This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 19, 2013: An enthusiastic crowd of school officials and alumni showed up Monday morning to greet students on the first day of classes at Normandy High School, but the good mood was overshadowed somewhat by issues in the back of the minds of school officials and parents alike.
Although school officials didn't make many students available, plenty of other people were on hand to make the case for improving and saving the Normandy district. Superintendent Ty McNichols said the district is bracing for the loss of up to $15 million in revenue because of projections that 25 percent of his students are enrolling in other districts this fall because Normandy is unaccredited.
He insisted, however, that the number of children leaving the district might turn out to be lower than expected.
"A little over $15 million will be coming out of our budget is what it looks like," he said as students arrived by buses and cars. "That's based on the original number who were identified as transfer students. However, there are still kids who are enrolling here, and there are kids who are deciding to stay."
McNichols said the actual numbers won't be known until the state issues an official enrollment count. He was asked about the potential need for a tax hike and additional state money in case the $15 million loss turns out to be accurate and prevents the district from remaining solvent thought this school term.
"We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there," he says. "We will adjust our budget based on the finances, just like any major corporation. Right now we are focused on the first day of school. We have a lot of people in the community who are supporting us and we will utilize all resources to make sure that we have a successful year."
Derrick Mitchell, Normandy high school's principal, said students will be exposed to new programs, including more emphasis on literacy and a program called STEM, which offers more intense instruction in science, technology, engineering and math.
"We've been planning intensely to make sure we are ready to receive our students when they come into the door. We want to make sure that we have the right teachers in the right place for the right students," he said.
Among parents on hand were Cherisse Watts, whose son is a junior at Normandy.
"This is going to be hard to deal with as far as the loss of money to the district is concerned," she said. "But I am confident that we are going to come out of this and will eventually be able to get all of or our children back where they belong and be able to have the support we need from the state."
As for parents who have pulled their children out of the district, she said, "Everything doesn't work for everybody. I completely respect them for what they decided to do. They had to do what they felt was best for their children."
Shirley Johnson, who has a daughter, a senior, in the district, said she continued to have confidence in the district in spite of the lost accreditation
"I'm really excited about the start of school and I think it's going to be a great day. Yes, we do have some problems and the district is not accredited, but I am very impressed by Mr. McNichols (the superintendent) and his team."
She added, "I am a little disappointed that some of the parents felt their kids needed to transfer to different districts. I am disappointed because I think students, like my daughter, can get a good education in Normandy."
She said she and others had been touching base with state state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, and state Rep. Clem Smith, D-north St. Louis County, about Normandy's finances.
"I hope that they have been listening to me, other parents and the community about working on this situation because millions of dollars could be leaving the school district. I just hate to see something like that happen. But it's not only about education. It's about what will happen to our taxes, too, if the district begins to lose money."
One common theme expressed by parents and administrators Monday morning was the hope that the district will improve to the point of convincing departing students to return. The other theme was on support groups that can help to improve Normandy's school environment.
One group offering help is 100 Black Men of St. Louis. Several members were on hand Monday to show support for the district.
"These are our kids, too," says Joseph Anderson, president of 100 Black Men. "We want to make sure the men and women in high school understand that they have a future in front of them. We want to show them career paths that they can get into. In some instances, all they need to do is see us, talk to us and understand how we got where we are, the challenges we faced and how we overcame them."
Jacque Land, the group's executive director, said groups like 100 Black Men were "filling a gap with some of the boys in particular. We teach them life skills, goal setting, and conflict resolution strategies. What we do not only helps them in school but in life."
Read more: St. Louis Public Radio FAQ on what you need to know about school transfers.
Marla Smith, another Normandy alumni on hand to greet the students, said, "Having less money in the district is going to bother me. But I think it could also mean students will get more help from teachers because the classrooms won't be as full as they were."
As she stood waving balloons and signs, she said, "Our message to the students is to stay motivated, come to learn and help fellow students who might be struggling. I hope we are encouraging them to keep trying, stay after school if they need tutoring and ask for help in every aspect that they need."
Another booster, Connie Taylor, reinforced that message, saying, "We want to encourage students that they are going to have an awesome year, and that they are still part of a winning equation. I think action like (loss of enrollment) has to be taken as an opportunity to re-engineer and make it work. I think school officials will be creative and very focused. I believe that where you have a willing student and a willing teacher, you have an opportunity for success. That's why I believe that these students can make it."
Mitchell, the principal, said he was pleased by the turnout of community members to greet the students.
The crowd tells him, "It's a great day to be a Viking," he says, referring to Normandy's mascot.
