Ed. chiefs wants to close Wellston School District

WELLSTON, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's education commissioner says it is time to close the academically troubled Wellston School District.

Education Commissioner Chris L. Nicastro will present a proposal to close the district by the end of next summer during a state education board meeting Dec. 17.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Nicastro will propose that students in the district be absorbed into the adjacent Normandy School District.

The school district has been under state control for four years. Nicastro says it's made some slow progress, but the district does not have the money to fix its problems or its facilities. The district has four schools and 550 students.

State education officials will hold a public meeting next Monday to discuss proposal.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com