When considering the matter of permanently closing, consolidating or reorganizing schools within
the district, it is the intent and desire of the Board of Education to provide students with high quality
academic opportunities in a supportive educational atmosphere, ensure maintenance and
enhancement of program options, and accommodate demographic demands and financial constraints.
The Board may permanently or temporarily close, consolidate or reorganize a school for any reason
including, but not limited to:
1. Efficiency – Enrollment has declined or the space available at a school or schools in close
proximity is not being used in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
2. Physical condition of building – The physical condition of the school building makes
continued operation of the site cost-prohibitive or continued occupancy of the site unsafe or
impractical.
3. Adequacy of site – This includes location, access, surrounding development, traffic patterns
and other environmental conditions.
4. Alternative use of school facilities – The Board may close a school to use its facilities for
other programmatic/educational purposes, for support services, to open a new school or to
expand an existing school.
5. Change in educational focus – The Board may determine that a school closure, consolidation
or reorganization is necessary to address the educational needs of students such as by
implementing new curricula or instructional programs.
Process for Determination of School Closings, Consolidations and Reorganizations
Before any facility is permanently closed, the Board will convene a hearing, or a series of hearings
if appropriate, to elicit public comment regarding the proposed action. The superintendent or
designee will develop procedures for the conduct of the public hearings. Before any school closing,
consolidation or reorganization is proposed, the superintendent’s staff shall prepare an impact
analysis setting forth:
1. Possible alternatives to the proposed action, including maintenance of the status quo.
2. The projected impact that each alternative would have on each school affected by such
action, including reassignment of children.
3. Enrollment data and in-depth demographic studies for the current school year and three-year
enrollment projections for all schools affected by the proposed action.
4. Alternate uses that could be made of the building.
5. Transportation factors including numbers of children bused, time, distance and safety.
6. Costs/Savings in the following areas:
a. Personnel
b. Plant operation
c. Transportation
d. Capital investment
e. Alternate use
After approval by the Board, the superintendent shall be responsible for the orderly closing,
consolidation or reorganization of the school.
If the Board determines to close a school, it will first consider other uses that the school district
might make of the building; then it will consider its sale.
The historic value of any building will also be considered by the Board. It may take special action
to provide for a building's preservation.
Reassignment of Students from Closed, Consolidated or Reorganized Schools
When a school is permanently closed, the students will be reassigned to a school or schools with
available space that can meet their educational needs. If a school closing requires that the attendance
boundaries of any school receiving students be redrawn, they shall be redrawn in a manner that
facilitates equitable and appropriate reassignment. Physical proximity to the school will also be
considered.
Reassignment of Employees Assigned to Closed, Consolidated or Reorganized Schools
Teachers, administrators and other employees at schools permanently closed, consolidated or
reorganized pursuant to this policy shall be reassigned by the superintendent in accordance with
Board policy and law. If the closing, consolidation or reorganization requires the district to eliminate
positions, those positions will be eliminated in accordance with Board policy and law.
Planning Commission Submission
The district will submit any building closing proposal to the planning commission that has adopted
a city plan pursuant to Missouri law. If the commission does not approve the district’s proposal, the
Board will meet to consider an override of the commission’s decision.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
|
Adopted: 05/08/2008
Revised: 06/11/2009
Cross Refs: DN, Surplus School property
GCI, Professional Staff Assignments and Transfers
GCPA, Reduction in Professional Staff Work Force
GDI, Support Staff Assignments and Transfers
GDPD, Nonrenewal, Suspension and Termination of Support Staff Members
JCB, Intradistrict Transfers
MSIP Refs: 8.10
Legal Refs: §§ 89.300 - .491, 168.124, 177.073, .091, RSMo.
School Dist. of Springfield R-12 v. City of Springfield, 174 S.W.3d 653 (Mo. Ct.
App. S.D. 2005)
St. Charles R-VI School District, St. Charles, Missouri
Top of Page
|
