Congresswoman-Elect Calls To Postpone School Board Vote To Close 11 Schools

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush is calling on St. Louis Public School Board members to push back a vote on a proposal to close 11 schools.

Bush and other community leaders — including those with Invest STL, SLPS Parent and What’s Next SLPS Lead (We Power) — hope a delay would allow more time for the community to weigh in.

The school board recommended a plan to close 11 schools earlier this month, including four high schools, one middle school and six elementary schools, according to a press release from Bush, published Tuesday (December 8).

Currently, the vote is slated for December 15.

St. Louis Public School District Superintendent Kelvin Adams previously said the school board examined data from the past two years, including enrollment, Fox 2 reported December 2. The school board will hold a virtual town hall Tuesday, including the opportunity for public comment.

The town hall is slated for 6:30 p.m. It’ll be streamed on the school district’s YouTube page, where participants will be able to ask questions in the chat, according to KSDK.

The list of schools includes:

• Clay Elementary
• Dunbar Elementary 
• Farragut Elementary 
• Ford Elementary
• Hickey Elementary
• Monroe  Elementary
• Fanning Middle School
• Carnahan High School
• Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC
• Northwest High School
• Sumner High School

But Bush and others are calling for further review, including public comment, as well as additional public meetings and for a new plan.

“The students and families affected by the proposed closures deserve to have their voices fully heard at this point in the process,” Bush said in the release. “Community members need adequate space and time to consider the new proposal and raise their concerns. I stand in solidarity with the parents, educators, and community leaders who have shared their anxieties around this rushed process.

"History shows us that school closures are not only destabilizing but traumatic for entire neighborhoods — and far too often these neighborhoods are Black and brown," Bush continued. "Parents and students will bear the brunt of the consequences of these school closures. One week is not enough time to process a decision that will impact our children’s lives. This process must be delayed, and I look forward to working with SLPS to continue ensuring that our community member voices do not go unheard.”

Photo: Getty Images