>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

MANY HOT TOPICS TO DISCUSS DURING THIS HALF HOUR AND THEN ON OUR SECOND HALF HOUR, MARGIE VANDEVEN WHO HEADS UP EDUCATION FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI, THAT'S ON NEXT UP.

WE HOPE YOU JOIN US FOR THAT AS WELL.

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS STARTING WITH THE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR THE BIG 550 KTRS, WENDY WIESE.

ALONG WITH MR. BILL McCLELLAN FROM YOUR ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

ALSO FROM THE BIG 550 AND FROM RAWSTORY.COM AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, MR. RAY HARTMANN.

AND THERE HE IS, ALVIN REID WHO JOINS US COURTESY OF THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, 590 AM, 97.1 FM AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, RAY.

WE'VE NEVER SEEING QUITE LIKE THIS.

500 MILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING TO THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AS A RESULT OF RECENT FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND NOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW SHOULD HALF A BILLION DOLLARS THAT NOBODY HAD SPENT ON SIX WEEKS AGO BE SPENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR OUR VIEWERS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL FOR EITHER TISHAURA JONES OR KARA SPENCER, THE NEXT MAYOR, YOU TALK ABOUT COMING IN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A WIN AT YOUR BACK.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF MONEY AND I THINK EITHER A MAYOR JONES OR MAYOR SPENCER WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT GOING FORWARD AND IT'S REALLY WHAT THEY THINK MORE THAN WHAT I THINK.

ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SEE IS SOME TALK ABOUT, IN THE AREA OF CRIME, MAYBE PUTTING MORE MONEY IN SOME REC CENTERS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO BE ACTIVE BECAUSE I THINK WE GOT TO GET TO THE CAUSE OF CRIME.

>> I'M WITH YOU, RAY.

I'LL SAY THIS ALSO.

HOW ABOUT WE DIRECT A LOT OF THAT MONEY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

BODY CAMS, MILLION DOLLARS WE DIDN'T HAVE.

OKAY?

HOW ABOUT WE BUILD AND OPERATE A STATE-OF-THE-ART POLICE HEADQUARTERS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ST. LOUIS?

AND WITHIN THAT CAMPUS, WE HAVE A PICNIC GROUND, WE HAVE PLACES THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO COME AND BE SAFE AND LOOK AT THE GEESE AND DO THIS AND DO THAT.

THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SAFE BECAUSE YOU ARE ON POLICE GROUND.

HOW ABOUT WE DO THAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT -- >> I THINK THAT'S -- I THINK ALL OF THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS, ALVIN.

I WAS JUST SURPRISED BY THE FACT THAT THE DISTRIBUTION HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF HOUSING AND THE POVERTY RATE THAN IT DID POPULATION.

THAT SEEMS TO ME -- I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE SANTA CLAUS'S WISH LIST, AND CARA SPENCER HERSELF SAID THAT THIS IS A ONCE IN A CENTURY OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK -- AND I DO HOPE THEY WILL THINK OUT OF THE BOX IN THOSE WAYS THAT ALVIN MENTIONED ABOUT STRENGTHENING THE CORE OF NORTH ST. LOUIS, PROVIDING MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE BEAT.

BUT I DO -- I JUST FIND IT ODD THAT THAT MUCH MONEY IS COMING IN TO A METROPOLITAN AREA WITH LESS THAN 300,000 PEOPLE.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY ELLIOT DAVIS SHOULD GET READY BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE POLITICALLY CONNECTED, THOSE WHO -- YOU KNOW, WHO KNOW THEIR WAY AROUND CITY HALL ARE GOING TO BE LINING UP AT THE TROUGH TO GET THEIR PART OF THE POT.

>> I FEAR THAT, CHARLIE, U TRUTHLY DO -- I TRUTHFULLY DO AGREE WITH THAT, BUT -- >> I AGREE WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE GEESE AND I LOVE THE REC CENTERS, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS DROPPED BEHIND THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE OF VIRTUAL LEARNING, SO I WOULD SAY TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY AND HAVE ROBUST SUMMER SCHOOL SESSIONS FOR THE KIDDOS SO THEY CAN CATCH UP ON MATH, COLLEGE READINESS, READING AND ANYTHING ELSE.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AT HOW QUICKLY $500 MILLION DISSIPATES.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS -- WE'RE DID GO GOING TO TRANSFORM EVERYTHING.

I THINK WE'LL BE VERY FORTUNATE IN A FEW -- IF WE SEE A FEW IMPROVEMENTS.

>> BILL, WHILE I HAVE YOU, LET ME ASK -- >> CHARLIE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS PRIORITIZED THIS BASED ON POVERTY, NOT POPULATION, JUST THE SAME WAY THAT PRIORITIZING ON STATES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC WHICH ARE DENSER STATES AND THE ARGUMENT IS, OH GEE, THEY'RE BLUE STATES.

I THINK YOU NEED TO TARGET THIS KIND OF MONEY AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURT THE MOST.

>> DEFINITELY.

I'LL BUY THAT.

BILL, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A PLAN BY ATTORNEY BEVIS SCHOCK, AN ACCOMPLISHED LAWYER WHO IS THINKING ABOUT FILING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE THAT IF YOU LIVE OR WORK INSIDE THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND YOU PAY THAT ONE PERCENT EARNINGS TAX.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, LIKE IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS RAMS, REMEMBER?

WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR EARNINGS TAX AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY ONLY EARNINGS TAX FOR EIGHT OUT OF 240 DAYS A YEAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME OUTSIDE THE CITY.

THEN THERE WAS TOM JACOBSON FROM MERCANTILE BANK BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THE EARNINGS TAX AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE HE WASN'T WORKING IN THE CITY.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY THE LAST YEAR OR SO WHO ARE ENTITLED TO A REFUND FROM GREGORY F.X.

DALEY?

>> WELL, I REMEMBER GOING TO THE MERCANTILE OFFICE AND I WROTE ABOUT IT, AND I THINK THIS IS A MISTAKE WHAT BEVIS SCHOCK IS DOING.

I LIKE BEVIS AND I WAS ALL RIGHT WHEN HE WAS FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST SAM PAGE THAT THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS WERE TOO STRICT.

I THOUGHT HE WAS WRONG, BUT HE HAD A CLIENT.

BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO REALLY HURT THE CITY.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CITY IS GOING TO GET $500 MILLION, BUT THIS -- THERE'S NO REAL REASON TO TRY TO BEAT THE CITY OUT OF A LITTLE MONEY.

I MEAN, THE EARNINGS TAX, I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED.

I CAN LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND SEE THE CITY, BUT I'M NOT IN IT, SO THEORETICALLY, I COULD GET MY ONE PERCENT BACK, BUT I -- I DON'T THINK THAT'S A WORTHWHILE THING TO DO.

I WISH SCHOCK WAS NOT DOING IT.

>> BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE, YOU KNOW, IF THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PITCHING AT SHEA, I'M BETTING IF THEY'VE GOT SHARP CPAs, THAT PITCHER IS NOT PAYING THAT ONE PERCENT EARNINGS TAX IN THE CITY WHEN HE IS PERFORMING IN NEW YORK OR PITTSBURGH OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> I KNOW, I KNOW.

>> WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE NAME OF THE CITY ON THEIR JERSEYS, SO I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IS FINDING ITS WAY INTO CITY COFFERS.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, WHEREVER HIS -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT JACOBSON, BUT IF YOU WORK FOR A CITY ENTITY, YOUR CHECK IS COMING FROM PROBABLY WITHIN THAT CITY ENTITY.

IF THE BUSINESS TECHNICALLY IS IN THE CITY, MY GUESS IS PROBABLY THE BANK IS, TOO, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO SAY, WELL, YOU STILL EARNED THAT ONE PERCENT.

AND THEN AS FAR AS BEVIS IS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ON 60 MINUTES AND THE McCLOSKEYS ON EVERY CRAZY RIGHT-WING NETWORK THAT THERE IS, IT'S JUST -- I DON'T PUT ANYTHING PAST ANYBODY ANYMORE.

ST. LOUIS IS JUST LIKE -- >> IT'S THE RULE OF LAW.

IF IT'S THE LAW AND HE'S AN ATTORNEY, THEN HE'S JUST -- >> YOU'D THINK WE'D BE ROOTING FOR ST. LOUIS.

>> INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TRASH IT.

>> WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO BEAT THAT CITY DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE?

>> WE'RE ALREADY DOWN.

>> CHARLIE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

DO YOU THINK BEVIS IS DOING THIS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ST. LOUIS OR THE BETTERMENT OF HIMSELF?

>> I THINK HE'S INTERESTED IN THE RULE OF LAW -- >> I THINK HE'S INTERESTED IN HIMSELF.

I THINK THIS IS A HIMSELF THING.

>> I DON'T THINK.

I KNOW BEVIS PRETTY WELL.

HE'S A GUY WHO FOLLOWS THE RULES AND I THINK THE RULES OR HIS SIDE.

>> OKAY, BUT I THINK -- >> HEADLINES, HEADLINES.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, WENDY WIESE, ALVIN JUST MENTIONED KIM GARDNER, THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY PROFILED ON 60 MINUTES THIS PAST WEEK BY BILL WHITAKER.

A 13-MINUTE SEGMENT.

YOUR REVIEW, WENDY WIESE.

>> IT WAS -- IT WAS SOME VERY ONE-SIDED REPORTING IN MY OPINION.

I THINK THAT KIM GARDNER'S HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

I JUST THINK THAT AS A PROSECUTOR, SHE'S MISCAST BECAUSE SHE TALKED ABOUT THOSE OF US -- AND THAT'S A QUOTE.

THOSE OF US IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE WRONG NOT TO HEAR THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING JUSTICE.

AND I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I THINK OF HER AS THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

SHE IS WANTING TO SOCIALLY -- THERE'S SOCIALLY AND CULTURAL ENGINEERING GOING ON, I THINK N HER MIND BECAUSE SHE'S TRYING TO RIGHT 400 YEARS' WORTH OF WRONGS, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS FOR.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE VICTIMIZATION OF KIM GARDNER, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ABOUT A SOARING HOMICIDE RATE, THE GROTESQUE PHRASE PEDIATRIC HOMICIDE.

IT WAS COMPLETELY ONE-SIDED.

WHEN HE SAID THAT IN ST. LOUIS, THERE IS A GREAT DIVIDE BETWEEN THE AFFLUENT AND THE POOR, AND I JUST -- I THOUGHT, WHAT CITY IN THE WORLD DOESN'T HAVE A DIVIDE BETWEEN THE AFFLUENT AND THE POOR?

I JUST -- HE'S A FINE REPORTER.

THIS DIDN'T LIVE UP TO HIS REPUTATION.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS -- I THINK IT'S DISQUIETING WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING ON NATIONAL NEWS ABOUT ST. LOUIS AS I LOOK AT IT AND GO THAT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY IT IS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JEFF ROORDA WAS A BIG PART OF THE SHOW AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM BETWEEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE BEFORE JEFF ROORDA, BUT HE MADE IT WORSE, AND WE HAD CRIME IN THE STREETS BEFORE KIM GARDNER BECAME CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

I THINK SHE'S MADE THAT WORSE.

AND NOBODY APPOINTED THESE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THE CITIZENS ELECTED KIM GARDNER AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION HIRED ROORDA, AND IT'S AN INTERESTING STORY AND I THINK THAT THEY JUST TRIED TO PUT ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIM GARDNER IS -- IS THE SHERIFF WHO'S RUN INTO THE CITY AND THE CORRUPT SYSTEM AND EVERYBODY IS AGAINST HER AND IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT, I THINK.

>> WELL, RAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE KIM GARDNER PIECE ON 60 MINUTES, AND I KNOW YOU HAD TO TAKE A SMOKE BREAK THERE.

WELCOME BACK.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY WITH ZOOM.

I WAS JUST FINE AND ALL FOUR OF YOU WERE FROZEN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.

>> WELL, YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PIECE AND SHE ACQUITTED HERSELF WELL, CORRECT?

>> IT'S CALLED THE INTERNET CRASHING.

THANK YOU, SPECTRUM.

NO, I LIKED THE PIECE AND I THOUGHT -- I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY AGREES.

I PERSONALLY THOUGHT BILL WHITAKER DID A VERY GOOD JOB WITH IT.

ANY CITY IS GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS WHEN 60 MINUTES COMES IN AND DOES A PIECE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT HE WAS PARTIAL TO KIM GARDNER, BUT I THOUGHT HE CRUSHED JEFF ROORDA.

I THOUGHT SERGEANT ROBERT OGLESBY CRUSHED JEFF ROORDA AND MEGAN GREEN CRUSHED HIM.

WHEN JEFF ROORDA IS ON AND HE'S TRYING TO DEFEND THE RACIST STUFF FOR THE COPS AND WHITAKER SAYS WHAT ABOUT THE PUNISHER?

AND I THINK ROORDA BROUGHT UP, IT'S JUST A PUNISHER MAGAZINE AND WHITAKER SAYS, I WANT THAT A WHITE SUPREMACIST ANSWER?

WELL, THAT IS NOT -- >> IT MADE KIM GARDNER LOOK BETTER AND I JUST THOUGHT -- >> I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOOD.

>> BUT THERE WERE -- WAS THIS ONE HARDBALL QUESTION, RAY, THAT -- >> I THINK SHE WAS -- >> OKAY.

>> NO, I THINK IT WAS DEFINITELY POSITIVE FOR HER AND SHE HANDLED IT WELL.

>> OF COURSE, SHE DID.

HOW DO YOU NOT HANDLE IT WELL WHEN IT'S A PIECE IN YOUR FAVOR?

>> WELL, WE FORGET -- >> HERE'S WHAT 60 MINUTES DID.

THEY MADE IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS A WHITE POLICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, WHICH TO SOME EXTENT IS TRUE, BUT SHE ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE DRUCKER PUBLIC SAFETY WHO'S AFRICAN AMERICAN, THE POLICE CHIEF WHO'S AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HEATHER TAYLOR FROM THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE WAS ON THIS PROGRAM AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE WALK UP SOUL IT WILL HOMICIDE CASES TO KIM GARDNER'S OFFICE WITH WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE AND THEY WERE REJECTED.

>> AND YOU COULD HAVE ASKED HER ABOUT THAT, CHARLIE, BUT HERE'S MY THING WITH THE WHOLE THING.

JEFF ROORDA CAME OFF LOOKING LIKE -- WHATEVER, AND HERE'S KIM GARDNER LOOKING LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

THE MAJORITY OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT WORK FOR THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BLACK PEOPLE.

THE MAJORITY OF BLACK CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS OR THE ST. LOUIS REGION DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

ST. LOUIS IS WRAPPED UP IN OUR OWN LITTLE TIDY BALL OF HATE AND TO TAKE THAT NATIONALLY SERVES NO ONE, NOTHING GOOD!

ZERO GOOD!

>> BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, ALVIN -- >> I DON'T GUEET IT IT.

>> ONLY SERVES THE NASHVILLES AND THE INDIANAPOLISES -- >> THANK YOU.

OMAHA.

>> OMAHAS THAT WE ARE COMPLETING WITH.

>> I DISAGREE COMPLETELY.

I THINK -- FIRST OF ALL, KEEP IN MIND, THERE IS 13 MINUTES.

HE'S NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH KIM GARDNER'S LIFE STORY OR EVERY ISSUE WE HAVE IN -- >> THAT'S NO EXCUSE, RAY.

THAT'S NO EXCUSE.

>> THE POLICE REFUTED HER CLAIM THAT SHE WAS STOPPED BY POLICE AND HELD FOR 15 MINUTES.

THEY SAID THAT THEY RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE WORLD OF RESPECT FOR THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, THEY SAID THAT THAT WASN'T TRUE.

NOT ONE OF THESE -- THIS IS AN EASY GOOGLE SEARCH, RAY.

NOT ONE OF THESE ISSUES WAS RAISED BY WHITAKER.

>> I THINK HE HAD A -- HE STARTED OFF BY COUCHING IT IN TERMS OF THE FLOYD CRIME AND MURDER, AND WAS TALKING ABOUT HER IN THE CONTEXT OF BEING A REFORM PROSECUTOR.

NOW, THAT ISN'T THE ONLY THING YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WITH REGARD TO HER, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT WITH REGARD TO HER AND I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY ACCURATE ON THAT.

I KNOW WE DISAGREE ON THE SLOW, BUT IF YOU BELIEVE SHE WAS DOING ON THE RIGHT THING WITH THE McCLOSKEYS AND SHE IS -- >> BY THE WAY, WELCOME BACK.

WOULD IT HAVE HURT BILL WHITAKER TO SAY THAT SHE HAD 110% TURNOVER IN THE OFFICE -- >> HE BLAME IT ON HER REFORM.

>> THAT MAY BE TRUE.

>> WHAT ABOUT HER LEAD INVESTIGATOR IS UP ON PERJURY CHARGES AND SHE WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS PERJURING HIMSELF.

>> YOU THINK IN 13 MINUTES, HE SHOULD COVER THE WHOLE WATERFRONT -- >> I DID IT IN 13 SECONDS.

>> EVERYTHING LOCALLY WANTS TO FORGET, KIM GARDNER, YOU CAN ARGUE ALL YOU WANT ABOUT HER, SHE JUST WON RE-ELECTION AGAINST A QUALIFIED OPPONENT WHO HAPPENED TO BE WHITE BY A LANDSLIDE MARGIN.

SHE STILL WON.

>> SO DID JOSH HAWLEY.

>> WAIT, WAIT.

>> JOSH HAWLEY WON.

SO -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> JOSH HAWLEY GETS CARTE BLANCHE BECAUSE HE WON BY A LARGE PLIR GIN?

>> SHE HAS A MANDATE TO BE A REFORM PROSECUTOR.

>> WELL, JOSH HAWLEY CAN SAY HE HAS A MANDATE TO DEMONSTRATE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THAT'S ALL, CONVICT A FEW MURDERERS, DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> HEY, BY THE WAY, THERE'S A MAJOR TRIAL GOING ON, SPEAKING OF POLICE OFFICERS, THREE ST. LOUIS CITY POLICE OFFICERS ON TRIAL AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE ACCUSED OF BEATING UP LUTHER HALL.

ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER, IN THE COURT OF JUDGE KATHERINE PERRY IN FEDERAL COURT IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, TURNS OUT, ALREADY, THE -- TURNS OUT, ALVIN REID, THE JURY IS ALL WHITE AND I'M THINKING IF THESE OFFICERS ARE NOT CONVICTED, THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE DENOUNCED, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> QUITE FRANKLY, THRANG GOODNESS THERE ARE WHITE POLICE OFFICER THAT WILL TESTIFY AGAINST THOSE ON TRIAL AND THEY'VE ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY, SO THERE JURY, WHOEVER THEY ARE -- AND FOR YOU TO SAY THAT THERE ARE 12 PEOPLE THAT CANNOT COME TO ANY KIND OF FAIR CONCLUSION BECAUSE THEY'RE WHITE, WHITE POLICE OFFICERS, TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, THEY COULD BE LEFTER THAN LEFT FOR ALL I KNOW.

THEY COULD HATE THE POLICE FOR ALL WE KNOW.

THAT BEING SAID, HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT.

I TRULY, I REALLY DON'T.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FEDERAL TRIAL AND SO THE FEDERAL JURIES TEND TO BE WHITER BECAUSE IT GOES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, OF COURSE, BUT I'M WITH YOU.

I THINK IT'S REALLY A BAD LOOK TO HAVE AN ALL WHITE JURY.

>> DIDN'T THE ATTORNEYS FOR KORTE, BOONE, AND WHO WAS THE THIRD ONE?

MYERS?

ANYWAY, DIDN'T THEY ALSO TRY TO DISMISS A FEW OF THE BLACK ALTERNATE JURORS?

I MEAN, THIS IS -- THE OPTICS ON THIS KIND OF THING ARE TERRIBLE.

>> WELL, THE ISSUE ISN'T WITH THE DEFENSE.

THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

I THINK THIS IS A -- I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD, BUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, AND BY THAT I MEAN NOBODY IS SPECIFICALLY AT FAULT HERE.

YOU CAN'T BLAME THE DEFENSE COUNSEL, YOU CAN'T BLAME THE PROSECUTORS WHO I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE VERY COMPETENT.

CAN'T REALLY BLAME THE JUDGE, BUT WHEN YOU SHOW SOMEONE A TRIAL IN WHICH, LET'S SAY THE BLACK OFFICER'S ON TRIAL AND YOU HAVE AN ALL BLACK JURY, THEN I'LL BELIEVE THERE'S NO SYSTEMIC RACISM.

CAN YOU IMAGINE AN ALL BLACK JURY IN OUR SOCIETY?

BILL'S RIGHT, IT DRAWS FROM A LARGER DISTRICT, SO IT'S NOT THAT, BUT THE POINT IS, IT IS SYSTEMIC.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT NOBODY HAS TO DO ANYTHING PARTICULARLY RACIST, YET YOU GET A TERRIBLE RESULT WHERE IN A RACIALLY CHARGED TRIAL, YUOU'VE GOT AN ALL WHITE JURY.

AVEN I AGREE WITH ALVIN, IT DOESN'T IMPUGN THEM, BUT IT'S CRAZY.

>> THIS IS GETTING INTO DEFINITIONS, RAY.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT SYSTEMIC RACISM, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS, AND WITH THIS, CALLING IT SYSTEMIC RACISM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO CHANGE IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK SOMETHING, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT'S VERY -- LIKE I SAY -- >> YOU HAVE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC THAN SOMETHING.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WHEN WE PRETEND LIKE WE'RE COLOR BLIND, THE FACT IS THERE'S JUST NEVER BEEN A CASE WHERE AN ALL BLACK JURY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A CASE LIKE THERE.

IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE -- >> A JURY OF YOUR PEERS.

I DON'T KNOW.

COT PROSECUTORS JUST HELD OUT AND SAY, LISTEN, I'M NOT SITTING AN ALL WHITE PANEL, SO WE'LL DO JURY SELECTION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS IF WE HAVE TWO AND WE'LL JUST DO JURY SELECTION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD THAT ABILITY.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY DO.

>> I THINK RAY IS RIGHT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM SAYS THAT THE DEFENDANT IS SUPPOSED TO BE JUDGED BY HIS PEERS, NOT THE VICTIM.

IT DOESN'T SAY THAT THE VICTIM HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE HIS CASE IN COURT DETERMINED BY HIS PEERS.

IT'S THE DEFENDANT, SO THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

IT'S THE SYSTEM.

RAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE MISSOURI TOURISM, WHICH HAS A NEW AD CAMPAIGN AND AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS IS HEADING IT UP, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME TO ST. LOUIS, BUT IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE NAACP IS IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR OF CAUTIONING AFRICAN AMERICANS INTERNATIONALLY TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT VISITING MISSOURI.

I HAPPEN TO THINK, HEY, LET'S BRING EVERYBODY TO MISSOURI AND FILL OUR HOTELS BECAUSE THAT BELEAGUERED INDUSTRY NEEDS IT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WHO ARE BROWN AND BLACK AND WHITE AND YELLOW AND WHATEVER COLOR WHO NEED THAT GREEN.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> WELL, THE STATE PRESIDENT OF THE MISSOURI NAACP WAS ON MY SHOW A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO AND HE MADE A GREAT POINT, WHICH IS HE DOESN'T TAKE ISSUE WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS WHO GOT HIRED, BUT IT'S A STRANGE -- IT'S JUST KIND OF ALMOST A SURREAL MESSAGE FOR MISSOURI TO SEND.

I MEAN, THIS IS LITERALLY JUST WEEKS -- REALLY AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMIDT FOLLOWING IN JOSH HAWLEY'S FOOTSTEPS DECIDED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO PROSECUTOR WITH REGARD TO A MAN WHO DIED APPARENTLY -- >> LET'S STAY ON TOPIC HERE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

>> THAT IS THE TOPIC.

HE CAME HERE FROM TENNESSEE AND ENDED UP DEAD IF A PRISON IN -- >> SO PEOPLE SHOULDN'T VISIT THE SCOTT JOPLIN LOUSE OR -- >> IF YOU HAVE ANY SOCIAL ILLS, RAY, ANY SOCIAL ILLS AS THIS COUNTRY HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SOCIAL ILLS, RIGHT?

>> I DIDN'T SAY FLORIDA.

>> SO I MEAN -- >> I JUST SAID I THINK IT'S A BIZARRE CHOICE.

I THINK BRIAN HALL SAYING THIS IS GREAT, WE COULD HAVE DONE A CAMPAIGN RIGHT AFTER FERGUSON.

>> DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMNED IF YOU DON'T.

>> NO, WE'RE GOING TO EXCUSE FOR DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO TRY TO GET THESE POLICE OFFICERS OFF IN THIS ONE CASE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SAY OH, NO, THE MISSOURI TOURISM BOARD SHOULDN'T DO WHAT THEY CAN TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS SORRY STATE RIGHT NOW.

>> NOBODY SAID THAT.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL -- >> BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th, THEN CHADWICK BOSEMAN SHOULDN'T RECEIVE A POSTHUMOUS IS ON SCORE NOMINATION?

IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

>> I THINK IT'S A WEIRD CHOICE.

THAT'S ALL.

I AGREE, I UNDERSTAND HOW THE NAACP FEELS.

>> BUT WHAT'S WEIRD AND STRANGE ABOUT THEM HIRING A BLACK ACTRESS?

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONING DOESN'T IT?

>> WHO CARES?

BECAUSE BASICALLY, HATTIE McDANIELS, THEY ASKED HER WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS PLAYING MAIDS AND MA'AM PLIS?

AND SHE SAID BECAUSE I'D RATHER PLAY ONE THAN BE ONE.

>> NOBODY IS ARGUING THAT, RAY, BUT STILL, YOU CAN'T BE DAMNED IN YOU DON'T AND DASMED IF YOU DON'T AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT TOURISM.

>> HE THOUGHT IT WAS A WEIRD CHOICE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEIRD CHOICE.

I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULDN'T BE DIVERSITY IN THE COMMERCIALS, BUT -- >> THE NAACP HAS BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN A NONSENSE COMMERCIAL AND A BUNCH OF JUST -- LOOK -- >> HEY, I THINK THAT MR. CHAPEL WAS UPSET BECAUSE THEY TURNED HIS MICROPHONE OFF IN JEFF CITY AND I'M GOING TO TURN YOURS OFF FOR A SECOND.

THAT WOULD BE MARCUS ROBINSON, TWO MINUTES TO GO, IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF NORMANDY, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE HAYS PhD YET.

IT'S HAS TWO MASTER'S DEGREES, AND WORKING ON HIS PhD FROM COLUMBIA, HOPES TO GET IT BY MAY, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY HE SHOULD GO, INCLUDING THE POST-DISPATCH EDITORIAL PAGE BECAUSE HE'S NOT DR. MARCUS ROBINSON YET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THESE ARE THE DAYS WHERE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN AT THIS MOMENT IS ACCREDITATION AND IT'S NOT REQUIRED THAT YOU HAVE YOUR DOCTORATE IF YOU ARE A SUPERINTENDENT.

THE JOB THAT HE TOOK IS -- IT PAYS $215,000 A YEAR AND I KNOW THAT HE'S EMINENTLY QUALIFIED, BUT THE NORMANDY CHILDREN DESERVE MORE THAN THIS KIND OF DISTRACTION IN MY OPINION.

AND YOU SHOULD HOLD THE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, THE ONES WHO HIRED HIM.

IT WAS A FOUR- TO SEVEN-YEAR PROGRAM AND IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS AND HE DOESN'T HAVE IT.

I THINK YOU WANT THOSE GUARANTEES UP FRONT, AS THEY SAY.

>> WE HAVE ONLY 30 SECONDS TO GO, BUT DON'T FORGET, THE APPLICATION GOES IN THE FALL OF 2022, SO HE HAS TIME TO GET THERE.

>> BUT HE SAID HE WOULD GET IT DONE AND HE DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

>> I SUSPECT HE STEPPED ON SOME TOES WHEN HE WAS REFORMING THAT DISTRICT AND NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING WE DON'T LIKE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT A DOCTOR.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PhDs WHO ARE GREAT EDUCATORS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

LET'S POSE THAT QUESTION TO MARGIE VANDEVEN.

SHE HEADS UP EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

SHE'S THE COMMISSIONER OF DESE, AND SHE'S OUR GUEST ON NEXT UP, JUST A FEW MOMENTS AWAY, SO DON'T UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TOUCH THAT DIAL.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE >> WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEXT UP.

THIS IS WHEN WE INTERVIEW A COMMUNITY LEADER TO GET HIS OR HER TAKE ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF THE DAY, AND WE WELCOME BACK DR. MARGIE VANDEVEN WHO LEDS UP THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

COMMISSIONER VANDEVEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> DOING GREAT.

THANKS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT.

I WAS READING THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW CITIES LIKE CHELSEA, MASS, FRAMINGHAM, MASS, THE CITY OF BOSTON ARE NOW PREPARING FOR SUMMER SCHOOL, ROBUST SUMMER SCHOOL, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE IN VIRTUAL LEARNING SLIPPED BEHIND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, THERE ARE ANY CONCERTED EFFORTS TO MAYBE TAKE SOME OF THAT FEDERAL MONEY AND HAVE SOME REAL SOLID SUMMER SCHOOL SO THE KIDS MIGHT CATCH UP ON READING OR CALCULUS OR COLLEGE READINESS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE'S -- ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF THOSE FUNDINGS IS TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAY TO BRING STUDENTS BACK TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN POLICE -- MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED.

I WANT TO ADD TO THAT, A NUMBER OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDED LEARNING TIME, EXTENDED TUTORING, EXTENDED SUMMER SCHOOL, ROBUST SUMMER SCHOOL AS YOU SAID, BUT I WAS ON A CALL YET WITH MY COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE NATION AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY EMPHASIZED WAS MUCH OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS MISSED THIS YEAR WAS OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOGETHER AND SOCIALIZE AND PLAY.

SO THEY'RE EVEN EMPHASIZING THINGS LIKE CAMPS AND BEING TOGETHER.

SO I'D BE REALLY INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND OTHERS OF WHAT DO THEY REALLY THINK OUR CHILDREN REALLY NEED THIS YEAR.

>> AND MAYBE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING?

>> LOTS OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND MUCH OF THAT COMES FROM ISOLATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE ACADEMIC PART IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT, BUT IT'S ALSO THAT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHY -- I DO NEED TO SAY, WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION THAN MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, WELL OVER 97% HAVE SOME FORM OF IN-PERSON LEARNING AND MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IN SESSION SINCE THE SUMMER.

SO VERY DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES ACROSS THE STATE AND THE THAITION.

>> LET'S GO AROUND THE HORN, STARTING WITH WENDY WIESE.

>> DR. VANDEVEN, FOR PARENT HOOP HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE 5 AND UNDER, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION FROM A FOUNDATIONAL POINT OF VIEW.

CAN YOU SAY ANYTHING TO PUT THOSE PARENTS AND THEIR MINDS AT REST A LITTLE BIT?

DO YOU HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR ACADEMIC FUTURES OR DO THE NUMBERS LOOK PRETTY GOOD AT THIS POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW FAR BEHIND WE ARE ACADEMICALLY OR IF WE ARE.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

I DO THINK WHERE WE'RE SEEING THAT, AS YOU POINTED OUT, IT IS IN OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING, THOUGH, THAT IS MOST PARENTS OUT THERE READING TO OR CHILDREN IS SO IMPORTANT -- TO YOUR CHILDREN IS SO IMPORTANT, SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SEEING THIS UNDER 5, BUT IN THE EARLIEST GRADES, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT IT SEEMS THEY'RE FALLING BEHIND MORE ARE ON SOME OF THOSE INTRICATE MATH SKILLS.

READING NOT AS MUCH.

WE ATTRIBUTE THAT MUCH TO THE INTERACTION THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN HAVE WITH OUR STUDENTS AT HOME, WITH OUR CHILDREN AT HOME, SO KEEP THAT PART UP.

KEEP THE DIALOGUE.

SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN IN A BIRTH THROUGH 5 JUST BY TALKING WITH OUR CHILDREN AND GETTING THEM TO TALK BACK.

SO IT'S -- THERE'S MUCH WE CAN DO STILL.

I WAS IN A SCHOOL MONDAY WHERE THEY HAD -- IT WAS THE FIRST DAY BACK AND THE KIDS WERE GREAT.

I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU, I WAS SO PLEASED TO SEE THESE KINDERGARTNERS.

I WAS WONDERING IF A KINDERGARTNER WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SIT AT A DESK ANYMORE OR WAIT -- WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LINE UP.

THEY DID REALLY WELL.

I WAS SO PLEASED TO SEE THAT.

TOO EARLY TO TELL.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED, BUT JUST CONTINUE TO EMBRACE WHERE THEY ARE AND GIVE THEM LOTS OF HOPE THAT WE'LL BE OKAY IN THE FUTURE.

>> BILL McCLELLAN.

>> DOCTOR, WE WERE TALKING ON THE EARLIER SHOW ABOUT THE HUGE WINDFALL THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO GET AS FAR AS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GET IT AND THE STATE'S GOING TO GET IT.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT MONEY?

ARE YOU WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY YOU CAN GET FOR EDUCATION?

>> YEAH, I MEAN EDUCATION IS GETTING FUNDING AS WELL FROM THE -- QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THAT WILL GO, 90% OF THAT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO OUR DISTRICTS AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITIES AND WITH THE COUNTIES IN SOME SPECIFIC AREAS.

AND THE ONE AREA THAT OUR BOARD WAS QUITE INTERESTED IN AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN APRIL, AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IS BREAKING THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE.

ONE THING THAT WE LEARN -- AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND FUNDING IS COMING, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY FAMILY HAS ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN THEIR HOMES.

IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A COORDINATED WAY TO DO THAT WITH SOME OF THESE FUNDS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WIN.

AS YOU KNOW, WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS, A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S TIME STAMPS ON THEM.

YOU NEED TO SPEND THEM QUICKLY, SO WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT JUST SORT OF SPENT IN A FRIVOLOUS WAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY, VERY STRATEGIC, AND THAT WE DO -- I WAS, AGAIN, ON THIS NATIONAL CALL, WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY OF A GENERATION FOR US.

IT GENUINELY IS.

WE HAVE TO USE IT WISELY AND IN A COORDINATED WAY.

>> RAY.

>> I KNOW YOUR TITLE IS COMMISSIONER, NOT LEGISLATOR, BUT IN ST. LOUIS, SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, ABOUT HALF OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE STARTED HAVE FAILED, AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO BE UNDERWHELMING.

YET, THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE AND MORE OF A PUSH IN MISSOURI TO INCREASE THE ROLE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR DEPARTMENT HANDLING THAT?

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I -- WE HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION NOT TO NECESSARILY TAKE A POSITION ON THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, BUT ON QUALITY SCHOOLS.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A MUCH MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CHARTER SPONSORS THAT ARE CLOSING FAILING SCHOOLS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE EXIST, THAT IF THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL OPTION, IT IS A HIGH QUALITY.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, WHERE WE KEEP FOCUSING OUR ENERGY ARE ON THINGS LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE IN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL, A VIRTUAL SCHOOL, EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS.

WE KNOW IT.

THE DATA IS THERE TO TELL US THAT.

GREAT TEACHERS.

I MEAN, AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE FORMAT IS.

THOSE GREAT TEACHERS JUST MATTER.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE DEPARTMENT COMES FROM.

HIGH QUALITY IS -- TO US, THERE'S NO REASON TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL OPTION OF A CHARTER IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL.

>> ALVIN.

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WE WILL KEEP AFTER ALL OF THIS PAST YEAR, 18 MONTHS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE GROCERY STORE LINE I DON'T THINK WILL EVER ALL UPON EACH OTHER.

THERE WILL BE A SOCIAL DISTANCE.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO, I WANT TO GO TO THE BASKETBALL GAME, I WANT TO PLAY A SPORT, I WANT TO BE SOCIALLY ACTIVE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL PART ANYMORE.

I LIKE DOING IT ONLINE.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR DISTRICTS WHO SAY, WELL, I'VE GOT 20% OF MY STUDENTS WHO WOULD JUST AS SOON DO ONLINE LEARNING AND THEN DO THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

ARE YOU HEARING THAT?

IS THERE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY HEARING THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG, IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE, SHAME ON US.

WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

IT APPEARS THAT SOMEWHAT WHAT YOU JUST ARTICULATED HAS BEEN WHERE PEOPLE MOST ALIGN, THAT THEY WANT THE SOCIAL INTERACTION, THEY WANT TO BE WITH THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS, THEY WANT TO PLAY SPORTS, YOU WANT TO BE THERE, AND YET, THERE'S MANY, MANY THINGS WE CAN DO, ANYTIME ANYWHERE LEARNING.

LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND IN SOME CASES, STUDENTS NEED EXTRA TIME AND IN SOME CASES, THEY CAN MOVE THROUGH THAT CURRICULUM QUICKLY AND MAYBE GET -- BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE, A NUMBER OF STUDENTS ARE STARTING TO GRADUATE WITH DEGREES FROM COLLEGE.

LIKE HOW DO WE WORK THAT OUT?

I DON'T THINK THEY NECESSARILY WANT TO GREAT AT 16 FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY MIGHT WANT TO STAY IN AND DO THINGS LIKE YOU SAID, THE PROMS AND ALL.

BUT WHY NOT GIVE THEM EXPOSURE TO ALL OF THESE -- ACCESS TO ALL OF THESE OTHER COURSES THAT THEY MIGHT ACQUIRE NOW THROUGH ONLINE LEARNING?

>> A QUICK THOUGHT.

IF I COULD, A QUICK FOLLOW-UP TO THAT.

WOULD IT BE LIKE, OKAY, IF YOU'RE CARRYING A 3.0 AVERAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN YOU CAN DO IN-HOUSE LEARNING ALL THE TIME, OR WOULD THERE BE ANY PARAMETER, DO YOU THINK?

>> OH, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAIL, RIGHT?

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING, THERE'S A NUMBER OF TERMS FOR THAT, BUT IT DOES COME DOWN TO SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING -- HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT COURSE COMPLETION, HOW DUH TRANSCRIPT CREDIT, WILL CHALLENGES ACCEPT THAT KIND OF CREDIT?

IT IS A LOT -- WHAT YOU POINTED OUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY NECESSARILY TO DECIDE SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SHOULD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BE ABLE TO SAY TO A PARENT, YOUR CHILD IS NOT SUITED FOR ONLINE LEARNING RIGHT NOW?

THEY DO BETTER IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHOULD THERE BE LEFT TO THE PARENTS' ABSOLUTE CONTROL?

LOTS OF THINGS WE NEED TO SORT THROUGH.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN EARLY TASK FORCE GROUP TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER -- THE BELLWETHER INSTITUTE IS DOING A STUDY ON COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

ANOTHER BIG ONE THAT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THAT?

RIGHT NOW WE PAY A SEAT TIME IN MISSOURI.

>> GOOD POINT, GOOD POINT.

>> IT'S JUST SO MANY THINGS.

THERE'S LOTS OF -- >> WE ALL FORGET I PAY FOR THIS.

THAT'S RIGHT, I DO PAY, RIGHT.

>> IT HAS TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WRANGLING FISH, LIKE WRANGLING SCHOOLS -- I MEAN, IT'S QUITE A TASK YOU HAVE AHEAD OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND I SAY THAT -- I WILL SAY THIS.

IT'S BEEN AN EXHAUSTING YEAR.

YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT I WAS ON HERE EARLIER AND I PROBABLY, IF YOU WENT BACK, I MIGHT HAVE AGED ABOUT A -- YOU PUT MY FACE NEXT TO THE -- IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT WHAT GIVES US ENERGY IS THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION LOOK LIKE?

HOW WILL WE SERVE OUR KIDS BETTER?

>> HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD ALLOW CERTAIN STUDENTS TO TRANSFER TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS?

FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOUR PARENTS OWN ABS AND THEY'RE PAYING PROPERTY -- OWN A BUSINESS AND THEY'RE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES IN ANOTHER DISTRICT OR A DISTRICT OFFERS A COURSE YOU CAN'T FIND, LIKE HELPING KIDS WITH DYSLEXIA, OR MAYBE A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICT MORE ALIGNS WITH YOUR POLITICAL OR SOCIAL VIEWS, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER DISTRICT.

THAT IS POB FOR THE FUTURE IN MISSOURI?

>>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE.

THAT'S THE OPEN ENROLLMENT BIM WHAT -- BILL IS WHAT WE CALL THAT AND IT COMES BACK TO -- AGAIN, MISSOURI IS MORE COMPLEX THAN SOME STATES WHO DO THIS, AGAIN GOING BACK TO THOSE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING TO FIGURE OUT IS IF YOU'RE PAYING A PREMIUM TO LIVE SOMEWHERE BECAUSE OF YOUR LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.

WE'RE ALL ABOUT SAYING IF A CHILD WANT AND BETTER CHOICE, THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO GET THAT ALL TO WORK OUT APPROPRIATELY.

IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN IT MIGHT APPEAR.

>> BILL.

>> DOCTOR, I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN LESSONS LEARNED IN EDUCATION IN THIS PAST YEAR ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH ALL THIS.

IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR LESSON, ANYTHING THAT IF YOU COULD GO BACK, YOU WOULD SAY WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS DIFFERENTLY?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK PROBABLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE QUESTIONED THE MOST IS -- AND THIS IS JUST STATEWIDE.

LOCAL CONTROL VERSUS STATEWIDE INFLUENCE AND CONTROL.

AND SO FROM MY -- WHEN YOU SAID WRANGLING FISH, WE HAVE 555 LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES WITH THEIR OWN LOCAL BOARDS WHO WE EMPOWER TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND IN MISSOURI -- AND I FEEL THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO, DO WE -- PEOPLE THAT MADE STRONG DECISIONS IN ONE PART GOT CRITICIZED FOR -- AND I'M TALKING NATIONALLY -- FOR MAKING TOO OVERARCHING DECISIONS FOR EVERYBODY AND SOME THAT DIDN'T HAVE -- THAT LEFT IT TO LOCAL CONTROL WERE CRITICIZED.

SO DOES LOCAL CONTROL MEAN SOMETHING IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI?

HOW DO WE SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO MADE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT THEY WERE EMPOWERED TO MAKE?

I THINK THAT IS JUST IN THE GOVERNANCE SIDE, IS AN IMPORTANT ONE THEY'VE LEARNED.

GOING BACK TO EDUCATION WITH FAMILIES, I THINK A BIG, BIG TAKEAWAY IS JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARENTS AND HAVING THEM A PART OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS.

EARLY, VERY, VERY EARLY ON IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN -- AND KEEPING THAT RELATIONSHIP THROUGHOUT.

SO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FAMILIES IS THEY WERE EITHER UNDERCOMMUNICATED WITH OR OVERCOMMUNICATED WITH.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW HAS, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE CHILDREN IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, BUT MAYBE THEY SAID, WELL, WE JUST GOT PUMMELED WITH EMAILS AND THIS IS WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO FROM ONE TEACHER AND THE OTHER ONE WE JUST DIDN'T HEAR FROM.

AND GETTING THAT RELATIONSHIP RIGHT AND THAT BALANCE RIGHT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.

THAT WAS A BIG ONE.

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS STILL JUST TREMENDOUS AND WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED AND THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT THEY NEED IS ANOTHER HUGE PRIORITY FOR US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DOCTOR, I'VE BEEN WAITING ABOUT A HALF CENTURY TO ASK THIS.

DO YOU THINK GRADES AND TEST SCORES ARE OVERRATED?

AND I KNOW THERE'S SOUR GRAPES THERE, BUT THERE'S SUCH INTENSE PRESSURE ON PEOPLE, YOU AND YOUR PEERS, STUDENT OUTCOMES, AND WE HAVE TO QUANTIFY EVERYTHING.

AND SO THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED -- WE'RE GOING TO TAKE -- WE'VE COMMITTED TO TAKING A LOOK AT THAT STANDARDIZED TEST AND REVAMPING IT TO MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL.

WE'VE BEEN VERY COMMITTED IN MISSOURI TO MAKING SURE WE ADMINISTER THAT TEST THIS YEAR.

THAT HAS WON SOME FAVOR AND SOME ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN US FOR DOING THAT AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE NEED DATA POINTS RIGHT NOW TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHEN I SAY WHERE WE ARE, ACADEMICALLY WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE, IS THERE A GAP, IS THERE NOT.

WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON THAT.

WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH TEST RESULTS IS REALLY OVERRATED.

MAKING ANY HUGE DECISIONS ON ONE TEST SCORE IS TOO MUCH.

THINK ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS WORLD OUT THERE, YOU ALWAYS THINK THIS IS AN INFORMATIVE POINT, BUT IT'S ONE DATA POINT TAKEN AT ONE TIME DURING THE YEAR.

I WOULD AGREE AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING EVEN BETTER.

WE'VE -- WE ARE COMMITTED TO A -- WE'VE GIVEN OURSELVES THREE YEARS TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SYSTEM.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO TURN THAT AROUND.

GRADES ARE ALWAYS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE GRADES ARE MORE SUBJECTIVE THAN THAT OBJECTIVE TEST SCORE, SO I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE AND SAY ARE THEY ALIGNING, ARE THEY MATCHING UP, AND SOMETHING MIGHT BE OUT OF WHACK IF THE TEST SCORE IS REALLY LOW AND THE COURSE GRADE IS REALLY HIGH.

I GUESS THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.

AND WE'RE READY TO DO THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> ALVIN.

>> JUST FOLLOW UP ON RAY'S QUESTION.

WILL THE STANDARDIZED TEST, A.C.T., S.A.T., ON TO COLLEGE, I KNOW IT WAS, I GUESS NATIONAL CHOICE NOT TO DO THOSE LAST YEAR.

ARE THOSE COMING BACK THIS YEAR?

AND ALSO WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM FRESHMEN IN COLLEGE ABOUT THE INTERRUPTION LAST YEAR, WHICH IS REALLY ONLY A QUARTER, WAS IT A BIG DEAL OR DO THEY JUST SAY, OH, THAT WAS INTERESTING?

REALLY, I'M ASKING ABOUT THE S.A.T.

AND A.C.T.

TEST.

WILL THEY OCCUR?

>> THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THOSE TESTS AND I THINK THOSE ARE, AGAIN, ONE METRIC THAT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO REVIEW.

I'M THE COMMISSION FOR K-12, SO THE HIGHER ED, I SPEAK WITH COMMISSIONER MULLIGAN FREQUENTLY.

WE JUST TALKED THREE DAYS AGO ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOGETHER, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE DISCONNECTED ON THAT, BUT SHE COULD SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IS A LOT OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CENTERS ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THEY'RE USING THAT AS MAYBE ONE INDICATOR, BUT IF A STUDENT DOESN'T DO WELL ON THAT A.C.T., THEY'RE LIKE CAN YOU DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY ANOTHER WAY AND WE'D BE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T TEST WELL AND MAYBE THEY CAN SHINE IN ANOTHER WAY.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING MORE OF THAT, ALTERNATE WAYS.

I DOUBT IF YOU GET RID OF A TEST COMPLETELY IN THE NEAR, NEAR FUTURE JUST BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD HELPFUL READ ON WHERE STUDENTS ARE AND SOMETIMES IT'S A GATEKEEPER THAT IF THEY MAKE IT, THEY CAN GO ON.

IF THEY DON'T, LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER WAY AND SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND IF THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET THEM INTO THAT ADMISSION CRITERIA.

>> THERE WAS A PIECE ON NPR YESTERDAY, DOCTOR, WHERE A LAWMAKER IN ILLINOIS SAID THAT BECAUSE OF RECENT INCREASES IN ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE IN THE COUNTRY, MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF MANDATED CURRICULUM WHERE THE STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDY CHINESE-AMERICAN HISTORY.

DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR MISSOURI?

>> SO HERE'S THE THING.

THAT'S A CULTURE -- THE HARDEST PART IS YOU REALLY CAN'T MANDATE CULTURE.

I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT IS -- I THINK STUDYING OTHER CULTURES IS FANTASTIC.

THAT'S A WAY SOMEBODY IS REACTING TO AN EVENT AND TREATING SOMEONE ELSE.

YOU CAN FILTER IN ANY CULTURE PROBABLY IN THAT.

WHERE WE'RE REALLY WORKING IS ON -- YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS, CHARACTER EDUCATION.

I THINK IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE IN THOSE YOUNGEST AND EARLIEST YEARS TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE TREAT EACH OTHER.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE WOULD BE GREAT.

MANDATING IT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO ME.

IT'S ABOUT HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER, BOTTOM LINE.

BUT LEARNING OTHER CULTURES IS ALWAYS GREAT.

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME REQUIREMENTS ON DOING SO.

I'M NOT SURE YOU WANT TO SPECIFY A PARTICULAR CULTURE BECAUSE OF A PARTICULAR EVENT, IN MY OWN.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF US AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE TREAT EACH OTHER.

>> WELL, THERE IS JUST AN EDITORIAL COMMENT FIRST.

I REMEMBER WHEN FAMILIES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN HOW TO TREAT OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY.

SO THAT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER SET OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

BUT COULD YOU TELL US, DR. VANDEVEN, ABOUT THE OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD, THIS NEW IDEA AND HOW IT'S GOING TO SIMPLIFY THINGS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THINGS?

>> YEAH, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO THE GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THAT OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD WILL BE LOCATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AND WHAT IT WILL DO IS IT WILL MERGE EXISTING SYSTEMS WITH -- FROM SOCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES, AND OUR DEPARTMENT, AND REALLY TRY TO HAVE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR OUR PARENTS OUT THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IN SOME PLACES THAS DUPLICATIVE EFFORT AND IN OTHER PLACES THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL DESERTS, AND SO THAT PARENT WHO'S ABLE TO CALL -- WE CALL IT LIKE THE SOFT HANDOFFS.

IF THEY CALL IT AND IT'S A SOCIAL SERVICES QUESTION, WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHO THE PARENT SHOULD REACH OUT TO.

WE WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THIS IS ALL ABOUT THINKING IN TERMS OF THAT WHOLE CHILD, THEIR SAFETY, THEIR HEALTH, AND THEIR EDUCATION.

AND REALLY NOTHING GETS ME MORE EXCITED OR HOPEFUL THAN TO THINK ABOUT OUR STATE COMING TOGETHER AND TAKING CARE OF THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SO WE'RE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT IT AND WE THINK OUR PARENTS WILL SEE THIS AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US SERVE THEM BETTER.

>> AROUND HERE, DOCTOR, WE TEND TO THINK OF SUBURBAN SCHOOLS IN A POSITIVE WAY AND THE SCHOOLS IN THE CITY, TROUBLED.

HOW DO THE RURAL SCHOOLS MATCH UP?

ARE THEY CLOSER TO -- ARE THEY TROUBLED OR ARE THEY THRIVING?

>> YOU KNOW -- NO, WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A BIT OF A DIVIDE AND THAT'S A BIG THING WE WANT TO COUNTER.

EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE MATTERS.

WHEREVER THEY LIVE, WHATEVER THEIR ZIP CODE, WE HAVE CHILDREN STRUGGLING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE MORE THAN OTHERS AND SOME OF THEM ARE THRIVING.

SO I MEAN, MANY OF THEM ARE THRIVING.

I THINK OVERALL, IF YOU WENT INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TODAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU'D BE AMAZED, THERE ARE SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

INNOVATIVE WAYS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE CITY AS WELL.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT -- YOU REALLY CAN.

THERE ARE PLACES YOU CAN GO AND SEE THAT IN OUR CITIES AND THE RURAL AREAS AND THE SUBURBS.

THE SUBURBS TEND TO HAVE A FEW MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHY OUR RURAL DISTRICTS ARE STARTING TO REACH OUT AND DO MORE COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER SO THEY CAN PROVIDE EACH OF THEIR STUDENTS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY OVERALL, I THINK IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO VISIT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL LATELY, TRY TO DO THAT.

THEY REALLY ARE OUTSTANDING.

>> I KNOW YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER AS A TEACHER, CORRECT?

>> I DID.

>> AND I READ SOMEWHERE THAT 40 OF THE 50 STATES HAVE TEACHER SHORTAGES.

WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY TO DEALING WITH THAT?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR US TALK ABOUT QUITE A BIT.

THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY HASN'T HELPED WITH THAT.

WE WERE ALREADY EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE IN MISSOURI AND PARTICULARLY EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF A DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND THE RESEARCH AGAIN WILL TELL US THAT STUDENTS OFTEN LEARN BETTER IF THE TEACHER IS REFLECTIVE OF THEM.

SO WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB THERE OF RECRUITING.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

ONE IS WHAT WE CALL OUR GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM AND REALLY GETTING STUDENTS EXCITED ABOUT THE TEACHING CAREER EARLY.

TALK TO THEM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND GET THEM ENGAGED IN A PROGRAM THAT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING AND WHAT THAT CAN DO.

AND THE OTHER -- SOME OF THE OTHER STRATEGIES, THOUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR US TALK ABOUT TEACHER SALARY AND I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT MORE FUNDING AND DIFFERENT -- BUT THE REALITY IS, WE'RE LOWER THAN ALL OF OUR BORDERING STATES RIGHT NOW AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR OUR TEACHERS.

WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SO YOU'LL HEAR US TALKING ABOUT THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SALARIES.

IT IS ABOUT GIVING TEACHERS THE TIME THAT THEY NEED TO SERVE THEIR STUDENTS.

GIVING THEM THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS -- SUPPORTS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT, AND -- BUT DEFINITELY A CONCERN.

SO IF YOU KNOW A TEACHER, YOU HAVE -- YES, YOU HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO THEM AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY'RE MAKING.

>> SO ARE YOU STAYING OUT OF THE VACCINATION BATTLE?

ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, YOUR PHONE RINGS AND IT'S LIKE EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD BE OPEN AND EVERY GAME SHOULD BE OPEN TO FANS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UNTIL LIKE TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING WE HAVE NO PLAN TO MOVE TEACHERS UP, YOU KNOW, ON THE VACCINATION TIME SCALE.

I GUESS YOU'RE THINKING THAT BY THE TIME THE SUMMER IS OVER, ANY TEACHER THAT WANTS TO GET VACCINATED CAN GET VACCINATED.

SO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE FALL THAT EVERY SCHOOL WILL BE OPEN?

IF THEY DESIRE TO DO SO.

>> YEAH, AND I -- BUT THE TEACHERS BECAME ELIGIBLE MONDAY.

SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS ON MONDAY.

>> MY WIFE GOT HER SHOT YESTERDAY.

>> YAY!

OKAY.

>> ONE MINUTE TO GO, DOCTOR.

>> I'M SORRY, WHAT?

>> ONE MINUTE TO.

>>.

>> OH, OKAY.

ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR TAKING THAT NEXT STEP.

SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM GETTING THAT VACCINATION.

IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR ALL OF US AND IT'S JUST ONE MORE MITIGATION STRATEGY THAT'S NECESSARY TO BE IN PLACE, BUT THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE DOING THAT AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO DO SO.

>> AND WITH 30 SECONDS TO GO, DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE 100% IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE FALL?

>> I THINK 100% -- WELL, AS LONG AS -- IF THINGS STAY LIKE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, WE'LL BE OPEN IN THE FALL.

WHETHER OR NOT PARENTS CHOOSE TO SEND CHILDREN BACK, THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> I SEE.

VERY INTERESTING.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON NEXT UP HERE ON NINE PBS IN ST. LOUIS.

WE SURE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

DR. MARGIE VANDEVEN, THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.