Category: St. Louis Public Schools

School Privatizers Want Another STL Sales Tax for Child Care

Man with giant green money bag

Some people would like to raise the sales tax in City of St. Louis for early childhood education (ECE) in the City. Again. Don’t be fooled. Again.

Unlike in Boliver, where there is a $3 Million expansion underway for their ECE center on the public schools campus, this sales tax campaign is not for St. Louis Public Schools ECE. Again. It’s not for free ECE. Again.

Instead, it’s another sketchy way to publicly fund charter schools, church day care, for profit child care, and a jobs creator for the nonprofit industrial complex. A lot of staffing positions with important titles will be created using the bloated bureaucracy role model of City’s Mental Health Board.

Like MHB, which manages the current ECE tax fund called Community Children’s Services Fund, that pays for ECE consultants, not ECE, the new tax would be managed by another mayoral appointed board independent from the City of St. Louis, unaccountable to the Board of Alders, or anyone else really.

Read the proposal here, not just the ballot language, read the whole thing.

Note that Stephen Westbrooks, Mayor Cara Spencer’s new director of St. Louis Development Corporation, City corporate welfare umbrella agency, and a charter school supporter, is one of the ballot issue petitioners.

Note that the proposed sales tax is enabled by 67.547 RSMO and is a county sales tax, not a municipal sales tax. That’s because Best Start for Kids also wants a tax in St. Louis County. I don’t have any idea how the campaign it’s going in the County. I do know that when MAGA eventually bankrupts St. Louis City, sells off assets, forces annexation of City into County, the folks running this scam will still be well funded.

Best Start for Kids campaign makes a lot of promises not backed up with the petition they are circulating. Again. It’s not about funding free ECE at public schools.

“Increase wages and benefits for early educators” and “Improve quality of care” are just campaign sales pitches. There is no guarantee that will happen. AND there is no sunset provision so that later down the road voters could decide to end the experiment and start over.

Best Start for Kids filed with Missouri Ethics Commission last August as a ballot issue campaign committee for November 3rd, 2026, election in the City.

A lot of preachers think their churches are getting a piece of the pie but most of the money is coming from school privatizers.

The committee filed Limited Activity for August and October 2025 reports but then received $10,000 on November 10th from Robert Fox. He is the husband of Maxine Clark, founder of Build A Bear (a corporate welfare recipient) and queen mother of school privatization in St. Louis based at her Delmar Divine development.

Fox’s contribution appeared in the January 2026 Report with others including:

$5,000 (11/17/2025) Tony Thompson, Kwame Building Group CEO, St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioner, and charter school supporter

$5,000 (12/02/2025) Laura Horwitz, JF Roblee Foundation and Board member for WePower, the main proponent for Best Start for Kids sales tax hike campaign

$1,000 (12/07/2025) Hank Webber, part of the group seeking a Midtown Infrastructure TIF, former Vice Chancellor for Washington University, former chair of Cortex, charter school advocate, and Board member of Maxine Clark’s Delmar Divine. He also serves on

Starting in January, Best Starts for Kids started receiving donations requiring “48 Hour Report of Contribution Received Over $5000” and which will not appear on a quarterly Report until April. These contributions include:

$8,000 (01/21/2026) Anne Miller, education consultant, a charter school founder (North Side Community School)

$50,000 (01/30/2026) Missouri Action for Kids, same address as Kids Win Missouri (which receives public funding)

$25,000 (02/03/2026) Elizabeth Mannen Berges, Mannen Financial Group, and Jim Berges, former President of Emerson Electric. Berges Family Foundation supports the Opportunity Trust, St. Louis Police Foundation, Greater St. Louis, and charter schools.

$10,000 (02/10/2026) Child Care Aware of Missouri, a child care referral nonprofit and member of Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Missouri

$17,500 (03/05/2026) + $30,000 (03/12/2026) + $12,000 (03/20/2026) WePower, school privatization nonprofit, driving force behind the previous Proposition R for a St. Louis sales tax to fund early childhood education consultants, the fund managed by St. Louis Mental Health Board.

WePower is represented by a stable of lobbyists including David Sweeney, everyone’s friend at Board of Alders, and Nexus Group. WePower is located in Cortex Innovation District.

In 2020, The City’s Board of Alders passed an ordinance to send voters a tax hike to fund ECE. The BOA vote was 25-0 with two absent and one vacancy.

Unfortunately, it did not really fund ECE as in subsidizing costs to parents. It was money for training and marketing consultants and creating a large staff to award grants.

Like Alders, not many bothered to read the proposal. It was approved 56.26% (72,745) to 43.74% (56,554).

Proponents of the previous ballot issue like to say the issue drove voters to the polls but it was a Presidential and statewide office and ballot issues election. 6,170 fewer ballots were cast for Proposition R than the total votes cast for US President in that 66% turnout election.

Deputy Treasurer for Best Start for Kids is Mike Pridmore, who serves as treasurer or deputy treasurer for numerous campaign accounts including Mayor Spencer, City and State ballot issues, and political action committees (legal money laundries in Missouri).

There was previously a Best Starts for Kids, STL committee, not run by Pridmore, for a 2024 St. Louis County Charter Amendment to increase sales tax by for early childhood education. That ballot measure did not end up on the ballot.

Board President Megan Green and Alders Pam Boyd, Shameem Clark-Hubbard, Tom Oldenburg, and Daniela Velázquez have endorsed the ballot issue.

Board President Green unsuccessfully tried to organize a charter school before she was an Alder.

Saida Cornejo-Zuniga worked briefly as Legislative Assistant to Alder Velázquez before taking a position at WePower.

Rodney Hubbard, Alder Clark-Hubbard’s husband, is a lobbyist for Steven R. Carroll & Associates, which is lobbyist for St. Louis Public Schools, tho Hubbard is not registered to represent that client.

During the 2024-2025 session of the Board of Alders, Alder Clark-Hubbard sponsored Board Bill 7 for a second sales tax ballot issue, an additional one-half of one percent to go to the Mental Health Board’s Early Childhood Education Fund.

Board Bill 7 was very oddly assigned to the Transportation and Commerce Committee.

The St. Louis City Board of Education unanimously opposed the measure, saying the bill “directs taxpayer dollars to non-public entities with no oversight or accountability measures in place.”

Debate was cut off an hour into the hearing and Board Bill 7 advanced no further.

The major proponent for that bill was WePower, which seemed to be complaining that their previous tax hike that they wrote and won was flawed, basically the same argument this time.

We’ll talk later about how irresponsible it is for anyone to propose a new sales tax in Missouri as MAGA General Assmbly and Governor pushes to eliminate income tax and replace with sales taxes.

Emily Hubbard’s letter on SLPS “board leadership”

St. Louis Board of Education, photos of members with St. Louis Public Schools logo, from SLPS website

I have added a graphic with link to Board of Education webpage but have not altered the letter in any way.

A letter to St. Louis:

With no joy and much trepidation, I must speak out about the state of the Board of Education.

I expressed into the public record when I ran for board president in April the notion that “board leadership” was a concept outside of our bylaws, which state that the board only has power when the full board is officially and legally meeting, etc., etc. I have expressed this concern internally all last school year. Two board members cannot legally act as if they are the board or they are speaking for the board. No board member should be engaged in the work of administration, whether directly or indirectly. After at least a full school year of our current illegitimate structure of “board leadership,” our board is not aligned, does not have a shared moral objective, and the district is embarrassed and in disarray with an unknown (to me at least) number of district leadership changes in the three weeks leading up to the start of school on August 19.

For the sake of the children of this city, I am calling on President Antionette “Toni” Cousins and Vice President Matt Davis to resign not just their executive positions but their seats on the board. Their illegitimate, reactionary, over-reaching “leadership” of the district must end. The lies and coercion must end. What is wrong and is hidden must be exposed and made right.

I ran for school board with “leadership that empowers” as one of my key goals, and that has not changed. So even though this is deeply uncomfortable and scary and unpleasant, and I am concerned about potential retaliation beyond the verbal upbraiding and loss of committee seats I have already experienced, my conscience will no longer allow me to keep silent. When “unity” is employed to hide dysfunction, it becomes coercion

For a long time any criticism of Dr. Scarlett was squashed as well as framed as criticism of the board president, which was also unacceptable. Speaking specifically about the hiring of all her friends into district positions, we all had brief access to resumes before we voted to approve the hires brought before us, not to mention I believe they all had linkedin pages. If I recall correctly,, the votes were all unanimous. So we the board are responsible for those hires. We had the information to ask questions, to act, and chose not to pursue vigorous action. Given the previously mentioned reactions to questions and criticisms as well as the “board leadership” structure, I hope I may be forgiven for assuming that serious interrogation of those hires as they were presented to us would have negative consequences without a change in the results.

It is the gift and burden of the board to be ultimately responsible for the work of the district. As I strive to bear that responsibility, I must reckon with the ways in which I have failed to act in the most effective ways to achieve the best results for our children and our employees. I can no longer be silent. Today, that responsibility includes demanding the resignation of “board
leadership” as well asking the children of this city, their parents, and the taxpayers for forgiveness for my and our collective failures to do our best for the district. I promise I’ve tried, but I should’ve been able to do more.

But as I’ve called on Ms. Cousins and Mr. Davis to resign, and repented of my own failures, I must also call on all of us—the adults in this city—to repent. We have allowed this misappropriation of power to continue at the expense of our children and the employees who serve them. Every individual and entity in this city that has allowed Ms. Cousins and Mr. Davis to act outside of the authority given them by our own board bylaws should reckon with what their passivity has cost our city’s children. “Nobody wants to lose local control” necessitates everyone locally using what power and responsibility they have to hold us accountable, not to be silent in the face of dysfunction.

If they choose to remain on the board, I ask that everyone who interacts with them in the context of “board leadership” require them to point to a board discussion, board vote, or board policy that legitimates their authority to act or speak.

Thanks so much for your time. I’m sorry it took me so long to be brave.

Emily Hubbard

School Board Candidate Profiles Updated

Benjamin Banneker Elementary, a school for Black children in circa 1900 segregated St. Louis City. Banneker was an African American astronomer, mathematician, and architect, Photo located at Missouri History Museum.

Two St. Louis City Pubic School Board candidate profiles have been updated with 8 Days Out campaign finance report information. Tracy Hykes and Sadie Weiss submitted their required information to Missouri Ethics Commission. You can find their information here.

Hykes and Weiss have been endorsed by American Federal of Teachers Local 420.

Candidate Jaile’Shawn Quinones did not file a committee with MEC.

Next Tuesday, City voters will elect two new School Board Members.  No excuse Absentee Voting (what Missouri calls early voting) is currently available at four locations.

School Board Candidate Profiles Updated

St. Louis City voters will elect two new School Board Members from three candidates on April 4th. No excuse Absentee Voting (what Missouri calls early voting) begins Tuesday, April 21st at four locations. No incumbent School Board Members are on the ballot.

School Board Candidate Profiles are posted here. Not much to see.

One candidate doesn’t have a candidate committee filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Only one candidate has a website. I don’t count Facebook. Don’t use it and will not encourage people to use it.

One candidate lives in a tax abated development. Tax abated means public school kids helped pay for it.

Future campaign finance reports due/may be due:

8 Day Before General Election Report. Close: 3/23/2023. Due: 3/27/2023. Required if Committee made Expenditures (paid or incurred) or made Contributions for the election. Noon Friday, Missouri Ethics Commission will conduct a webinar on how to complete this report.

Mandatory April Quarterly Report. Close: 3/31/2023. Due: 4/17/2023.

30 Day After Election Report. Close: 4/29/2023. Due: 5/4/2023. Required if Committee made Expenditures (paid or incurred) or made Contributions for the election. If this report is required, it must be filed prior to taking office. If debt exceeds $1,000, Committee may not file Limited Activity for this report.

Additional Campaign Finance Reporting

  • 48 Hour Report of Contribution over $5,000: Due within 48 Hours after receipt.
  • 24 Hour Notice of Late Contribution Over $250 Received Less Than 12 Days Before Election: Due within 24 Hours after receipt.
  • 24 Hour Late Expenditure Report by Continuing Committees (PACs including ward committees): Due within 24 Hours after paid or incurred.

2023 School Board Candidate Profiles

St. Louis City School Board candidates needed their own page in addition to inclusion in New Ward Profiles.

You can now find Profiles for the three School Board candidates here.

The School Board is elected at-large in citywide elections, not by district/ward. The next School Board election is April 4th. In this election, the top two of three candidates will join the Board.

Information on the current School Board here.

School Board Candidates Added to New Ward Profiles

Kindergarten class at L’Ouverture School (Colored School No. 4), ca. 1895. Missouri Historical Society Collections.

April 4th is a Municipal General Election in the City of St. Louis. Voters will choose two new School Board members from three candidates. These candidates have been added to the New Ward Profiles under Other Candidates.

New 7th Ward: Sadie Weiss

New 10th Ward: Tracy Hykes

New 13th Ward: Jaile’Shawn Quinones

Links to Current School Board Members profiles are here.

April 4th, Voters will also elect a President of the Board of Alders and 14 Alders in redistricted wards, the first ward reduction election.

March 8th is the last day to register for April 4th General Election.

March 21st is the first day for no excuse needed absentee voting.

More information on the April 4th General Election and absentee voting at the Board of Election.

School Board Candidates Forums

6:30 pm Sept 21st New 4th Ward Democrats Meeting at SEIU Local 1 Hall 2725 Clifton. Open to public. Agenda includes St. Louis City School Board Candidates and presentation by Andrew Arkills on the impact of TIFs on public school finances.

6:30 pm Oct 6th School Board Candidate Forum at Vashon High School Auditorium, 3035 Cass. Sponsored by St Louis Public Schools Foundation, SLPS Parent Action Council, League of Women Voters

More Information on School Board Candidates

School Privatization at Neighborhood Level

How does your neighborhood association support the public schools within or near its boundaries? In Lafayette Square and Soulard, they don’t. They do, however, support private charter schools*.

This weekend was Lafayette Square Neighborhood Association’s Patriot Day Run. It was a fundraiser for LSNA, BackStoppers®, and Charter Athletic League, founded at Lafayette Preparatory Academy.

Lafayette Prep is a private charter school located in Lafayette Square. The school is considered an important neighborhood asset and is on the agenda for monthly LSNA general membership meetings.

According to LSNA Board Meeting Minutes, fundraising for Charter Athletic League is not the first time LSNA financially supported private schools. In March 2021, they donated $250 to Lift for Life Academy fourteen blocks away in Soulard/Kosciusko neighborhoods. In March 2022, Lift for Life asked for $1,000. The Board approved $333 and then asked members at the next general membership meeting to donate and reach the $1000 goal.

I looked at LSNA Board and General Membership Minutes for 2021-2022 and found no mention of their closest public schools: Peabody School (it is mentioned on their website’s resources for residents page), seven blocks east, and Sigel School, seven blocks south.

Humboldt School, St. Louis, 19th Century
Humboldt Public School, St. Louis, 19th Century

Soulard has a longstanding relationship with the neighborhood’s two private charter schools- Lift for Life Academy and Soulard School. Some examples. In February 2022, the SRG Board voted to buy a table ($250) for the Soulard School Trivia Night. In May, there was a pitch for the fundraiser at the SRG general membership meeting. Lux Living SoHo Apartments says it will donate $100,000 to Soulard School. Mardi Gras Foundation awarded a grant to Soulard School for landscaping.

There is no relationship between the neighborhood and Humboldt School, Soulard’s remaining public school. aside from Trinity Lutheran, which adopted the school for school supplies, special events, volunteers. Humboldt is five blocks from Soulard School and eleven blocks from Lift for Life.

*Charter schools are private schools funded with public tax dollars taken from public schools.