By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis School District held the first of five forums Wednesday night to get feedback for a plan to reconfigure schools.
Schools would expand or contract to meet space and structural needs; three would shut down completely. In all, nearly half of the district's 94 schools would be reconfigured.
interim Chief Operating Officer Deanne Anderson says the current proposal is not set in stone, and parents will be informed of changes. But she also says a final vote on the plan won't take place until after next month's School Board election.
Anderson adds the district will not have to fire any teachers because the natural attrition rate should eliminate any excess.
Valery Williams, a parent, expressed concerns about putting 7th graders together with 12th graders. She worried that might put some youngsters at risk, while trying to force 11-year olds to grow up too fast.
Euclid Montessori School as well as Humboldt and Webster Middle schools would be closed under the plan.
There will be another hearing to discuss the plans tonight (Thursday) at 6:00 at Webster Middle School.