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SLPS, City and National Guard agree to open school sites as tornado debris hubs; board OKs drafting MOU
Summary
After a May 16 tornado damaged multiple St. Louis Public Schools buildings and homes, city and district officials outlined a debris-collection plan using vacant school sites, backed by a two-week National Guard operation; the board voted to draft a memorandum of understanding to formalize collaboration.
On May 20 the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) board heard details of emergency stabilization and debris-removal plans after a tornado tore through parts of the city on May 16, damaging school buildings and private properties.
SLPS staff said they have assessed about 28 buildings and moved students and staff from unsafe locations. "We've assessed damages," SLPS staff reported, and Mr. Watson, identified in the meeting as the district operations lead, said the district has spent roughly $1,100,000 on immediate stabilization and estimates total near-term stabilization costs around $1,800,000 including contingency.
City representatives described a short-term National Guard-supported debris program that would use vacant school sites as neighborhood drop-off hubs. Casey Milberg, policy staff in Mayor Spencer's office, told the board the Guard's role is limited and humanitarian: "The Guard's role is to assist the city. The Guard support is currently planned for a 2 week operating period," and she stressed "there will be no weapons, no armed National Guard members as part of this." The sites identified for debris collection included vacant school properties at Marshall, Turner, Farragut and DeAndre's (addresses discussed in the meeting). City staff said gates would be wrapped with co‑branding, sites would operate roughly 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the operation would include environmental oversight by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Officials described staffing and equipment for the hubs: 41 National Guard engineering personnel, city staff and health department employees on site to distribute protective equipment and information, one front loader and two dump trucks per site, sanitation facilities, and nightly site security with unarmed safety officers and directed patrols from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The city said debris would be removed from the sites multiple times daily to avoid on-site accumulation.
Board members raised community concerns including how salvageable materials—especially brick—would be handled and protected. City staff said they were working to identify local brick-preservation options (including a facility in the Mark Twain Industrial Complex area) and to coordinate with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on environmental handling and potential on-site remediation after operations conclude. City representatives also described a parallel, contractor-led “grid-by-grid” debris pick-up program coordinated with community partners.
After discussion, the board voted to authorize staff to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize collaboration with the city on tornado recovery and debris collection. Board member Brown made the motion to draft the MOU; the motion was approved by roll call vote (see actions).
