# data[].attributes.body
Portfolio A is not working but the community piece is important.

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Model B holds a technological component that creates inclusion and convenience.

# data[].attributes.subject
Model B holds a technological component that creates inclusion and convenience.

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Model C offers STEM advancement; our kids are already being left behind.

# data[].attributes.subject
Model C offers STEM advancement; our kids are already being left behind.

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Mixing grades /families could cause a safety risk (bus safety as well)

# data[].attributes.subject
Mixing grades /families could cause a safety risk (bus safety as well)

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Least disruptive I would like to see components of model C incorporated in model A 

# data[].attributes.subject
Least disruptive I would like to see components of model C incorporated in model A 

# data[].attributes.body
Is this a top down or a bottom up approach? How can we take what’s working and grow it? Mann Elementary for example makes no sense to close in the Model C scenario due to such high community involvement.

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Offers more growth and advancement opportunities for elementary kids to be exposed earlier to middle school programs

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Too much disruption risks loss of even more teachers

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If we cannot afford to keep our current 20 neighborhood schools open, how will we afford the ongoing maintenance, staffing, and utility costs of these newly updated spaces?

Closing a school causes massive disruption to a child's routines and emotional well-being, which directly impacts their ability to learn. What specific, data-backed evidence do you have that moving students out of these 20 schools will improve their literacy rates rather than cause them to fall further behind?

If we are saving money by closing these schools, exactly what percentage of those savings will be directly reinvested a model that invests in reading specialists, high-dosage tutoring, and classroom resources for the receiving schools?

School closures historically impact specific neighbourhoods harsher than others. What equity analysis was done to ensure these 20 closures don't disproportionately affect the most vulnerable student populations in our city?

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Keeps community cohesive for longer (both parents and students)

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Keeps community cohesive for longer (both parents and students)

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All Models have similarly with regards to same high schools as feeder schools.

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All Models have similarly with regards to same high schools as feeder schools.

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Model c students will remain the same from pre k to highschool.

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Least disruptive but maybe also least helpful

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Least disruptive but maybe also least helpful

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While this is the most disruptive at first, this will prove the most stability long term and avoid closing schools every 5 years

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None of these plans include cutting or combining redundant 801 positions. They only include cutting schools and teachers.

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Would middle school structure in B and C still look like a traditional middle school with changing classes/block schedules?

# data[].attributes.subject
Would middle school structure in B and C still look like a traditional middle school with changing classes/block schedules?

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This is the safest model, this will help the kids know where they are going. 

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This is the safest model, this will help the kids know where they are going. 

# data[].attributes.body
Offers a bridge approach, options.

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This model wouldn’t be a bad idea. With how much enrollment has declined, I am confident the school staff can put safeguards in place to keep PK students away from 7th and 8th graders.

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Keep the pk- 5 and 6-9 structure, but reduce the number of schools in each tier to meet the consolidation needs. The needs of a pk student are too different from an 8th grade student yo host in one building. You have an environment with no resilience or depth to handle staffing issues.

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1) Saving money by reducing transportation needs should not be the top priority.

2) How can we not continue a legacy of harming communities by closing functioning neighborhood schools?

3) Why not fight the larger longer-term battle of reversing enrollment decline and restoring community confidence in public education?

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What is the cap teacher student ratio for consolidated models?

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If the model is neighborhood schools (which makes sense for transportation) how do we protect against racially segregated schools when we have racially segregated neighborhoods?

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If the model is neighborhood schools (which makes sense for transportation) how do we protect against racially segregated schools when we have racially segregated neighborhoods?

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It seems all models will integrate the same transportation plan. Model C reduces routes by a third, which would be a huge benefit since Dr Berry said transportation costs many millions of dollars per year—probably one of the largest pieces of the budget other than labor.

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What security measures will be in place for students PreK - 8, keeping them separate within the school with their appropriate age group?

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What security measures will be in place for students PreK - 8, keeping them separate within the school with their appropriate age group?

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I would like to see middle schoolers in separate schools.

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Safety concerns with the concept of preK-8th grade on one campus

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I like A, but believe all schools should be a neighborhood model offering performing arts, advanced academics, and CTE.

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McKinley does a good job keeping 6-8 to middle school floors and 9-12 to the high school floors. I imagine any PreK-8th grade schools would have to be divided into wings. The real concern is buses since there is less staff (i.e. just one driver) on the bus to keep an eye on things.

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in our modern social atmosphere with social media, we need to avoid having 6-8 grade students negatively influencing the growth and behavior of PK-5 students by being in close proximity all day. 6-8 grade behavior has changed for the worse in the modern social media age. We need to identify and work toward improving middle school problem behaviors.

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As a parent of a 6 year old i do not feel comfortable putting my child in a setting as such 

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As a parent of a 6 year old i do not feel comfortable putting my child in a setting as such 

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What academic gains do you expect from each model—not just financial savings?

How many staff members would actually be displaced under each model?

How will teacher morale and retention be affected?

What evidence from other districts shows that PK-8 schools improve student outcomes?

How will savings be reinvested directly into classrooms?

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Best opportunity to build community with families. You build relationships and, hopefully retention.

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Regardless we are gonna hurt families with our decisions. We need to pick the options that reduces the risk of closing schools again in 4,6 , 10 years

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In my opinion I don’t like the idea of elementary students mixed in w/middle school students. 

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In my opinion I don’t like the idea of elementary students mixed in w/middle school students. 

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What security measues will be in place for student safety when kids KG - 8 are riding the same bus?

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What security measues will be in place for student safety when kids KG - 8 are riding the same bus?

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What are the success indicators of any implemented model?

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What are the success indicators of any implemented model?

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McKinley High School has a thriving student, parent and teacher community. It is the only school that offers Advanced Academics (producing AP scores of 4 and 5 from their students), an award-winning band and arts program, sports and extra-curriculars. It is one of only three SLPS high schools that is in the top 20 public schools in Missouri. It gives our students the well-rounded experience you stated as a goal and yet you want to destroy it. It is also a benefit to McKinley Middle School students because it shows for higher math and arts experiences. "Sunsetting" McKinley High is a short-sighted plan that would be terrible for the district and certainly result in more students leaving the district.

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Model A best for least disruption, but may not provide enough savings year over year. Also, how long would closed buildings be left vacant before repurposing.

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Some schools may benefit from both models.

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McKinley High School is what every neighborhood high school should be - from SPED supports to AP classes, with nationally & state award winning Performing Arts, sports, STEM, top 20 HS in the state. While I*hope* that all neighborhood high schools will someday be as amazing as McKinley, there is no guarantee and it makes no sense to close McKinley when you have no proof that you can replicate it. Expand McKinley HS, don’t close it. You need to fix the elevator for the MS anyway.

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We thought this model was the best but could benefit for more conversations surrounding the 33% mobility rate and attendance as this impacts funding. Also could the specialized pathways be integrated into the other schools instead of being separate? This model maintains some cushion to operations and provides the most room for possible unexpected population growth.

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But how can we be sure we won’t close more schools in a few years again

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This allows for us to take time for us to use a hybrid model to bridge and perfect the PK-8 model, before the district goes ALL IN for future school years.

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Model A would be my the most feasible but the roll out needs to be revised to 5 schools per year over 3 years.

We need to SLOW DOWN and track real data to see if this plan will work. After closing the first 5 schools in year one track how much money was actually saved. Where did the students go? Did they attend the schools the district suggested? Did we re-purpose the buildings? Did we retain staff? Did the plan work or did it fall apart.

If it failed to do what we said we need to start over. If the intended outcomes took place then proceed with the next 5.

Closing 15 schools at once will do more harm to the Northside than good

One other comment, these conversations need to be had at the schools with the parents students and staff these will directly impact. Even if the school only has 100 students they deserve for someone to look them in the eye and explain why their school is closing.

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We are here to address our concerns for the long term. We cannot keep spinning the wheels, maybe we need to rip the bandaid off and move away from the most comfortable model

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How many students are we losing to charter schools and do we know why?

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-What will happen with all the abandoned buildings once closed?

-Does the district still have to fund the abandoned/closed buildings?

-Pk-8 schools seem good for the community but the buildings absolutely have to be configured to be sure that the elementary and middle school students are not together

-Research states when moving to a K-8 model, one grade level at a time should be implemented, not all at one time

-The turn around time seems very ambitious. How will the district prepare to configure the buildings in 2 months? (summer of 2027)

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We are inevitably going to lose families to charters and private. Does too much change too fast make that problem worse?

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I like this model much better.

Less movementwith movementof Education Levels

Consistency for parents with Schools

Pathway knowledge of knowing what school the student will attend.

HS students should use Public Transportation and paid and monthly stipend.

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How will you address charter schools dismissing students but keeping the funding once released?

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Consider how you will work with community partners to build the community around this model to build the community up

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Model B provides a balance between sustaining schools that work and modifying those to become more efficient and beneficial to students. This model may create more equity throughout the district and allow students to attend the best option for them. Introducing this model will also require building renovations to accommodate new grade levels. More schools could see upgrades faster!

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Model B provides a balance between sustaining schools that work and modifying those to become more efficient and beneficial to students. This model may create more equity throughout the district and allow students to attend the best option for them. Introducing this model will also require building renovations to accommodate new grade levels. More schools could see upgrades faster!

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Model A seems to allow for cost savings on transportation, since the students will be attending schools closest to their homes.

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Have community members in individual neighborhoods especially possible closing schools been consulted?

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Has SLPS considered terminating it's PreK program and only serve KG-12.  Two teachers are required to be in a PreK classroom.  What % of PreK SLPS students remain in SLPS schools after PreK?

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Has SLPS considered terminating it's PreK program and only serve KG-12.  Two teachers are required to be in a PreK classroom.  What % of PreK SLPS students remain in SLPS schools after PreK?

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Model based on A with traditional middle schools but would be sustainable in future years.

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Have we considered another model: P - 2, 3 - 8, and 9 - 12?

Then gifted screening at 2nd only.

3 - 8 is all state tested grades

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What would repurposing buildings look like

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The district need something change if it is to survive. However the district's ability to execute change has not been proven. Or more directly, it has demonstrated no ability to navigate change of any magnitude.

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How will you all handle behavior challenges with having elementary in the same school as middle school students? I have seen first-hand the issues we have had at the Gateway complex with older students influencing younger students in a “bad way” on the bus.

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A great idea would be to keep students in the schools while doing the repurposing. This will

help keep them in their neighborhoods and also show students exactly what trades look like. Our students could do internships. Another idea would be to not close all the schools like a light switch. Give us a 3- 5 year vision that is amazing. The superintendent can make the decision to have smaller class sizes. Creat a relationship to make sure we have affordable housing. The district also needs be more vocal. What are y’all doing to get the families back here?

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Are our schools capable of receiving additional students? How will we limit class sizes or the number of grade levels at buildings?

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Why not put the special pathways into neighborhood schools? So all schools have all the programs. This would lower the needs for transportation further. 

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Why not put the special pathways into neighborhood schools? So all schools have all the programs. This would lower the needs for transportation further. 

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How about having more PK-5 schools combined, 6-8 combined verses Pk-8 model.

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Even if schools keeps grades separate how can a 4 year old ride the bus with the 8th graders

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How will playgrounds be safe and engaging for all students in P3 through 8th?

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How can we ensure that our neighborhoods aren't saddled with even more vacant buildings with the impending school closures?

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Simplified patterns of school-direct feeder patterns

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How will we separate students in PK-K from older students? I have concerns about shared bus riding, fights, inappropriate language, and sexualized behaviors.

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I'm not sure that changes are radical enough given the population loss and we could be back her le having similar conversations sooner than we anticipate.

However, I do believe that collaboration between the school district and the city is an absolute must.

Both have roles in creating healthy and vibrant communities and schools should be a central amenity to every community.

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It is a shame that you would like to remove the advanced high school that is the most racially diverse and queer friendly, even though it has similar enrollment to Metro, Collegiate, CVPA and is a top 20 public school in Missouri. This is hurtful to many students and staff.

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I think model A can be transitioned into model C over time. I think this is a good starting point

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People in my group liked this model best. Think it’s the best option in the long term and will save some money.

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There is no high school option for students who want advanced academics and high level arts and extracurriculars.

As a parent, this dream was sold to me as the way CSMB and CVPA would be when they moved to the same campus. This was not and is not the case.

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To what extent are closure decisions being made based on real estate values? Are some schools being selected for closure because they are in desirable neighborhoods rather than enrollment realities?

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Why do these decisions need to be made in the summer within a month? This seems wild and intentionally excluding many people who would be involved in the process during the school year.

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Model C is financially sound. If our system doesn’t solve our financial problems our schools will be dissolved In a short time. Although Modle C is most difficult it should happen at the beginning of the school year. So while the buildings are being constructed, the District can make use of the existing buildings. Transportation will no longer be a financial burden .

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Has the district calculated the financial loss if 10% or 20% of families from these closed schools choose charter schools, private schools, or neighbouring districts instead? At what point does family flight wipe out the savings from closing these buildings?

When neighbourhood schools close, transit times increase. At a rate of $30M+, what is the district's specific plan to ensure that longer commutes, shifted bus routes, or changing boundaries won't actually decrease attendance and push families to leave the district entirely?

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Has familiarity and connection. We won’t have to let go many of the staff. Sometime full capacity is not best for teaching students as the teachers are more distracted by behavioral kids. There will be more positive feedback from kids and families with consistency and experiences. Although it may not be the best cost effective I think it is the best for rebuilding the community. I am concerned about children feeling stuck in PK-8 schools there could be bullying. Don’t feel safe having little ones with older kids. Worried about overcrowding in classes and relationship issues with kids from different area codes. I’m worried about the closure in black areas if St. Louis wants to grow education is important and with the deduction of schools. We will be killing off communities because families move into areas based on schools.

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Some streets (for example Grand and Kingshighway) are being reconfigured from three-pane to two lane roads, however they are still hazardous for young students to cross. Is this being taken into consideration when requiring some students to walk to school?

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While aspects of these options sound great on paper, I haven’t seen the district able to actually execute anything remotely like this. I don’t see SLPS able to execute even the most minor changes gracefully, let alone doing a complete overhaul in this timeline.

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There was a question about magnets and it was implied that money wasn’t the issue for distributing opportunity, other resources were. Please help us understand how those resources aren’t because of money? What are these resources and how are they suddenly available under these models?

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We need community meetings at different times of the day/night

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Gifted services provided in neighborhood schools

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Gifted services provided in neighborhood schools

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Why are the predominantly white “gifted” schools untouched by all 3 plans when gifted services (like ELL & SPED services) should be provided at ALL neighborhood schools to all students who qualify for services? Many students need multiple services - gifted & SPED, ELL & gifted, etc.

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Keep P-k to itself.

Kindergarten to 5th grade together

6th in there own building.

9th - 12th grade together Do to the safety of our children. Neighborhood schools that in small areas need parents, teachers, and transportation communications. We can make sure can put schools that are good be prepared in Model B

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It is short sighted to close a highly specified high school option and leave open 7 similarly-sized sites.

Other districts with many more students have way fewer, better high schools.

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I personally am glad we are finally moving towards a CTE Center like all the other school districts have been investing in. The key word is investing in. I do think it will be difficult to maintain a full CTE site with a hybrid site. There was mention on one of the slides about the school behind Clyde being used for future programming with Clyde. Would that be to bring all CTE to one building? I think having them separate in the hybrid model for CTE doesn’t present the best opportunity. Almost all the other districts remove all CTE programs and put them in one center. I also think that keeping some introduction classes in the high schools or even middle schools, to get kids more interested and excited about the CTE pathways would be amazing. We do need to add more programs though like automotive and engineering.

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Why not combine more middle schools and high schools rather than elementary and middle? McKinley already has a model for combining 6-12 that works great for students.

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Have you considered combining middle school and high school buildings instead of PK-8? McKinley’s building is a proven model that works and offers the well-rounded student experience the district is looking for: academics, athletics, and creative arts which bring the entire community together. McKinley’s building model should be duplicated, not dismantled. 

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Have you considered combining middle school and high school buildings instead of PK-8? McKinley’s building is a proven model that works and offers the well-rounded student experience the district is looking for: academics, athletics, and creative arts which bring the entire community together. McKinley’s building model should be duplicated, not dismantled. 

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There has been a benefit to being in Slps to having early education schools and not having older kids with the younger kids (8th grade with kindergarten for example) and it would be sad to take that benefit away. Also, Slps gets recognition for some of its schools and programs and I don't think that is being considered. I didn't grow up in St Louis so I will say it is confusing what options there are for schools and what they offer- if that could be made clearer more may come or stay vs going to charter schools- but not that the options should go away. If they do close schools, there should be sight put on before or after care for the youngest kids, even if the school start times are made better, as they can't stay at home by themselves if the parents are still at work when buses drop off and those care options are already limited.

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I believe when Ferguson/Florissant had a decline in their enrollment, they closed some schools and implemented the prek- 2nd early elementary schools, 3-5 intermediate elementary schools, and 6-8 middle, and 9-12 high school. Is this a possibility for us?

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Out of the three models, Model A is the best option. I do not think sunsetting the gifted programs will do the district any good when it comes to APR points. You will see a decline in scores and growth points!  There is a reason why Ferguson-Florissant moved all of their gifted students to STEAM! Regardless of the model chosen, schools must be closed.  

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Out of the three models, Model A is the best option. I do not think sunsetting the gifted programs will do the district any good when it comes to APR points. You will see a decline in scores and growth points!  There is a reason why Ferguson-Florissant moved all of their gifted students to STEAM! Regardless of the model chosen, schools must be closed.  

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While this plan offers convivence, what about the social and emotional growth of students? By 8th grade, students should be exposed to various careers and have an ICAP on file (MSIP points attached to it). Even independent schools like Crossroads and New City have students go from Pre-K-7th grade and then 8-12. Has the district considered that model? 

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While this plan offers convivence, what about the social and emotional growth of students? By 8th grade, students should be exposed to various careers and have an ICAP on file (MSIP points attached to it). Even independent schools like Crossroads and New City have students go from Pre-K-7th grade and then 8-12. Has the district considered that model? 

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If we look at neighboring districts who serve just as much-if not more kids than us, they do not have the number of schools that we have. Look at Wentzville, Rockwood, Hazelwood, Ferguson-Florissant. 

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If we look at neighboring districts who serve just as much-if not more kids than us, they do not have the number of schools that we have. Look at Wentzville, Rockwood, Hazelwood, Ferguson-Florissant. 

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PK-3rd and 6-8th grade bathrooms, very different. Will buildings be retro-fitted for this? My child's current elementary building has shorter toilets, sinks, etc for the PK-3rd graders. I have the same concern with playground equipment (size, etc.)

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Will Portfolio Model C (moving all PK-8th graders into the same buildings) finally get us to healthy start time for middle schoolers? If so, I support it. Starting at 7 am is not healthy and research has shown that school start times of 8 am or later result in higher math and reading scores for elementary and middle schoolers. Reduced transportation cost with Model C, and healthy start times facilitating more learning and higher test proficiency is a Win-Win.

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Will Portfolio Model C (moving all PK-8th graders into the same buildings) finally get us to healthy start time for middle schoolers? If so, I support it. Starting at 7 am is not healthy and research has shown that school start times of 8 am or later result in higher math and reading scores for elementary and middle schoolers. Reduced transportation cost with Model C, and healthy start times facilitating more learning and higher test proficiency is a Win-Win.

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Future Ready SLPS Takeaways:

1. Will students have to go to their neighborhood school option or can they enroll in any school if families provide the transportation and maintain attendance? I think this idea will appeal most to families who favored the magnet schools.

2. If the district goes with Option C, how will small elementary schools hold 400 students? I think some of these building capacity numbers are off. Max class size should be 20 students.

3. If the district is planning to reduce all the various school staff, I hope they're also going to reduce the number of network superintendents.

4. If each building is going to have about 300-400 students, each building should have a principal, asst principal, 2 social workers, 2 counselors, 4 building subs, 2 academic coaches and 2 secretaries to properly meet student needs.

5. How will any of these options impact the bell time discussion that was going on? Hopefully we can get rid of late start schools and go to 2 bell times.

6. If high schools are going to have about 700 students, I hope they can also get a grade level principal for each grade and a head principal like other districts. High schools will also need about 3 social workers/counselors, 6 building subs, 2-3 academic coaches, and 3-4 secretaries.

7. Hopefully these consolidations don't lead to oversized classrooms, more unreasonable teacher expectations and more unrealistic demands from support staff.

8.Will intervention staff such as reading and math specialst be brought back into the schools along with paraprofessionals?

9. I like that this means schools may not have to share support staff such as social workers, FSS, nurses, and related arts teachers.

10. Will all schools have more electives like other districts such as family & consumer science, drivers ed, foreign language, band, orchestra, choir, speech and drama, and technology classes?

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The idea that this decision will be made and all the details ironed out in time for magnet applications on the normal schedule is very difficult to believe. Kids in SLPS with transition points this year (5&8 graders) are going to consider other, stable, predictable options. It’s hard to have faith that SLPS will pull this off for these students. This timeline is too rushed.

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Lots of impact to the community of families, students, and teachers in these plans. There is no mention of how we will “right-size” administrative staff. How many network superintendents will be needed once a third of the district’s schools close? I’ve also always been confused about why the district doesn’t sell the central office building (it would sell fast with its location) and relocate to one of the closed buildings. Why is there no discussion of moving transportation in-house? Other districts this size run their own transportation. What’s the timeline for selling all the buildings we’re letting rot? There are so many cost-saving measures that don’t even appear to be part of the conversation.

The way this “community engagement” process is being run feels like nothing more than a check-the-box situation, which is honestly how every engagement opportunity comes across as a parent of an SLPS student. Meetings are almost always at 5:00 and advance notice is rare (this is not new to you—why can’t we get dates at least a month out?) Many families don’t have childcare at this time. Why are there no virtual options around lunch? Where is the survey for the district community as a whole? Not everyone can show up in-person, and they still deserve a voice. All these choices add to the narrative that the district doesn’t actually want partnership from the community that funds it. SLPS has a lot of work to do to rebuild the community’s trust after the leadership debacle of the last several years. It’s time to make a real effort to get feedback—and not just try to sell us on what you’ve already decided the solutions are.