ST. LOUIS — Despite a possible wave of closures headed for St. Louis Public Schools, the teachers union is calling on the beleaguered district to expand services and open a new career training center.
Later this month, SLPS Superintendent Millicent Borishade is expected to recommend school consolidations in the next phase of the “Reimagining SLPS” plan to address declining enrollment and crumbling buildings in the city.
A recent report commissioned by SLPS suggests the district needs to close 37 of 68 schools to reach goals for building capacity.
“The community has been presented with only one idea of how to deal with the problem of decreasing enrollment, and we think that there are alternative solutions out there,” said Ray Cummings, president of the American Federation of Teachers St. Louis Local 420.
The union will host a forum Wednesday at Vashon High School to hear from district residents and activists including Jitu Brown of the nonprofit Journey for Justice Alliance, which has opposed public school closures in other cities across the country.
Cummings sent a memo to union members on Tuesday calling for full-service community schools in SLPS that would include health care, food services and enrichment classes on campus. The union also wants to open a new career and technical training center for high school students as a pathway to jobs in the trades.
SLPS leaders are looking to cut spending after a state audit showed the district is on track to deplete $200 million in reserves in the next five years. An unknown number of schools are expected to be shuttered by fall 2026, and staff layoffs are a possibility, according to the superintendent.
Borishade’s plan started before the May 16 tornado damaged seven school buildings in north St. Louis that have not reopened.
Cummings said he is concerned the general public is not aware that more school closures are on the way.
“The fact is, our community is not aware of what’s going on,” Cummings said. “We just think we need to have other voices in the discussion.”
Participation in the district’s “Reimagining SLPS” future planning and school closure process has been minimal.
The district received 451 responses from a dozen community meetings and an online survey. Of those, 17 came from “members of the community” who were not SLPS staff, 158 came from parents, 83 from students and 97 came from staff. The three remaining responses came from members of the SLPS board.
The responses to open-ended questions were split on closing schools, according to documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch through a public records request.
“I STRONGLY disagree with this consolidation premise. Do not consolidate; do not close schools; do not hurt neighborhoods,” one wrote on the anonymous survey.
Another response agreed with the need for closures.
“They could have MUCH less schools with MUCH MORE in each school. (Quality over quantity) This would give many students more opportunities, and would help them find communities that they fit into.”
At least one attendee voted for a third alternative — building new schools.
“While old buildings are beautiful, when possible, new 21st facilities should be built in order to accommodate the needs of 21st century students.”
The “conversation on sustainable community public schools” will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Vashon High School.
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Blythe Bernhard | Post-Dispatch
Education reporter
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