‘I am devastated’: SLPS announces six schools affected by tornado won’t open at start of school year
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Students who attend six St. Louis Public Schools will be required to switch schools at the beginning of the school year due to extensive storm damage from the May 16 tornado.
“I am devastated by the news that children won’t be able to start school at their own site,” said Velma Bailey.
Former St. Louis Public Schools teacher Velma Bailey told First Alert 4 the combination of a tornado ravaging north St. Louis—forcing multiple schools to close to start the year—is not ideal for students in those schools.
“Some of the children’s families are very negatively affected by the tornado and this inconsistency doesn’t help,” said Bailey.
On Tuesday, SLPS announced that six schools won’t open this fall due to extensive tornado damage. That list includes Sumner High, Yeatman Middle, Soldan High, Washington Montessori and Ashland Elementary.
Programs at Beaumont will be housed at a different school as well.
First Alert 4 toured Ashland last month and saw roof damage, water throughout the building and electrical problems.
“This is just sad,” said Dr. Millicent Borishade last month.
Dr. Millicent Borishade was unavailable to speak to us Tuesday, but in a statement said moving some students’ schools is in their best interest “until we have a clear and firm plan for the restoration and reopening of their original buildings.”
“Gas prices getting high, my tee-tee got to take them to school so it gonna be different,” said Shermon Phillips.
Shermon Phillips is about to enter high school, and while he’s unaffected, his little cousins can no longer go to Ashland.
“They ain’t gonna be able to see them friends and it will hurt them a little bit,” said Phillips.
It’s unclear how this will affect the district’s new transportation plan with bus company Zum, which will begin service this year.
It also comes as district leaders consider consolidating schools in the future, as they have too many buildings for their current student enrollment. Bailey fears this is the beginning.
“I think it is the starting point for closing schools and moving children to other locations,” said Bailey.
Head of the local teachers union AFT 420 Ray Cummings said he has no idea how this will affect the teachers in those schools that won’t open to start the year.
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