SLPS = Seattle Public Schools?

August 15, 2024

Good morning STL and happy Thursday! Welcome back to another edition of New in the Lou. A special welcome back to our most favorite readers: those who share! It’s something we were taught when we were younger, and something we continue to pass down to our own kids. Our newsletter is growing, and it’s all thanks to our readers who forward our letter along. We’re still working on our referral program, but we appreciate you in the meantime. Maybe soon we can bribe you with some stickers or something… Let’s get started!

WEATHER AND SPORTS

🌡️

⚾️

🏒

⚽️

Thu 8/15

⛈️ 92/72

💤

💤

💤

Fri 8/16

☀️ 89/73

LAD 7:15

💤

💤

Sat 8/17

☀️ 86/68

LAD 6:15

💤

💤 

Sun 8/18

☀️ 86/67

 LAD 1:15

💤

💤 

AROUND TOWN
Does the S in SLPS stand for Seattle?

After just one year on the job, St. Louis Public Schools superintendent, Keisha Scarlett, was placed on a temporary leave of absence with no explanation. And although no explanation was given for her departure, it doesn’t take much digging to figure out why.

But first, who is Keisha Scarlett and how did she land the superintendent role a year ago?

Before becoming the superintendent of SLPS, Scarlett held the position as Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools in Washington State. Keisha grew up in Seattle, WA and spent 24 years in academics. When the former SLPS Superintendent, Dr. Kelvin Adams, announced his retirement towards the end of 2022 after serving the district for 14 years, the SLPS started its nationwide search for his replacement. After narrowing it down to three finalists: one from STL, one from AL, and one from WA, Scarlett was ultimately chosen to lead the district on a three year contact at a salary of $268k per year.

The rise…then very quick fall of the Phoenix

Phoenix Jackson to be specific. Phoenix was hired on July 1 to be the SLPS Chief Communications Officer at a salary of $200k per year. Phoenix was hired out of Houston, TX, and was previously a brand consultant. In a now deleted social media post, Phoenix said she would “float” between Houston and St. Louis and only live in St. Louis part time in a condo. Phoenix’s comments about only working in St. Louis part time caused the school board to put a pause on all hirings. It appears that Phoenix has already left this position as investigations into the SLPS hiring practices are underway.

Here is where it gets bad

Hiring a couple people for top positions at top salaries may not raise any immediate red flags. After all, these positions are important, and STL wants the very best candidates for the job. Are the salaries high? Yes— but if these people are the best, then we’re getting the best for the kids. But, there appears to be a trend, and an expensive one at that. Hirings under Scarlett in the past year include:

  • Millicent Borishade hired in August 2023 to be SLPS Chief of Schools. Millicent came from the Washington State Public Schools.

  • Manal Al-ansi hired in August 2023 to be SLPS Chief of Staff. Al-ansi came from Seattle Public Schools.

  • Nikka Lemons hired in March 2024 as Chief Operating Officer. Lemons came from Seattle Public Schools.

  • Matthias Greywoode hired June 2024 as Chief Financial Officer. Get this: Matthias is also listed as the CFO of Azimu Group, which is owned by Nikka Lemons.

  • Allison Deno hired in May 2024 as Chief of Schools. Deno came from Washington State Public Schools.

  • Tim Schultz hired this month as a contract compliance manager. Schultz came from Washington State Public Schools. And, oh yeah, he’s married to Deno.

  • Zithri Saleem hired recently as the Chief Information Officer. Zithri is most recently from Seattle Washington.

It’s clear Scarlett was hiring her buddies from out of state for the top positions within St. Louis Public Schools, which isn’t a crime in itself, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and boy is the place burning down right now. Check out these consulting contracts the STL Post Dispatch dug up:

  • Nikka Lemons (remember her from above) was paid $50k by the SLPS for consulting services through a business she owned.

  • A project manager at Seattle Public Schools founded a company in May of this year, and was paid $50k by SLPS for consulting services.

  • A company launched just last month by a person living in Seattle was paid $30k for transportation consulting services.

  • A former Superintendent from Seattle Public Schools was paid $50k for “cabinet support”.

  • A former HR Officer from Seattle Public Schools was awarded a contract for $45k for consulting services this month.

  • A former deputy superintendent with Seattle Public Schools was awarded a $600k consulting contract.

  • A former Washington School District employee was awarded an emergency contract for $234k for consulting services.

  • Scarlett’s self-described “coach” was awarded $10k to speak at a SLPS retreat.

  • A consulting firm from LA received a $170k emergency contract for strategic planning. A senior associate at this consulting firm knew Scarlett through Seattle Public Schools.

On top of Scarlett awarding these lucrative contracts to her friends paid for by the schools, the school is now projecting a $35M🔻 deficit from a $17M 💚 surplus just one year ago.

Smell that smoke?

Move over Bandanas, the Missouri State Auditor (Scott Fitzpatrick) has a new tagline. Fitzpatrick will begin diving into the SLPS finances beginning this Tuesday. What else will he find?

Trapped in the Arch trams

We’ve all had that thought while making our way to the top, crammed into tiny pod-shaped Arch trams, “What if these things got stuck and we were trapped?”. Well for some passengers on Monday, they didn’t need to wonder.

According to Pam Sanfilippo, program manager of museum services and interpretation at Gateway Arch National Park:

It is a combination of an elevator, an escalator, and a Ferris wheel, the way the cars work. There are eight cars all connected in one tram,” Gateway Arch National Park Program Director Pam Sanfilippo said. “They are repaired and replaced on a routine basis as part of our safety procedures

The tram system on the north leg abruptly stopped about 100 feet from the bottom. It was triggered by the safety system that is set in place, recognizing that there was an issue with one of the governing cables. So, it automatically locks the tram in place and stops it. We are able, through a one-way PA system, to let visitors know we are aware of the situation, we are working on it.

There was a different issue back in 2022 with one of the trams, but they don’t often see issues with them, considering the trams run six times every hour, nine hours a day, seven days a week.

This might be the only or one of very few times that the fire department has actually helped to assist, evacuate passengers off the trams.

Luckily no one was injured, although the rescue involved harnessing people and walking them across I-beams. Adventure for some, nightmare fuel for others.

WEEKEND WONDERS
What to do this week

Thursday

🟩 Green Day at Riverport: Playing “Dookie” and “American Idiot” in their entirety, catch Green Day and Rancid at Riverport. Gates open at 6:45pm. There are low tickets left, so hop on this one quick to avoid a boulevard of broken dreams.

🩸 Rizzuto Blood Drive at Local 36: Do your part and donate some blood to those in need from 2-6pm at Workers’ Local 36 on Chouteau Ave. There’s a free t-shirt for those who donate! Preschedule you donation time today— looking at you 😉 O negatives…

Friday

💡Neon Dreams at City Museum (21+): Described as a place “where the lights and sounds will deliver you to a place where imagination reigns supreme and the boundaries between dreams and reality are delightfully blurred.” From 7pm-11pm, enjoy a DJ, food, drinks, and lots of neon lights illuminating your path to a light show under the dome.

🔮 The Crystal Method at Old Rock House: You’ve definitely heard some of their songs whether it be from a movie or videogame soundtrack, TV show, movie, or commercial. Pioneers of the “big beat” genre will be at Old Rock House, rocking the house.

Saturday

🐉 Dragon Boat Fest at Creve Coeur Park: Back for its 18th year, grab 19 of your friends and row, row, row your boat in a drag race against a competing boat. Or, if you’re not into rowing, keep the pace of your boat by being the drummer on board! And if competition isn’t your thing, enjoy some delicious food and festivities and grab a spot along the shore to watch!

🌙 Moonlight Ramble in MidTown: Ever want to ride your bike in the dark but scared of getting run over by a car? Now is your chance at the 60th Anniversary Moonlight Ramble. Join hundreds of other bike riders at 11pm on Saturday to ride under the light of the moon. Deck your bike out with lights and other things that glow! Kids are allowed too.

Sunday

🍅 Vegan BBQ Fest next to Ikea: Love BBQ? Also love animals? Feast on vegan ribs, brats, cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, and much more at the 2-acre park across from Ikea. Never in STL has so much vegan BBQ been brought together in once place. And for those meat eaters that are curious… some of these entrees will fool even the most seasoned taste buds.

😍 I Love Forest Park 5k at… Forest Park: Like to run and love Forest Park? Join the only 5k that happens in Forest Park that directly supports the park! There is also a kids “fun run” at the same time The run kicks off at 7:30am to beat the heat.

ARCHWAY ARCADE
Poll question of the week

Winner of last week’s poll question:

Polls were broken last week— but they’re back!

Did you know?

The tallest man in recorded history grew up in Alton, IL (close enough to STL…). Robert Wadlow stood 8 feet and 11inches and weighed around 439 pounds at the time of his death at the age of 22. At 8-years old, he was already 6 foot tall. Robert suffered from a condition that resulted in an abnormally high amount of human growth hormone. Unfortunately, Robert passed away due to an infection caused by a faulty leg brace that irritated his ankle.

Trivia

Which town in St. Louis City changed its name from “McRee Town” in 2004?: answer below

SHARING IS CARING
Share this newsletter

Please share this newsletter if you enjoy it. Our team is small but mighty, and we’d love for our newsletter to provide you some local value.

Trivia Answer: Botanical Heights.