>>> MAN, A LOT HAS HAPPENED HAD THE LAST 14 YEARS, INCLUDING BILL MCMILLEN IS WITH ME ON NEXT UP.

AND MYSELF.

>> DR. CALVIN ADAMS TOOK OVER AS SUPERINTENDENT 14 YEARS AGO AND ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF THE YEAR, HE IS GOING TO BE RETIRING.

SO, FIRST, LET ME SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON I WILL HAVE TO SAY A JOB WELL DONE AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

WHY ARE YOU CALLING IT A DAY AT THIS POINT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENED.

FIRST OF ALL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPLETED A KNOW BOND AND RECEIVED 87 PERCENT APPROVAL AND FINISHED UP CONTRACTS AND A RAISE FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

SECOND HIGHEST SALARY IN THE REGION.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND IN ADDITION AT THE BOARD IS IN A POSITION THAT THEY ARE STABLE WITH TWO MORE BOARD MEMBERS.

THEY ARE COMING ON TUESDAY.

AND THIS IS THE TIME TO PASS THE BATON.

IT IS THE JOY AND PLEASURE TO DO.

IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AFTER HAVING A MEETING WITH MY KIDS AND MY WIFE, THIS WAS A RIGHT TIME.

>> DOCTOR, UNDER YOUR WATCH, THE CITY SCHOOLS REGAINED STATE ACCREDITATION, A BOND JUST PASSED.

WHILE CERTAIN SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY MAGNET SCHOOLS, HAD GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.

I MEAN, HAVING DIFFICULTY MAKING GRADES.

IS ANYBODY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY SUCCEEDED IN THIS?

>> I THINK IN SMALL WAYS IN SOME WAYS IN SMALL SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE 20 SCHOOLS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE SEE KIDS FOR 5-6 HOURS A DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BRING TO THE TABLE THAT MAKING IT HARD TO MOVE THE ACADEMIC NEEDLE.

WE HAVE FULL TIME COUNSELORS AND NURSES IN ALL OF THE BUILDINGS, READING SPECIALISTS.

IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T PUT THE EFFORT IN AND NOT PROVIDED THE RESOURCES, IT IS A COLLECTIVE THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THE TOUGH SCHOOLS, THEY ARE IN TOUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PEOPLE DON'T TO DRIVE THROUGH, OUR KIDS ARE GOING THERE EVERY DAY.

WITH THE KIND OF DALLAS THAT THE CITY IS RECEIVING AND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER IN A UNIQUE WAY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF POVERTY AND HOUSING.

SOME OF THE KIDS DON'T COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

IT IS HARD TO SEE A KID TWO DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK INSTEAD OF 5 DAYS A WEEK.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ALL ON THAT ISSUE.

BUT WE NEED TO HANDLE THAT AS A COMMUNITY.

>> THERE IS, I GUESS, IN THE EARLY STAGES A CITY WIDE EDUCATION PLAN.

YOU MENTIONED IT TO THE REMARKS TO THE TEACHER AND STAFF AS YOU WERE LEAVING IN THE STATEMENT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

DOES THAT PLAY A ROLE IN STABILIZING THE NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES.

WE CLOSED 7 SCHOOLS THREE YEARS AGO.

IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND CLOSING THE SCHOOLS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CITY WIDE PLAN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE CLOSING SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

AND WE MAY BE EVEN OPENING A SCHOOL.

IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD -- AND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CLOSING SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

THEY WERE LOCKED OUT THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

WITHOUT US TALKING TOGETHER AND HAVING A UNIQUE PLAN WHICH IS CALLED A CITY WIDE PLAN AND EVERYONE AT THE TABLE THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY DO THIS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

WE WENT TO THE OLDER WOMEN AND MEN, 27-1 VOTED TO NOT HAVE ANY NEW SCHOOLS AND NOT CLOSING ANY SCHOOLS.

THEY HAVE CREDITED WITH AN OUTSIDE ENTITY TO WORK WITH THE PERSONS IN THE CITY SCHOOL LEADERS AS WELL AS POLITICIANS AND OTHERS, THE NEXT 18 MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.

THE REAL CHALLENGE IS NOT THE PLAN, THE CHALLENGE IS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.

EVERYONE HAS TO BUY IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO STOP PEOPLE FROM DOING THINGS.

ANYBODY CAN OPEN A SCHOOL AT ANY TIME.

AND THIS PLAN WILL HOPEFULLY MOTIVATE THEM NOT TO AND GET TO A COLLECTIVE SITUATION.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND COLLECTIVE EFFORTS.

WHICH CHARTER SCHOOLS STARTED, THEY MADE THE ARGUMENT, THIS COMPETITION WILL RAISE EVERYONE.

WE WILL DOING THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND IT WILL FORCE THE REGULAR SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE.

CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE MOVING THE NEEDLE EITHER AS FAR AS THAT GOES FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, 15-16 YEARS, CHARTER SCHOOLS STARTED IN ST. LOUIS.

THEY DIDN'T START OUT WELL, MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AFTER THE FACT, THEY DIDN'T COME WITH A PARTNERSHIP.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, THERE WAS A LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION FROM THE BEGINNING BUT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND NOW THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THE SAFETY NET -- THERE HAS TO BE OUTSIDE SUPPORT YOU JUST CAN'T DO THIS IN ISOLATION IN A SCHOOL BUILDING OR CHARTER OR A PUBLIC -- QUITE FRIENDLY AND PRIVATE AND OTHER SCHOOLS.

MY IMPRESSION IF A KID IS GOING TO A SCHOOL, THAT IS THAT THEY NEED THE HELP.

MY THOUGHTS ARE IN THE MIDDLE.

IN TERMS OF ME WORKING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS WE HAVE DONE THIS SINCE I HAVE ARRIVED AND MADE THE ATTEMPT TO DO THAT AND GOTTEN ENERGY AROUND THAT PIECE.

NO ONE CAN DO IT IN ISOLATION, THERE'S A TERM THAT KELLY FROM -- IT IS CALLED "COOPITETIO"COOPETION".

IT IS LESS AROUND THE COMPETITION PHASE BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES.

>> IT -- IT IS THE LEGISLATURE?

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOLS?

THEY VOTED SOME TYPE OF PACKAGE AND THE MONEY HAS TO BE DONATED.

TO GO TO CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHOUT TAKING MONEY FROM YOUR REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ARE YOU DOWN WITH THAT COMPROMISE?

OR IT IS LIKE KIND OF A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW.

IT DOESN'T TAKEAWAY FROM US FINANCIALLY.

>> I AM IN FAVOR OF DOLLARS NOT COMING AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE CHALLENGES AND THE DESEGREGATION THAT WENT EFFECT AND PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AND WE RAISE 215 ROUTES EVERY DAY.

NOT ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED IT IS ON OPTION.

THAT IS A 35 MILLION DOLLAR BILL.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THE COST FOR ME IS 16 MILLION DOLLARS.

CHARTERS DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE.

GLAD THAT THE STATE SAW FIT TO THE DEGREE.

I HAVE NO ISSUE AT ALL.

AS LONG AS DOLLARS ARE NOT COMING AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.

>> I'M A WITNESS FOR DOCTOR ADAMS.

HE WAS ON THE PHONE AND THEN GOT WIRED UP.

HE IS WORKING AFTER HOURS.

HE IS WORKING UP TO JANUARY 31.

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> HOW BAD HAS COVID-19 HIT THE ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS?

I HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT IT IS PARTICULARLY BAD FOR KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE GOOD INTERNET AT HOME.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF YOUR KIDS DON'T HAVE A REGULAR HOME.

OUT OF SCHOOL LEARNING MAKE WORKED OKAY FOR THE SUBURBS.

HOW DID IT WORK FOR THE CITY SCHOOLS?

>> WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVERY KID WITH A LAPTOP.

WE WERE FORCED, IF YOU WILL, TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE KIDS.

ON THE OPPONENT END, THE ATTENDANCE WAS NOT GOOD.

NOT FOR ANYONE IN THE CHILDREN.

IF YOU TALK TO MY CHARTER SCHOOL COLLEAGUES, THEY WILL SAY THE SAME THING.

VIRTU VIRTU VIRTU VIRTU VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION DIDN'T WORK THAT WELL FOR THE KIDS.

THAT'S THE HOPE AND BELIEVE ON PLASTIC.

THAT WE WILL START SCHOOL FULLY IN PERSON, GIVING KIDS IPADS AND LAPTOPS THAT THEY CAN TAKE HOME AND USE THEM.

AND PROVIDE FREE BOOK BAGS FOR EVERY KID BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW THE ECONOMY IS.

WE DON'T WANT THE KIDS TO COME TO SCHOOL AND NOT WHAT THEY NEED.

I DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM THE STAFF, THE PERSON, THE STUDENTS.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE AND WE HAD EMPLOYEES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.

I'M SURE IT AFFECTED EVERYONE, AND IT AFFECTED OUR KIDS AND EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

IT WAS A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE.

I'M SO GLAD TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR NOT HAVING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT QUARENTINING, CONTACT TRACING, AND VACCINATION.

WE HAD A MANDATE FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE AND AS A RESULT, WE LOST 50-60 EMPLOYEES AND WE HAD TO FILL THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WE NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY.

GET VACCINATED OR NOT.

WE WALKED AWAY FROM THAT ON TUESDAY NOT THE BOARD SAYS WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE CDC CHANGED THAT.

>> 134 TEACHERS SHORT.

ABOUT 200 OTHER EMPLOYEES EMPTY SPOTS.

AND 50 BUS DRIVERS SHORT.

WE CONTRACTED SOMEONE AND THEY ARE ABOUT 44 DRIVERS SHORT OF WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED TO HAVE.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

EVERY NIGHT ON THE NEWSCAST THEY TALK ABOUT THE SHORTAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK HOUSTON HAS 800 SHORTAGES.

IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.

I THINK HOW WE GET THROUGH THIS IS FIND ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FIND PERSONS WHO HAVE DEGREES, TRAIN THEM, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS.

IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

>> THAT'S HOW YOU FILL THE GAPS?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TEACHING.

IF YOU FIND SOMEBODY WHO DRIVES A BUS.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

>> WHOSE APPROVAL DO YOU NEED?

HOW MANY TEACHERS?

>> 134.

>> WE NEED TO GET SOMEONE IN THE CLASSROOMS, THESE KIDS WHO HAVE A PERMANENT SUB, THEY ARE JUST NOT LEARNING, WHOSE APPROVAL DO YOU NEED TO GET TO SAY WE WILL HIRE SO AND SO.

>> THE STATE HAS BEEN FLEXIBLE.

IF I SAY I WANT TO HIRE ALVIN.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO HIRE ALVIN [LAUGHTER.]

>> SHE WILL 60 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT, DO A CERTIFICATION, AND DO A VIRTUAL CERTIFICATION PIECE AND THE STATE WILL ALLOW US THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> WE WILL KEEP SOMEONE LIKE ALVIN TO DO LESSON PLANS, GET THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED WITH TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING AND AFTER.

25 KIDS WALK IN FRONT OF YOU, I THINK MIKE TYSON, EVERYONE KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT UNTIL SOMEBODY PUNCHES YOU IN THE MOUTH.

THAT'S THE MINDSET AROUND TEACHING.

>> PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A TEACHING DEGREE AND DON'T HAVE A DEGREE, AND SAY I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH.

YOU SAY I WILL HELP YOU.

HOW MANY IN THAT SITUATION?

>> 91 IS IN THAT, AND I THINK 117 BUILDING SUBS.

THAT MEANS, IF ALVIN DOESN'T COME TO WORK, I HAVE A SUB THAT CAN TAKE HIS CLASS BECAUSE THAT PERSON COMES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT PERSON WILL BOUNCE INTO THE CLASS.

THEY KNOW THE KIDS AND HAVE LOOKED AT THE LESSON PLANS.

WE HAVE 117 PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL.

IF THEY HAVE ONE THOUSAND KIDS THEY MAY HAVE 3 PEOPLE AND SCHOOLS WITH 200 KIDS MAY HAVE ONE.

AS FAR AS TRAINING RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, WE STARTED PD -- AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH TRAINING AND GET ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL SATURDAY, WE WILL PAY THEM EXTRA SERVICE TO REMAIN TO GET THEIR TRAINING, WRITE THEIR LESSON PLANS AND DO CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.

WE ARE PAYING THEM ALL OF THE BENEFITS, A GREAT WAGE, ALMOST PAYING THEM WHAT A FIRST YEAR TEACHER WILL MAKE BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED THEM.

WE HAVE CHANGED THE PAY STRUCTURE TO GET THAT PERSON IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

YOU SOUND CONFIDENT ABOUT THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS COMING.

YOU GET OUT TO A LOT OF SCHOOLS.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS?

>> MY MESSAGE WHILE PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON THE LEADER, MEANING MYSELF, THERE ARE TWO SONGS I WANT TO LEAVE THEM, JOHN HENDERSON SAYS IT IS HARD WORK.

IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK TO GET THIS DONE.

AND WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS TO ME, IT IS ABOUT THE KIDS AND SUPPORTING THEM.

I'M ONE OUT OF 3500 EMPLOYEES.

I NEED THEM TO FOCUS ON SUPPORTING KIDS.

DOING THE HARD WORK, NOT GETTING DISTRACTED FROM COVID-19, VACCINATIONS, BUS ISSUES, ALL OF THE THINGS WE HAVE EVERY DAY.

THEY HAVE THE MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES.

>> ALL OF THE KIDS WHO GO TO SCHOOL ARE GOING TO BE IN AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS?

>> ALL KIDS WILL BE IN AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS.

WHETHER IT IS CENTRAL AIR OR UNITS.

WE HAD FLOODING WITH 42 OF THE BUILDINGS IMPACTED.

ONE WAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED.

WE WILL HAVE IT READY TO GO.

ALL KIDS WILL BE IN AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS.

WHEN IT GETS 97 DEGREES IN THE OLD BUILDINGS.

IT IS TOUGH.

BUT WE DO HAVE AIR AND IT IS MATTER OF MOVING STUFF AROUND.

IF IT GETS REALLY, REALLY HOT WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE KIDS TO ANOTHER ROOM WHERE THE AIR IS WORKING BETTER.

WE HAVE VERY, VERY OLD BUILDINGS.

ONE BUILDING IS 97 YEARS OLD.

IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS COOL.

THEY ARE ALL AIR CONDITIONED.

THE CHALLENGE IS WHEN THE HUMIDITY GOES UP, IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

>> AS WE GO INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, LIKE YOU SAY, YOU PUT AN ENTIRE SEMESTER BEHIND YOU IN EARLY 2020.

I WON'T SAY THINGS ARE THE SAME.

YOU HAVE TO FEEL FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

WHERE IS THE MENTAL ATTITUDE?

KIDS TOO?

>> I THINK LAST YEAR WAS A REAL STRUGGLE MENTALLY FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STRUGGLED WITH COVID-19 AND ALL OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

I GET A SENSE THAT THEY ARE PLEASED TO BE BACK AND GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

AND PLEASED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND CONTACT TRACING.

>> FOR KIDS, IT IS HARD TO TELL.

THEY ARE NOT BACK YET.

THERE'S A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT, EXPECTATION, NEWNESS, THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE THAT EXCITEMENT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL CHALLENGE.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR OBVIO OUTBREAKS AND NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT MONKEYPOX, I USED THOSE TWO SONGS, IT IS ABOUT HARD AGAIN.

WE'LL HAVE TO FOCUS ON AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT OUR STAFF WILL DO THAT AND STUDENTS AS WELL.

THE FAMILIES SEEM TO WANT TO HAVE THEIR KIDS BACK.

AND 87 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS SAYING YES, STILL, IT IS A GREAT INDICATION OF HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOME SHAPE AND FORM.

IT IS DRIVING THE MOMENTUM AND THE CITY WIDE PLAN AND PEOPLE SEE THAT THERE IS SOME WAY TO SOLVE THE BIG PROBLEM THAT YOU FRAME AROUND THE DISPARITY THAT HAPPENS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

IT CAN'T HAPPEN IN ISOLATION.

IT HAS TO BE A BIG PLAN, TALKS ABOUT POVERTY, AND ALL OF THE-ISMS.

>> THE RAM'S MONEY.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS BEING NEGOTIATED AT THIS TIME.

DO YOU FORESEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVING SOME OF THE MONEY?

HAVE YOU BEEN ASKED?

>> I HAVE HAD ONE OR TWO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT I THINK.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVING THE MONEY.

OTHERS MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY.

IT IS PROVIDING DOLLARS THAT WILL SUPPORT KIDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, SUCH THAT THEY ARE MUCH MORE STABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN THEIR HOUSING THAT THEY CAN COME TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES THAT IS BEFORE US.

I PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL -- I BETTER BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY -- IF ONE DOLLAR DOESN'T COME TO US, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

IF IT USED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THE KIDS COME TO SCHOOL THEY ARE STABLE.

THE BOARD PASSED -- IF TRAUMA HAPPENS AT NIGHT, OVER THE WEEKEND, THE POLICE WILL CALL US IF THAT KID WAS IMPACTED BY TRAUMA.

IF THEY SAW SOMEONE GET SHOT OR BEAT UP, THEY WILL CALL OUR HEAD OF SECURITY AND THEN THEY WILL CALL HEAD OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND GIVE COUNSEL TO THE KID.

THAT'S THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WE NEED TO CREATE.

SO THEY COME UPSET AND ANGRY ABOUT SOMETHING AND WE HAVE NO IDEA.

WE HAVE LOST 180 KIDS TO DEATH.

FIRES, CAR WRECKS, SHOOTINGS.

THOSE THINGS DO IMPACT OUR KIDS.

IT IS NOT JUST THE KID THAT DIED, THE BROTHER, SISTERS, COUSINS, AND THE KID THAT DID THE SHOOTING THAT MAY COME TO OUR SCHOOL.

THE COMPLEXITIES THAT I'M HOPING THE DOLLARS CAN HELP IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM TO STABILIZE THE FAMILIES.

>> IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR SUCCESSORS, IF THEY SAID TO YOU, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT I'M NOT GOING TO EXPECT?

AS AN INSIDER, IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD WARN YOUR SUCCESSOR?

>> I DON'T WANT TO PRE-DETERMINE ANYBODY'S VIEWS ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE SITTING IN THIS SEAT.

THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THAT PERSON, HE OR SHE, NEEDS TO MAKE KIDS THEIR TOP PRIORITY.

IT IS SO EASY TO GET PULLED INTO THE POLITICAL PLACES THAT SOMETIMES -- THAT IS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, OTHERS.

IF YOU GET PULLED INTO THAT SPACE, YOU WILL LOSE FOCUS, AND YOU HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON KIDS.

>> WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?

AND PICK UP THERE AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

AND CAREER THAT LED YOU TO ST. LOUIS.

I KNOW YOU WERE DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS.

START FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

>> I WENT TO SCHOOL CALLED JOHN MCDONALD IN NEW ORLEANS.

THAT WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP AND IT WASN'T THERE AND I WANTED TO GO TO NORTHEASTERN MONROE, WHICH IS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

I WENT ON TO TEACH IN NEW ORLEANS FOR 10 YEARS.

I WAS ASKED TO BE A PRINCIPAL.

TURNED IT DOWN 4 OR 5 TIMES AND THEN BECAME THE PRINCIPAL IN THE LARGEST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AT THE TIME.

AND WAS ASKED TO MOVE TO CENTRAL OFFICE BY A NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND ASKED ME TO TAKE OVER ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND I DID.

AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT SAID I NEED TO PUT YOU BACK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND HE DID.

AND HE ASKED ME TO COME BACK A YEAR LATER.

I DID NOT.

I DECIDED TO STAY AT THE SCHOOL AND I LEFT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO WORK AT A UNIVERSITY AS THE ASSOCIATE AT DEAN.

>> AND I HELPED SOMEONE OPEN UP A CHARTER SCHOOL.

AND ST. LOUIS CALLED ABOUT A JOB.

AND CRAIG WILLIAMS HIRED ME AND 30 DAYS LATER THEY FIRED HIM.

>> LIKE SPORTS.

>> THEY WALKED HIM OUT THE DOOR AND ASKED ME TO MOVE TO HR AND I DID FOR 11 MONTHS AND THEN COME TO WORK FOR A GUY NAMED PAUL AND HELP THE CITY AFTER KATRINA AND I DID THAT FOR 18 MONTHS.

AND I GOT A CALL THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION WAS OPEN AND THEY ASKED ME TO APPLY.

I APPLIED.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2008 AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS.

IT IS A BACK AND FORTH.

I LEFT TO GO BACK TO NEW ORLEANS.

WHAT HAS DRIVEN ME IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT OUR KIDS CAN DO WELL.

IF GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY CAN DO IT.

ALL KIDS CAN DO IT.

SOME NEED MORE RESOURCES, AND SOME KIDS GET A GREATER LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND SOME IN NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS DON'T GET THAT SUPPORT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT IS THERE.

THAT'S THE TRAJECTORY THAT BROUGHT ME HERE.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO SIT AROUND AND LISTEN TO RECORDS?

[LAUGHTER.]

>> DECEMBER 31 IS GOING TO GET HERE QUICKLY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR 42 DAYS.

I WILL DO WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE DOING.

THEN I SUSPECT THAT I WILL BE BACK INTO THE FRAY OF SOMETHING TO IMPACT KIDS.

IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

I'M NOT PLANNING ANYTHING.

RETIREMENT IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD.

I WILL ENGAGE IN ANOTHER ROLE THAT WILL CENTER AROUND KIDS.

>> YOU ARE NOT RETIRING?

>> NO.

NO.

>> IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE YOU WERE DONE ALL OF THE WAY.

>> NO.

>> YOU WILL EDUCATE KIDS?

>> I WILL TRY TO IMPACT KIDS IN THE SAINT LOUIS AREA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CONGRATULATIONS!

>> ALVIN REED SIGNING OFF.

>> WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.