Money Talks

Parent Action Council Monthly Meeting

December 16, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

Learning, Earning, and Public School Funding

Welcome!

• Please put yourself on MUTE 🔇
• Keep your camera on (if possible) 👋
• This meeting will be recorded ⏺
• Closed captions are available ㏄
• Questions and comments go in the chat 💬

Agenda

November PAC Review

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• Safety and Security
• Square Watson (SLPS Operations) and Col. Deandre Davis (SLPS Security)
• Schools are instructed to review their security protocols and tighten up any lax procedures for visitors and deliveries
• Operations and Security departments are in the process of upgrading security cameras across the District
• Goal is to do six schools per quarter (focus on elementary schools)
• Supply chain disruptions and integrating varied security systems are making that difficult
• Parents are always encouraged to reach out to their school principals and District officials with questions or concerns
• Square Watson: square.watson@slps.org (314) 633-9143
• Deandre Davis: deandre.davis@slps.org (314) 865-2020

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November PAC Review

• Special Education
• Sarah Bartley (Dyslexia St. Louis), Claire Crapo and Candice Boyd (SLPS)
• The process of evaluation and obtaining services for special needs kids is very complex and can be difficult to navigate
• Sarah’s presentation on definitions to know, parent rights, and overview of the process can be found on the PAC Google page - check it out!
• Sarah Bartley: sarah@dyslexiastlouis.org
• Claire and Candice are available to answer any school or District specific questions regarding special education process and services provided
• Claire Crapo: claire.crapo@slps.org
• Candice Boyd: candice.boyd@slps.org 314.633.5325

November PAC Review

• PAC is launching a Parents of Color Committee
• Participants are nominated by their school leaders
• Save The Dates have gone out for the first meeting later this month
• If you are interested in being a part of this committee, contact PAC at parentactioncouncil@gmail.com or Gloria Nolan at gloria.nolan@slps.org

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PAC Treasurer Vote

• PAC is seeking a parent leader to fill the position of Treasurer
• Working with PAC leadership and the SLPS Foundation to establish a PAC bank account
• Receiving and tracking PAC donations and incoming funds
• Tracking and documenting any expenses PAC incurs
• First, we will entertain a nomination for Treasurer
• Christopher Bradburn from Mason has been nominated to serve as PAC Treasurer
• Someone will need to make a motion to accept his nomination as PAC Treasurer
• A different person will need to second that motion

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• Next, we will vote using a Zoom poll

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2022 SLPS Budget Presentation

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Angie Banks

SLPS Chief Financial Officer

angie.banks@slps.org

(314) 345-2271

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1. How is the SLPS budget formed?
1. What is the breakdown of state/federal/local funds by %?
2. How is state funding determined (i.e. do we get extra for SPED, students-in-transition, ELL, etc?)
3. How are items like transportation/food service/waste management funded?
2. How much do we lose to TIF and tax abatements each year?
3. What are the most important budget items for parents to know?
4. What opportunities are coming up for parents to have input on the budget, including the spring semester?

Trivia Time!

• Answer the trivia question on the next slide. You’ll have 30 seconds to answer.
• First to post the answer in the chat will receive a $10 gift card in their email!

What was the name of the family whose attempt to purchase a home on Labadie Avenue eventually led to a Supreme Court case and the end of enforcing racial restrictive covenants?

And the answer is….

The Shelley Family

• J.D. and Ethel Shelley moved to St. Louis from Mississippi in 1940, and in 1945, purchased the house at 4600 Labadie Avenue.
• Because there was a restrictive covenant on the house preventing anyone “not of the Caucasian persuasion” from purchasing the home, the Kraemers sued to prevent the Shelleys from taking ownership.
• The case, Shelley vs. Kraemer, went to the Supreme Court, where the justices ruled 6-0 that restrictive covenants were unenforceable (NOT illegal)
• As of Nov 2021, there are 30,000 homes still under restrictive covenants in St. Louis
• The Shelley home is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks

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Public School Funding

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Megan E. Green

Alderwoman, 15th Ward

greenm@stlouis-mo.gov

314-622-3287

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QUESTIONS

1. How are public schools funded in general?
2. Why are public school districts like SLPS “underfunded”?
3. How do decisions made at the local level (like the BoA) affect public school funding?
4. What can parents do to change this flawed system?

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Trivia Time!

• Answer the trivia question on the next slide. You’ll have 30 seconds to answer.
• First to post the answer in the chat will receive a $10 gift card in their email!

What was the practice of color-coding maps identifying the “most desirable” areas for banks to grant mortgages and business loans?

And the answer is….

Redlining

• Redlining was the practice of color coding maps used by banks to determine the areas “most desirable” for investment
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) charged the Homeowners Loan Corps (HOLC) with creating these maps
• These residential security maps were coded GREEN for “best”, BLUE for “desirable”, YELLOW for “declining”, and RED for “hazardous”
• The areas deemed “hazardous” were predominately Black, immigrant, and low-income areas
• This practice led to strategic disinvestment, plummeting property values, and the decline of once thriving neighborhoods and communities, including schools
• It is important to understand this practice because it illustrates how so many of our current issues are tied to explicit decisions made by political leaders.

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2021-22 PAC Meeting Dates

September 16, 2021 - 6:30pm

“Can You Hear Me Now?: SLPS Communication 101”

October 21, 2021 - 6:30pm

“The Kids (Will Be) Alright: Mental Health and Student Support

November 18, 2021 - 6:30pm

“What’s SPED Got To Do With It?: Advocating for Your Child”

December 16, 2021 - 6:30pm

“Money Talks: Learning, Earning, and Public School Funding”

January 20, 2022 - 6:30pm

“Everything’s Up To Date In Jefferson City: Looking Ahead to the Legislative Session”

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*put in the chat if you would be interested in attending a “SLPS Day of Action” in Jeff City*

February 17, 2021 -6:30pm

“Take A Look, It’s In A Book: Literacy and SLPS”

March 17, 2022 - 6:30pm

“We Got This: Preparing Students for Assessments”

April 21, 2022 - 6:30pm

Summer In The City: Preparing for Summer”

May 19, 2022 - 6:30pm

Topic TBD

Important Dates

December 22-31 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)

January 3, 2022 - NO SCHOOL (Record Keeping)

January 4, 2022 - First Day of 2nd Semester

January 11, 2022, 6:30pm - Board of Education meeting, 801 N. 11th

January 22, 2022 - SLPS Wellness Workshop for Parents and Families

Additional Announcements

• St Louis City Board of Aldermen voted to extend the mask mandate, which means SLPS will continue to require masks.
• December 18 opens the application process for qualified City residents to receive $500 cash payments. Eligibility includes
• City residency
• Income threshold (by household)
• Loss of income from Covid-19

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Stay In Touch

• Join the “Parents of SLPS Students” page on Facebook
• Join our email list by emailing parentactioncouncil@gmail.com
• Find our calendar and meeting minutes on our Google site (link in chat)
• Sign up for the District Digest at slps.org/districtdigest

Exit Ticket

SAY THANK YOU TO TEACHERS AND STAFF!!

Ideas:

• Gift cards (any amount!)
• Handwritten notes or pictures
• An email of thanks (copy their principal!)

Open Forum

What’s on your mind?

How can we help?