New Federal Formula Expected to Change U City's Graduation Rate Figure

District spokesperson Linda Russell Wesley said the new formula will decrease most high school graduation rates in Missouri. She said it doesn't mean more students are dropping out; it's simply a different way of calculating graduation rate.

University City Superintendent of Schools Joylynn Pruitt notified school board members at Thursday night's meeting that the U.S. Department of Education has changed the way it calculates graduation rates, which affects University City's figures. “This will cause University City and other school districts to go back and recalibrate graduation rates they had previously established,” Pruitt said. She gave the example that with the new formula University City’s graduation rate would go from 83 percent to 73 percent.  "It will appear as though everybody's graduation rate has dropped," Pruitt told University City Patch. "It won't mean that we have not graduated as many kids." According to a news release from the Missouri Department of Elementary…

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PatchCast

Daily PatchCast: Body of Missing Woman Found in Bridgeton, Man Guilty of Killing University City Sergeant and More

A roundup of St. Louis news headline for Thursday.

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Daily PatchCast: Family Seeks Missing Maryland Heights Woman, Ladue Girls Go Winless in Postseason and More

A roundup of St. Louis news headlines for Wednesday.

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University City Police Crime Blotter

U City police responded to several auto thefts and burglaries in mid-December.

 University City Police Department  Weekly Crime Report for 12/13/10-12/19/10.    District 1                   Report#:104281 Burglary                                                                                  Address: 6730 Etzel Avenue                                                                                                         Date/Time From: 12/08/2010; 12:00 PM                                                                                   Date Time To: 12/15/2010; 12:45 PM                                                                                           Incident: Person(s) unknown gained entry into the victim's vacant residence and stole an unknown amount of copper piping.  The suspect(s) gained entry by …

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University City Taps 30-year Veteran as New Fire Chief

Chief Miner plans to emphasize medical training for firefighters.

University City officials announced that Don Miner, a 30-year firefighting veteran, is the city's new fire chief. Miner spent his entire career with the University City Fire Department. "I guess you don't see that kind of loyalty as much any more," Miner said. "But I've never been a guy to move around a lot." Miner was acting chief for three months after the former chief, Steve Olshwanger, retired in July. After 28 years with University City, Olshwanger became chief of the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District. Miner was assistant fire chief for five years. He started with the department in 1980 as a firefighter and paramedic. "He's familiar with the city and he's served the city well for over 30 years," said City Manager Lehman Walker…

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