Community groups press East St. Louis board on accountability, federal funds and superintendent evaluation

Community groups and parents used the East St. Louis School District 189 board’s May 21 public-comment period to press for greater accountability, clearer superintendent evaluation criteria and assurances about federal pandemic relief funds.

“As a board member, what do you see as your biggest responsibilities, and how will you stay accountable to students, parents, and educators by keeping them truly heard, included, and connected beyond just the meetings and events?” asked Danica Davis of Love Leaving Our Voices Everywhere during the meeting’s public-comment period.

Representatives of East Side of Line, a local nonprofit, asked the board to commit to community-hosted meetings and a 90-day or first-term plan with clear accountability checkpoints. “These questions are not attacks. They’re invitations … to build stronger, more accountable relationships between the district and those they serve,” said Shante Ford of East Side of Line.

Jamila Reeves, speaking for the youth organization Love Leaving Our Voices Everywhere, asked about the district’s plan after a recent federal action that she said sought to recover $19,000,000 in pandemic relief funds. “What plans are in place to protect our district from losing critical funding and ending programs such as Head Start, the 3 year old program, and free school lunch?” she asked during public comment. She said the department’s attempt was “later blocked by a federal judge,” a point raised in her remarks.

Dr. Katina Lynette Rupert, identifying herself as a member of the NAACP and chair of an advocates-for-social-justice committee within Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., asked how the board will evaluate the superintendent and what criteria will be used. “How do you intend to evaluate the superintendent’s performance, what criteria is or will be used, and have you considered what other districts around the country use as criteria?” she asked.

Board and district staff responded with information about existing engagement opportunities and offers to meet. An unnamed district staff member said the district runs quarterly “key communicator network” meetings where administration shares information and solicits feedback, and said board members are invited but not required to attend. The staff member also offered to meet directly with community groups outside those quarterly sessions.

The board instructed staff to collect contact information and to follow up. At one point a board member asked staff to ensure they “get his information, and we'll make sure we connect with him and sit down and and have that two-way dialogue,” referencing a public commenter.

Speakers at the meeting also raised student performance and safety concerns; the board did not take formal action on the accountability proposals on May 21 but several staff members said they would follow up with community groups.