By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Superintendent Creg Williams says the St. Louis school district will need a half billion dollars to operate an ambitious five-year improvement strategy.
The district's plan calls for a major restructuring of some middle and high schools to reduce class sizes, enhanced focus on college preparation and a year-round ninth grade curriculum.
St. Louis teachers' union vice-president Byron Clemens says the plan includes some of the same programs that were cut when a private management firm took control of the district in 2003:
"We had a ninth grade initiative similar to what he's talking about here at Vashon High School and also at Gateway, which was a Top 10 New American high school before Alvarez and Marsal came in," Clemens said. "So we are excited about some of this initiative, but we are cautious about other aspects of it."
The district plans to solicit funding from national foundations and the federal government. It is not proposing a local tax increase.