The school was for three years the site of an alternative middle school for troubled youngsters.
It closed in 2003.
According to the Board of Education, the school would have between 125 and 150 students.
They would be Type 2 students who had engaged in various forms of disruptive behavior but without criminal records. Students would either be bussed or drive to school. Thanks to the intercession of our council, the Board of Education agreed not to vote on the designation of Des Peres School as alternative high school until a meeting with neighbors could take place.
It was hoped that the meeting would answer some of the neighbors’ questions about the school’s administration and about safety.
On Monday, May 20, the meeting took place in the sanctuary of Grace United Methodist Church. Superintendant Diana Bourisaw did not attend but three administrators represented the district: Deputy Superintendent John Martin, Mulugrata Tefari, Chief Academic Officer and Deanna Anderson, Interim Chief Operations Officer.
All board members were invited. Peter Downs was the only member in attendance.
The meeting was moderated by SDCC Executive Director Darcell Braylock and SDCC president Robert Mahon. Anderson said Des Peres School was selected because it has a smaller capacity. Little reconfiguration would be needed. Tefari said that students would by selected by the Alternative Education Office and teachers and parents could make recommendations as well.
They will be students who need alternative settings, special attention and small classes.
They will have a strict attendance policy.
They do not plan on physical education or after school activities. School officials said that they had not selected the principal or teachers for this program.
They plan on using a private firm, Big Picture, to train the school’s staff.
They do not have a contract as of yet.
They hope to have partnerships with Washington University and BJC but have no firm agreements yet. Big Picture is in operation in Detroit and Providence.
It encourages close work with the community and the use of internal and external resources to help the students.
The program will focus on student skills and use those skills to turn the students around.
The student body at an alternative high school, according to the administrators, is not necessarily bad but are not focused.
They will keep them engaged and working. Alderman Frank Williamson (D26) and Alderman Lyda Krewson (D28) addressed the meeting. Ald. Williamson said that he was concerned with the safety of the neighborhood – how students get in and out.
There is limited access to the school. Williamson felt the school could be better located in a commercial area. Ald. Krewson raised similar questions. Gloria Openlander, the principal at St. Roch School, discussed problems when Des Peres was an alternative middle school.
She said there were frequent problems at dismissal time. Kids from Des Peres would trespass at her school.
A crossing guard was harassed and police intervention was needed on two occasions. St. Roch students were also called names by Des Peres students.
She called the Transportation Department to report these instances.
The St. Louis Public Schools representatives said that 90% of the alternative school students would be there because of pushing, shoving and disruption.
The Schools’ web site contained the following under the definition of Type II student: sexual harassment, bullying, indecent exposure, theft, vandalism, racial harassment. Questions from the audience were read by SDCC representatives.
A number of people made comments from an open mike. Although no poll was taken, sentiment appeared to be against having this high school in the middle of the neighborhood.
Some did speak in favor. One resident who did so was a St. Louis Public Schools teacher.
Some neighbors predisposed to support the school worried that there was too little time to get it set up and have personnel trained by Big Picture. One said if this were to open in 2008, she would feel a lot better.
The seven members of the St. Louis Board of Education will vote on May 22 or 29 to designate the schools that will handle the alternative program.
If the state of Missouri does in fact take over the St. Louis schools in June, that could also affect the outcome.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2007.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Article says Monday May 20; May 20 2007 was Sunday, and page 6 resolution identifies public meeting as May 14. Conflicting printed dates preserved.
Original source: SD_Times2007_06.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 2; PDF page(s) 1, 2.
