Teachers union looks to stop SLPS school closures

ST. LOUIS — Despite a possible wave of closures headed for St. Louis Public Schools, the teachers union is calling on the beleaguered district to expand services and open a new career training center.

Later this month, SLPS Superintendent Millicent Borishade is expected to recommend school consolidations in the next phase of the "Reimagining SLPS" plan to address declining enrollment and crumbling buildings in the city.

A recent report commissioned by SLPS suggests the district needs to close 37 of 68 schools to reach goals for building capacity.

"The community has been presented with only one idea of how to deal with the problem of decreasing enrollment, and we think that there are alternative solutions out there," said Ray Cummings, president of the American Federation of Teachers S