SLPS board approves donation, demolition RFPs, program moves and Hickey reopening
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Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Saint Louis Public Schools board accepted a $554,025 donation for a Saint Louis University teaching fellows program, authorized RFPs for demolition of six surplus buildings, approved sunsetting standalone sixth-grade classrooms, approved cosmetology program relocation, and voted to reopen Hickey School with up to $804,436 in construction funds.
The Saint Louis Public Schools Board of Education voted on multiple action items at its Feb. 10 regular meeting, approving a donation, issuing demolition requests for proposals, and authorizing program and facility actions.
Donation accepted: The board approved acceptance of a $554,025 donation to support the Saint Louis University teaching fellows program from a Parsons-affiliated foundation. The motion passed on roll call.
Demolition RFPs: The board authorized issuance of requests for proposals for demolition of six surplus vacant buildings (listed in the motion as Euclid, Gundlach/Gunlock variants, Hempstead, Stowe, Scullen and Walnut Park). Board discussion noted three of the buildings (Hempstead, Scullen and Walnut Park) have been closed since about 2003 and that funding for demolition will come from insurance and partner support, not the district’s general operating budget; staff said they were working with city partners including CDA and SLDC.
Program and grade-configuration votes: The board approved a motion to sunset standalone sixth-grade classrooms at Adams, Hickey, Mason and Nance; the roll call recorded one abstention (Doctor Harvey) and the motion carried. The board also approved relocating the cosmetology program from Beaumont to Clyde C. Miller; discussion emphasized concerns about centralizing career and technical education (CTE) programs and asked staff to provide cost estimates and proposals to expand similar offerings to other high schools such as Vashon.
Hickey reopening: The board approved a motion to reopen Hickey School in August 2026 with construction funding authorized up to $804,436. The motion passed on roll call.
Procedural note: Several motions were made and seconded from the dais; roll calls were taken for each approval. Where abstentions were recorded on the minutes and the grade-configuration vote, the board nevertheless carried the motions.
What’s next: Board members asked staff to follow up with cost projections and proposals for program expansion and adaptive reuse options for surplus buildings. The board adjourned to closed session at 7:30 p.m. pursuant to a Missouri statute cited during the meeting.