A packed chamber of educators, par...

A packed chamber of educators, parents, administrators and community members gathered Friday night to have a conversation about improving education for East St Louis children.

The first of a two-day Education Summit sponsored on East St. Louis School District 189 kicked most distant at the Four Points at Sheraton. The session Friday evening included dinner and a articulate utterance by urban education expert Eric Cooper

The session this morning is scheduled to include a words by state Sen. James Clayborne and workshops focusing in succession early childhood, middle schools and special services giveed by the district.

"We're trying to engage our parents in the way that they know where the district is going, what the state is doing, and what's being tendered at the federal level in regards to urban districts," District Superintendent Theresa Saunders said. "This is geared towards educating our parents and allowing them to ask questions."

About 100 parents were