SLPS continues process of school consolidations

District to seek public comments at community forums

[Public Comment Form]

St. Louis—The St. Louis Public School District is in the process of evaluating facility proposals for the 2008-09 school year. A facilities committee is currently reviewing the use of school buildings throughout the district. The process represents the second phase of a course of action that began last year.

No decisions are finalized at this time. Community input will be actively sought before the final recommendations are presented to the Special Administrative Board this spring.

As in 2007, there will be at least two rounds of community forums to give parents an opportunity to hear the proposed plan and provide their feedback. Last year, changes were made to the plan based on community input.

The goal of the school consolidation plan is to place students in environments conducive to learning, as well as to reduce the expense of operating schools with low enrollment.

Buildings being considered for consolidation sit in areas where nearby schools can absorb the students. Schools that have been targeted lack air conditioning. Children from these schools would be transferred to buildings equipped with air conditioning.

As part of the preliminary plan, the district is considering the closing of several schools. They are:

• Mitchell (students move to Hamilton)
• Gundlach (students move to Ford, Lexington and Laclede)
• Wilkinson ECC (move program to Roe)
• Shenandoah (students move to Wyman)
• Simmons (students move to Hickey, Cote Brilliante and Farragut)
• Lyons (students move to Blow)
• Mark Twain (students move to Walbridge)
• Meramec (students move to Monroe and Froebel)

The proposal includes reopening Carver School as a pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade school – due to the neighborhood’s revitalization.

The district will schedule community forums in the coming weeks, and public comments will actively be sought.

Comment cards will be provided at the forums and in the schools. Public comments may also be submitted online at www.slps.org, by calling (314) 331-6100, or by writing to: Operations Division, St. Louis Public Schools, 801 N. 11th St., St. Louis, MO 63101.