[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6160312,"mediaKeyId","5450679-39eb3a85240ce75784d5bc201dd18294","parentId",5450679,"title","SLPS master plan: consultants say city schools underused, tornado damage could cut enrollment by about 2,000","audioSeconds",3005,"startMs",2493000,"endMs",5498000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450679-39eb3a85240ce75784d5bc201dd18294&start=2493&end=5498","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450679-39eb3a85240ce75784d5bc201dd18294/thumbnail_2493000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6160312/Missouri/SLPS-master-plan-consultants-say-city-schools-underused-tornado-damage-could-cut-enrollment-by-about-2000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160312-4551498354f5310f035f1bf5b4266c47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157163&Signature=USegvpe4TJic8JfEiGpBRXo0YK-ny2QN3fWkex2nKjbQUy9Y0Twomv-QeB-0MCdUNaXJ1y~7UvmSQAIwI2sI-bFRY7nqKco53hGlIZhIA8rrqaW2Ic56iIKAmqZbOOHTJRwF~xJEIQ8QcVfaHbobPJQRdsG1RrMh-tikiL9lW4tkfuGSkADzYlLtbPuPZZXCIFVlw9X0VgTXs9JNZa18rjIM5IIFbmrpqID8YHF~sxHCMyaNc9nVPxpcaGapJvH6wD8Yk5dPlgT1C1fSaIML41d~iahy1o6Bsu2Jd-9M4XoOKckfcswNmtecDH10I81E-bseXMYoZWRVKSYVuQB0yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-23T11:46:53.823Z","article","Consultants retained by Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) presented a master-planning update at the July 22 work session that combined a facilities condition assessment, demographic forecasts and tornado-impact modeling. The team said SLPS operates 68 schools in 79 buildings with an average building age of roughly 79 years and estimated cumulative reserve costs (the cost of systems that have reached or exceeded expected lifespans) of about $1.84 billion over a 20-year planning horizon.

The presentation outlined damage from the May 16, 2025 tornado that directly affected 12 schools and created a buffer area of additional impact. Consultants presented low- and high-impact scenarios and said their high-impact projection would result in approximately 2,000 fewer students districtwide for the 2025–26 school year — a reduction the team said would be additive to preexisting demographic declines in the city. The consultants explained that the district's total enrollment for 2024–25 was about 18,122 and that the systemwide utilization rate is roughly 52.4 percent (about one in two seats vacant).

As part of scenario planning tied to community input — including repeated requests to maintain smaller classroom sizes — the consultants modeled target class-size and utilization metrics (PK–2: 17 students per class; grades 3–5: 20; grades 6–8: 23; grades 9–12: 25). Applying those targets and projected enrollments, the team said SLPS could be served by 31 facilities in the modeled future scenario, implying a surplus of 37 buildings relative to current inventory. The consultant team estimated reserve-cost savings from right-sizing occupied facilities at roughly $182 million through the planning horizon cited in the report, noting that the larger $1.84 billion figure represents longer-term costs across all 68 schools.

Consultants explained key technical terms used in the study: current replacement value (CRV) as a square-footage-based valuation for existing buildings; facility condition index (FCI, a percentage of repair cost vs. replacement cost with an industry target under 30 percent); and reserve costs (costs for systems — roofs, mechanicals, and the like — that have reached the end of expected useful life). They said the district commissioned more than 10,600 observations across 6.54 million square feet of building stock and that the near-term immediate needs identified included debris cleanup, emergency stabilization, environmental testing, and urgent repairs to seven tornado-damaged buildings.

The consultants also summarized financial implications of the tornado response and other unplanned expenses: immediate debris cleanup (~$96,000), immediate recovery stabilization (~$1.2 million), insurance deductibles (~$2.35 million), capital assets (about $3.7 million for items such as laptops) and other repairs; they said FEMA and the state emergency management agency (SEMA) are expected to reimburse a portion of costs (FEMA approximately 75 percent in the consultant estimate, and state reimbursement figures discussed), but the district must front initial expense out of its fund balance. The team warned that continued use of fund balance to cover unplanned repairs could reduce the fund balance toward the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 3 percent guideline by 2030 if not addressed.

Board members and consultants discussed data accuracy and public sharing of dashboards. A board member flagged calculation issues in the public-facing dashboards and asked that the full facility-condition and demographic dashboards for all 68 schools be posted prominently on the SLPS website; the consultants agreed to post and correct items and to update dashboards after September enrollment data are released. Consultants said they had conducted extensive community engagement (a dozen meetings) and would next refine recommendations; they emphasized that the report and scenarios are data-driven analyses, not board recommendations.

Several board members stressed the emotional and community impacts of possible school closures and urged that any decisions proceed methodically with broad local engagement. Consultants and district leaders said right-sizing and targeted reinvestment could free up funds to repair and modernize fewer, better-served facilities, and offered examples of repurposing older school buildings for housing or community uses in other jurisdictions. The district said it will continue to coordinate with city leaders and FEMA/SEMA on recovery and with community groups on neighborhood redevelopment.

The board asked for further materials, including the demographic model variants used for projections, corrected dashboards, and clearer spreadsheets to explain household and school-capture calculations; the consultants agreed to provide those items for follow-up and future board consideration.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Work Session Meeting - 7/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","Consultants presented a facilities master-plan update to the SLPS Board of Education on July 22 that combined a facilities condition assessment and tornado-impact demographic modeling, reporting 68 schools, roughly $1.84 billion in long‑term reserve costs and a possible 2,000-student enrollment decline in 2025–26 tied to tornado impacts.","taxTitle","St. Louis City, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13573,"location","Missouri","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6160319,"SLPS Foundation presents MOU, board orders MOU moved for action after questions on donor transparency",2145,1645000,3790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450679-39eb3a85240ce75784d5bc201dd18294&start=1645&end=3790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450679-39eb3a85240ce75784d5bc201dd18294/thumbnail_1645000.jpg","/articles/6160319/Missouri/SLPS-Foundation-presents-MOU-board-orders-MOU-moved-for-action-after-questions-on-donor-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160319-6cc0eb5e5abeec3462941879fb0f8da9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157163&Signature=oMSyBrmA8RkQ34izKGJ6gklvkrnFmjIMOWWIUIQ64Zj7Yk6kQD2JPycmy5yBCFY7hrNxJCzdM~oAoPqHQSp55rVz5C7aYt-P0RTtnUG0RVVJazRcnCAjMlrO1TfhZwQ1n8iPO6KYZTLzuguQpmWB~pULJPDMmfxeHzNyzN4EJxtVCBDjpWIewK8zee349lEj8e0Bd7wzF0EQcw2jHi0Lnw5FY7c8aUMu98cguTQXjSOqbgjNogbL-e0N7veAROqeAIA-sfOD-fRyXkf~6QGT60KMetZrBmdsKPhDbVRiPDTCFdGBh4ehMo8NopF3Au1nUJ-vqENLWvbSjiRB~Nw7LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Halliday Douglas, president and CEO of the Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation, told the Board of Education during the July 22 work session that the foundation “raise[s] about $2,500,000 to $5,000,000 a year to fund programs that support SLPS students.” Superintendent staff and foundation leaders presented a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and asked the board to move the item to the consent agenda for final consideration at the district’s August meeting.

Board members said they want more detail before approving the MOU. Several questioned how donor-designated funds are tracked and which schools receive money; one board member said she could not find a school-level ledger and asked for more transparency. Superintendent staff and the foundation’s CFO said the foundation keeps donor-designated accounts and provides regular reports, and the district prefers funds routed through central accounting to ensure internal controls and proper recording.

Board members pressed the foundation on several points: how donors and family funds are recorded, whether certain outside foundations (for example, the St. Louis Community Foundation) are funders or custodians, and why the district pays the foundation $40,000 for overhead. Douglas explained the $40,000 covers accounting and customer-service work the foundation performs for roughly 140 donor-designated funds; he said audit statements and donor reports are publicly available and that the foundation meets with district staff quarterly to share program-level financial reporting. The superintendent’s fiscal staff explained the district’s concern is ensuring restricted funds are properly accounted for in district financial statements.

Several board members also raised concern about anonymous gifts and asked whether the foundation would avoid accepting them; Douglas said the foundation is not prepared to eliminate anonymous gifts at this time. Board members asked for school-level reporting showing amounts available and spent for particular programs; Douglas said those ledgers are updated quarterly and provided to donors and program managers. The superintendent and foundation both said they would provide additional documentation to the board ahead of the August meeting.

After public discussion, a board member moved to place the MOU on the consent agenda for the August business meeting; another board member proposed an amendment to treat the item as an action item instead of a consent item so it would be discussed and voted on individually. The board approved the amendment, and then approved the motion as amended to move the MOU to the August 12 meeting as an item for action. The roll call on the final motion as amended recorded five yes votes and two no votes (Yes: Foster, Hykes, Morrison, Hubbard, Collins Adams; No: Conover, Jones). The foundation’s representative said he is available to provide further documents and to meet with board members and staff before the August meeting.

The presentation clarified that the foundation: hosts about 140 donor-designated funds (including PTO and alumni funds), disburses funds to vendors or district project accounts rather than managing programs directly, and often funds district-led initiatives such as Early College and internship programs. Douglas said the foundation’s annual giving has typically ranged from roughly $2.5 million to $5 million, and that one audit year will read near $5 million; he and staff cited annual audits and an outsourced accounting firm as controls. District staff emphasized that money routed directly to schools complicates district financial reporting and internal controls, which is why centralized handling is preferred.

The board directed staff and the foundation to provide the requested financial reporting and supporting documentation in advance of the August 12 meeting so the board can review program-level ledgers and the MOU before voting.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to move SLPS Foundation MOU item to August meeting as a consent item (original motion): moved and seconded; amendment followed. (See action records below.)
- Amendment to move the SLPS Foundation MOU from consent to an action item for the August 12 board meeting: approved by roll call (unanimous on the amendment vote).
- Final motion (as amended) to place the MOU on the August 12 agenda as an item for action: approved by roll call (Yes: Foster, Hykes, Morrison, Hubbard, Collins Adams; No: Conover, Jones).","Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation leaders told the Board of Education they manage more than 140 donor-designated funds and raise roughly $2.5–$5 million a year; board members pressed for clearer reporting and access to financial ledgers and voted to move the proposed MOU to the August 12 meeting as an action item for a vote.","actionData","errors"]

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SLPS master plan: consultants say city schools underused, tornado damage could cut enrollment by about 2,000

SLPS Foundation presents MOU, board orders MOU moved for action after questions on donor transparency