St. Charles district weighs options

By Shane Anthony

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/17/2005



ST. CHARLES



The potential for eliminating study periods known as seminar and the possible closing of schools have dominated discussion as St. Charles School District administrators have presented ways of dealing with looming financial problems.



Superintendent Jim Cale said the meetings have gone well so far. "On the whole, I think people are just trying to understand and to offer some questions and comments in the hopes that the board will make the best decision possible," he said.



Administrators and School Board members have been studying the way the district operates in light of projections that the district will start spending more operating money than it receives next school year if no changes are made. Administrators have predicted a difference between projected revenue and spending of $1.4 million in 2006-2007, growing to $3.5 million in 2009-2010.



The picture they have presented to the public is of a district with an enrollment that has dropped by nearly 500 students since 2000-2001 and 200 students since May of this year. Meanwhile, the district's ACT test scores have been in the middle or toward the bottom of a comparison group of schools, and Missouri Assessment Program scores have been at the bottom of that same comparison group. Instructional minutes for students are lower than in other districts, too, administrators have said.





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St. Charles School District faces sweeping changes

Jason Lee

Of the Suburban Journals

St. Charles Journal

11/13/2005



ST. CHARLES SCHOOLS



The St. Charles School District would face sweeping changes under recommendations presented by the administration Thursday night, including the elimination of at least one elementary school.



Superintendent Jim Cale's proposal to the school board included relocating the district's Administration Building to Blackhurst Elementary in 2007-08. Under the plan, Blackhurst would no longer be used as a school and the Administration Building would be leased. The change is projected to save about $980,000 per year.



That proposal was included in a series of suggested financial moves meant to quell a looming financial shortfall at the 2006-07 school year. The district is projected to spend more than it receives that year and deplete its reserves by 2009-10 if no changes occur, officials have said.



The fate of another school, Lincoln Elementary, was tied to the success of two ballot issues proposed for the April election. If voters don't approve both a 28-cent tax rate transfer and a 40-cent tax rate increase, Lincoln would close its doors to students in 2007-2008.



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