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SLPS board refers resolution opposing state open-enrollment bill to legislative committee
Summary
St. Louis Public Schools board members voted to refer a proposed district resolution opposing state open-enrollment legislation to the boardlegislative committee for further drafting and consideration after discussion of finance, transportation and special-education implications.
Dr. Borshid, an SLPS staff member who presented the districtlegislative update, told the board it is drafting a resolution to oppose state open-enrollment legislation and asked the board to consider next steps.
"For this reason, I come to you with a resolution to prohibit open enrollment in Saint Louis public schools," Dr. Borshid said during the board meeting.
The board debated potential effects if the state measure moves forward, and Vice President Davis, who chairs the boardlegislative committee, outlined operational concerns she said are embedded in the draft bill. "The most egregious parts of the billwhich I think don't even accomplish what they say it's going to accomplish, is they do not need to accommodate IEPs," Davis said, adding the proposal would not fund transportation and would transfer only state aid, not local effort, with a cap on outflow.
Board member Conover moved to refer the draft resolution to the legislative committee for its meeting on Friday. "So, I would move to refer this to the legislative committee to the meeting on Friday," Conover said. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
Why it matters: Board members and district staff said an open-enrollment law as drafted could shift state funding away from Saint Louis Public Schools and increase district transportation and staffing costs while creating uncertainty about services for students with individualized education programs (IEPs). That combination of funding and service questions prompted the referral so the legislative committee can consider language changes and possible district-specific exemptions.
What the board asked staff to do: The referral directs the legislative committee and staff to prepare proposed amendments and to return recommended language to the full board after the committee meets. Board members explicitly discussed seeking language that would exempt Saint Louis Public Schools because of local circumstances the board said have appeared in prior legislative cycles.
No final resolution was adopted. The referral sends the matter to the boardlegislative committee for further drafting and a future board vote.
