Tough talk from the staff of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) at Thursday night's University City School Board meeting.

"You're going to have to focus" on the areas you think are important, said Robert Taylor, DESE Area Supervisor.  He said the University City school district has a superior comprehensive school improvement plan, but it is very large. "To have the resources to do everything that they want to do is not being realistic," he said.

As it stands, the District remains fully accredited, but if it were to undergo a review at this stage it would not meet the state’s academic standards. 

Taylor gave an update on U. City's school improvement plan and accreditation status.  "This school district is a good school district and I would like to see that you continue that way," he said. "But the issue will be, do you have a plan? Do you work the plan? Or do you wander all over the place?"

Taylor put the pressure for progress squarely on Superintendent Joylynn Wilson Pruitt. "That's the reason she gets paid the big bucks."  He said it's important that the board work together and not micro-manage the superintendent. "Her job (Superintendent Pruitt) is to take what you want to get done and let her do it."

Taylor said the school board will have to narrow down the things it really cares about. "University City has a good plan. They're working the plan. We'll see this coming year on how they hit their targets." 

School Board President Tom Peters commended the board for its hard work. "I think we have made some progress." He said the board has had some very tough conversations about having realistic expectations in respect to the administration,  teachers and students.