St. Louis board considers more school closings

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis School Board is expected to vote on a budget Tuesday that could bring even more turmoil to the district.

In an effort to turn around the district and its finances, an outside management firm already has closed 16 schools, eliminated jobs and switched maintenance and food services to private companies.

The district told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Friday it could close three more elementary schools if the budget is approved.

The closings and consolidations are a result of a $23 million budget deficit. Officials had hoped that a retirement incentive would help erase the deficit, but only half the workers needed signed up.

Over the past 15 years, enrollment in the district has fallen 12 percent. District projections for this fall show 4,600 excess elementary school seats.