School choice discussions dominated talk among Missouri Senators

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Intro:	Missouri legislators are urged to ban students from switching from non-accredited schools.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A bill attempts to overturn a court decision to allow kids and their families in St. Louis County to choose to attend an accredited school.

Senator Scott Rupp (Roop) says it shouldn't matter to county schools about which a child chooses to attend.

He tells Parkway School District's superintendent that it's all about learning regardless of their zip code.

Actuality:	RUPPP.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: Rupp: "If we're really going to look at it from the state's perspective, for all the states, I don't give a crap about school boundaries. I want kids to get a good education and if they come to Parkway, educate them."

Actuality: RUPPP.WAV

Run Time: 00:09
Description: Rupp: "If we're really going to look at it from the state's perspective, for all the states, I don't give a crap about school boundaries. I want kids to get a good education and if they come to Parkway, educate them."

Supporters of the bill say it's not a state problem, but a St. Louis City problem.

They want lawmakers to improve public schools from within and not just walk away from the troubled school system.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Senators find common ground on education issue.
RunTime:	0:47
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A bill that denies a kid's choice about where they go to school in St. Louis County tests lawmaker's abilities to compromise.

Leon Henderson is the president of Cardinal Ritter High School, a successful Catholic school in North St. Louis County.

He says his school has 90 empty seats available for students who want to change schools.

Senator Jane Cunningham says Catholic schools are willing to donate eight-thousand five-hundred seats for students and thinks a compromise can be made with bill sponsor Senator Jim Lembke (Lem-key).

Actuality:	CUNI.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: Cunningham: "Would you be willing to let those county districts off if we were to give all the kids in the city and Riverview Gardens vouchers to go to his school?"

Lembke (Lem-key) says he would be willing to change parts of the bill that reflect the compromise.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Politicians worry that a mass exodus from St. Louis City schools could occur.
RunTime:	0:46
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A bill is attempting to deny kids the right to choose which school they attend.

Bill sponsor Senator Jim Lembke (Lem-key)says that the way to make good communities is to have good community schools.

Lembke (Lem-ke) says St. Louis public schools don't add resources in communities by having kids leave and current systems are failing.

Actuality:	LEMBKEE.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: Lembke: "My position would be the way to address that isn't for everybody to leave the city of St. Louis. It's to invest in what's going on as far as fixing it and allowing that to work. Give it a chance."

On the other side of the issue, people think the bill is denying kids to get a better education.

A former St. Louis public school teacher says she's trying to help kids feel safe at school's that they actually want to go to.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.