Midtown Strategic Development Plan
Public Meeting Comments
Thursday, June 28th, 2001, 6:30 P.M.
At Saint Louis Cathedral School
4430 Maryland Avenue

Education

186. Create quality schools: K-8, 9-12 are needed to retain families. Young families leave the area when children become of school age (reason for the many "empty nesters"). They chose to move to suburban areas to educate children rather than pay the private school tuition. Metro high school is an example of a quality, public school, however, the entrance requirements are high with no consideration or preference extended to neighborhood residents.

187. Mayor Slay had an opportunity and had the power to sponsor charter schools. He said he didn't want them. I can't think of anything he could do as mayor with more long-term importance than fixing the schools.

188. Make sure "development" opportunities don't squeeze out the education resources that exist such as New City, Cathedral, Rosati-Kai expansion, Metro. Schools help anchor the community and families need them.

189. Improve public K-12 neighborhood schools to bring in young families.

190. Where are the neighborhood schools? Stop the busing.

191. More education for parents of children in public schools so the kids are more focused on behaving/learning in school. The stories I hear are about public school students not being focused on getting an education (being disruptive in class) are horrible. If you had a choice, why would you put your kid in school with those kids?

192. Increase the number of charter schools.

193. You will never get young families into the neighborhood without good public schools.

194. Why is there so much prejudice in favor of people with kids in K-12 age range who go to public schools?

195. Do an evaluation of the cost of living here and paying for private schools vs. living in West County and sending your kids to public schools. If it's favorable, publicize the hell out of it?

196. Rebuild the fringe by restoring the historic buildings, especially north of Westminster, including those in Gaslight Square and the Lister Building.

197. Stop the busing - and build schools in the neighborhood!!!

198. How will the mid-town planning project relate to the St. Louis region as a whole, in terms of transportation, Metrolink, environmental quality, water resources, neighborhood revitalization and air quality?

199. Be careful not to tear down our architectural integrity for parking.

200. Should coordinate with regional initiatives and other regional interest groups and agencies.

201. The City needs to make education its No. 1 priority. Best pay brings better teachers. More parent involvement is necessary.

202. Discourage people with children from living in these neighborhoods.

203. Some of us like Washington U. and St. Louis U.

204. Offer GED classes and junior college classes at the new public schools.

205. Create more schools that are public that don't involve using a lottery system/game so that your child receives a quality education.

206. Attract more "affordable" private schools.

207. Why not initiate a charter-type school in the area such as Chicago's South Loop - Dearborn Park area - that began in the mid-80's. This would draw families with young children (who can't afford New City or Cathedral).

208. Charters schools need to replace some of the public K-9 schools.

209. Is there a public neighborhood school? Public schools (bldgs.) should be replaced with newer schools. Most of our existing schools are 50+ years old and its tough to go year-round without A/C and constant heat.

210. Young families/young people will be attracted to the area by good schools and good communication capabilities. How about a "WAN" high-speed wireless for the CWE area.

211. No family-community can exist without usable public schools. However, we started New City when the Catholic church abandoned us. Schools are not always "public" responsibility. Why not create neighborhood charter schools?

212. The whole basis for school funding-property values-is wrong and unfair and NOT PUBLIC.

213. Create child-care opportunities for young families.

214. Public education must become a priority. Citizens and city leadership must overhaul. Without honest, effective K-12 opportunities, long-term success is not realistic.

215. The new Child Garden on Laclede is a great model!