Image Kenny Eliason
Poor conditions on the campus of an area charter elementary school have caused teachers there to exit the facility in frustration.
The walkout took place Friday of last week; a group of the academy’s educators walked out on a professional development meeting, to call for better conditions and support for the 300 young people they serve.
On Friday, a group of educators walked out of a professional development meeting at KIPP Wonder Academy to call for better conditions and support for the 300 young people they serve.
Educator Marquida Davis and her fellow faculty members walked out with protest signs in hand; they’d captured the terrible conditions on video inside the building. The list includes mice, roaches, and leaks and mold in the ceiling.
“We have dealt with issues that make us feel unappreciated,” said Davis, “and we have been putting up with unhealthy conditions due to an anticipated move”.
Davis, who has taught at the school for three years, stated that the staff has repeatedly voiced the need to address these issues to their bosses. “The response is that they’ll handle it, but then they come back with unsolved issues,” she said.
“When I first started it was great,” said Melanie McGilbbury, an academy kindergarten teacher and parent. “We didn’t have any of the mice, any of the heating or cooling issues. It was up to par. Because we had just got in here, so you know you had to get everything up to code.”
She pointed out that the environment makes the experience when it comes to schooling. “I don’t want them to have to come to school and see the same things that they might see at home.”
KIPP Wonder Academy has been open for only four short years.
A KIPP spokesperson made the following statement last Friday:
“The top priority of KIPP St. Louis Public Schools is the health and safety of our students, families, and staff. To that end, our building passed its inspection before school started, and we schedule routine pest control visits multiple times a month.
Our facilities team also had building repairs and an extra pest control visit pre-scheduled to take place at the school on Monday. We are taking additional steps to address issues raised by our dedicated colleagues at KIPP Wonder Academy.
Given the new concerns raised by staff, we have made the difficult decision to transition to a virtual schedule next Monday-Wednesday at KIPP Wonder Academy to complete another building inspection and implement necessary repairs and pest control measures to ensure the best possible learning environment.
These solutions and maintenance timelines will be communicated to families and staff of KIPP Wonder Academy this evening.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff in our schools and will maintain an open and ongoing dialogue with the school community.”
KIPP Wonder Academy is one of six KIPP charter schools operating throughout St. Louis.
