NORMANDY, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
The future of the Wellston School District is in jeopardy and is at risk of closing at the end of the school year. Missouri's Commissioner of Education is calling for a merger with the Normandy School District. Commissioner Chris Nicastro says Wellston has made improvements since losing its accreditation in 2003, but those improvements are not enough to remain a viable, independent school district. State education officials have scheduled a public meeting Monday evening, December. 14, to discuss the future of the district. Commissioner Nicastro will join leaders of the Wellston and Normandy School Districts in conducting the meeting.
Nicastro will submit a recommendation to the State Board of Education when it meets December 17, calling for the Wellston district to be closed at the end of the current school year and joined with the Normandy district.
"Although Wellston has made improvements since it became unaccredited in 2003, progress has been very slow. The district's financial base is weak. It does not have the money needed to repair and renovate its facilities. It is time for us to take steps that will best meet the needs of the students and families in Wellston in the future," Nicastro said.
The Wellston district was classified as unaccredited by the State Board of Education in 2003. In July 2005, after the district had made insufficient progress to regain accreditation, Wellston "lapsed" according to the provisions of state law. The local board of education was removed, and a three-person administrative board was appointed by the State Board of Education to govern the district.
Dr. Charles Brown, an assistant commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a former administrator in the St. Louis Public Schools, was appointed to serve as chair of the administrative board and superintendent of the district. "We understand that this will be a difficult and emotional decision for many people in the Wellston community, but we also strongly believe that Normandy offers many advantages for current and future Wellston students and the best long-term prospect for improving academic achievement for those students," Nicastro said.
The public meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday at Lucas Crossing Elementary School, 7837 Natural Bridge Road.
Nicastro will submit a recommendation to the State Board of Education when it meets December 17, calling for the Wellston district to be closed at the end of the current school year and joined with the Normandy district.
"Although Wellston has made improvements since it became unaccredited in 2003, progress has been very slow. The district's financial base is weak. It does not have the money needed to repair and renovate its facilities. It is time for us to take steps that will best meet the needs of the students and families in Wellston in the future," Nicastro said.
The Wellston district was classified as unaccredited by the State Board of Education in 2003. In July 2005, after the district had made insufficient progress to regain accreditation, Wellston "lapsed" according to the provisions of state law. The local board of education was removed, and a three-person administrative board was appointed by the State Board of Education to govern the district.
Dr. Charles Brown, an assistant commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a former administrator in the St. Louis Public Schools, was appointed to serve as chair of the administrative board and superintendent of the district. "We understand that this will be a difficult and emotional decision for many people in the Wellston community, but we also strongly believe that Normandy offers many advantages for current and future Wellston students and the best long-term prospect for improving academic achievement for those students," Nicastro said.
The public meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday at Lucas Crossing Elementary School, 7837 Natural Bridge Road.
