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St. Louis American The
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 10 – 16, 2022
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
SLPS delegation lobbies state legislature
Vol. 93 No. 46 COMPLIMENTARY
Mayor names interim personnel director
Position plays pivotal role in police chief search By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of SLPS
Rev. Clyde Crumpton of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian shared his support of St. Louis Public Schools on Wednesday on the Capitol steps. He was part of a delegation that travelled to Jefferson City to tell legislators positive news about the district, and to opposed two bills that could strip $18 million from its budget.
Group extols virtues of school district; voices opposition to possible funding cut By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American A group of St. Louis Public Schools parents, teachers, and board members were in Jefferson City on Wednesday to voice opposition to a pair of bills that could strip the district of $18 million. House Bill 1552 and Senate Bill 869 could change existing provisions to the state’s local aid (for SLPS), essentially re-allocating $18 million in public school funding to charter schools. “There is nothing fair or equitable about an $18 million loss to our district,” said
Emily Koeltzow, SLPS Parent Action Council president. “SLPS’s doors are open to all and with that comes the need for programs and services that charter schools and few other public districts in the state have ever imagined having to provide, let alone pay for. “Taking such a large sum away from the efforts to help children makes no sense,” she said. SB 869 is sponsored by Republican state Sen. Andrew Koenig, who represents parts of St. Louis County. HB 1552 is sponsored by Republican state Rep. Doug Richey from Excelsior Springs.
According to SLPS, there is support from both Democrats and Republicans to exempt SLPS from the proposed legislation. Matt Davis, SLPS Board of Education secretary and Legislative Committee chair, said, “It is our responsibility, and it is our privilege to provide individual and targeted services to our students, no matter how challenging.” “However, it comes at a cost. It takes far more funding to provide the services required to educate a child with severe needs or to bridge the gap for students with fewer resources.” The SLPS parents made the trip “on their own time in order to make their voices heard,” Koeltzow said.
See SLPS, A7
Sen. Williams, Dems frustrated with GOP Medicaid antics
By JoAnn Weaver The St. Louis American
State Sen. Brian Williams called Missouri’s approach to Medicaid enrollment “a mess,” and he blames Republican legislators and Gov. Mike Parson.
With the voter-approved Medicaid expansion amendment again under Republican assault, state Sen. Brian Williams is ripping the effort many see as misguided. “To think that this is still a conversation after the voters have shown at the ballot box that they want to expand Medicaid in Missouri, well it is extremely frustrating that we are still having this conversation,” Williams said. “We should be doing everything in our power to ensure that folks have access to health care and not creating any barriers. It is important to be clear about the fact that people under Medicaid expansion are already working, and if they aren’t working, they would have
See MEDICAID, A7
Photo courtesy of Brian Williams
After butting heads with its former director in the search for the city’s next police chief, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones on Wednesday named John Moten Jr. as interim director of the city’s personnel department. The former Laclede Gas senior vice president and St. Louis native is a respected and trailblazing business leader with extensive experience in human resources and community relations, according to Jones’ office. “I am honored to serve in this up to six-month provisional role at the Department of Personnel as the Civil Service Commission continues the search for a permanent director,” Moten said John in a prepared statement. “I look Moten Jr. forward to working alongside department employees to build a strong foundation for personnel’s next director.” The Civil Service Commission is composed of three voting members, appointed by current and past mayors of St. Louis. Moten replaces former Personnel Director Richard Frank, who retired in December. Frank told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch this year the police chief finalists would be chosen solely by his department, breaking from the way in which current Chief John Hayden was chosen under Mayor Lyda Krewson, who hired an outside consultant to find and pick the finalists. His department established qualifications for
See DIRECTOR, A7
(May 15, 1935 – January 30, 2022)
Betty Suggs makes her final transition at 86
By Dawn Suggs The St. Louis American
Jewel Fay Betty Ann Bateman Suggs, also known as Betty Suggs, former and only wife of St. Louis American publisher Donald M. Suggs, was a storyteller. When her children asked why the name on her birth certificate was so long, she explained its origin. “My parents [who eventually divorced] just couldn’t agree on anything, so when I was born, one wanted to name me Jewel Fay and the other wanted to name me Betty Ann. The administrator filling out the birth certificate tired of my parents’ bickering and wrote See ACA, A6 Betty down two first names and two Suggs middle names.” Her legal name remained Jewel Fay Betty Ann Bateman until she married. Betty Suggs was born to Julia May Pulliam and George Bateman on May 15, 1935, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the last of their nine children (Annette, Constance, Donald, George, Jr., JoAnn,
See SUGGS, A6