"I just have to say I'm pretty disappointed."
That's St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education member Donna Jones, reacting to union allegations that district administrators aren't listening to fears that merged middle and high school student bodies are rivals and some of the schools have a history of violence.
"I mean it's different. She's from Seattle, but it's different here in St. Louis," Jones says. "It's not the same. Children are not the same. And I'm very worried...no, no I'm very worried about mixing kids together."
Superintendent Millicent Borishade explains that she felt disrespected and that's why she didn't attend a meeting this week between administrators and the union to try and come up with an alternative plan.
"It becomes extremely difficult to hear people when the are cursing at you. It becomes extremely difficult when people are yelling at you," Borishade says.
But the union says it was actually the administration holding what it called a "one-way conversation."
Board president Karen Collins-Adams is asking the administration and union to work together and come up with a new plan for kids from tornado-impacted schools by Friday because preps for the new year have to start soon.
You can rewind KMOX on the free Audacy app to 8am Thursday to hear Michael Calhoun's report.
