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St. Louis American The
AUG. 27 – SEPT. 2, 2026
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
Vol. 98 No. 20
stlamerican.com
COMPLIMENTARY
New plan reshapes 14 SLPS campuses
By Na’Porsha Williams St. Louis American
After months of discussion and community feedback, St. Louis Public Schools has narrowed its “Future Ready” plan to 14 school closures — 12 for the 2027-28 school year and two more by 2030. The recommendation, called the A+ Portfolio Model, was presented at Tuesday evening’s Board of Education work session. It also calls for transportation and staffing cuts,
changes at other campuses and expanded career and technical education programs. The 12 schools proposed to close in 2027 are 11 elementary schools — Ames, Ashland, Carver, Columbia, Hamilton, Hickey, Meramec, Monroe, Patrick Henry, Shenandoah and Walbridge — and the Academy of Entrepreneurship Studies at L’Ouverture, a middle school. Clyde C. Miller Career
Shenandoah Elementary School is among 12 St. Louis Public Schools campuses proposed for closure or merger under the district’s Future Ready plan.
Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American
Academy and McKinley Classical Leadership Academy would close
as high schools by 2030. Both campuses would continue serving students:
Miller would become a districtwide career and technical education hub, while McKinley would remain open as a middle school. Seven elementary schools considered for closure under earlier proposals would remain open: Adams, Bryan Hill, Humboldt, Jefferson, Laclede, Lyon and Peabody. The revised plan comes as SLPS tries to stabilize its finances amid declining enrollment and the costs
of operating underused buildings. The district initially projected a $41 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Higher-than-expected revenue and about $12 million in operational underspending have reduced the projected shortfall to $29 million. District administrators plan to address most of the remaining gap through $23.6 million in operation-
See SLPS, A10
Jones found purpose in serving others
Dellwood mayor devoted 3 decades to young people
Koby Jones, holding proclamations honoring his late father, Reggie Jones, is joined by his mother, Rukiya Jones, Alderwomen Laura Keys and Shameem Clark Hubbard, and Boys & Girls Clubs director Brandon during a ceremony recognizing Jones’ 30 years of service to the organization.
By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American Reggie Jones was supposed to be at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ annual recognition ceremony Tuesday night, receiving the culminating honor for 30 years of service. Instead, his wife, Rukiya, and son Koby accepted the recognition on his behalf. Jones, the longtime director of the Herbert Hoover Club and Reggie Jones mayor of Dellwood, died Friday at age 53 — just four days before the organization was set to celebrate three decades of his work with young people. A video was cued up that gave the aesthetic of a camcorder — the video technology used when Jones began his career at Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club in 1995. His starting salary was $5.25 an Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American
See Jones, A10
Cardinal Ritter shaped her. Now she shapes it
Tamiko Armstead, who leads her alma mater, honored for education excellence By Syvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American When Tamiko Armstead first heard about Cardinal Ritter College Prep, she didn’t know such a place existed. Her parents were determined to send their children to Catholic schools, but Armstead’s experience in predominantly white Catholic elementary schools left her frustrated.
Tamiko Armstead, president and CEO of Cardinal Ritter, talks with students.
“It was an environment that expected me to assimilate without letting me be my true female self,” Armstead recalled. That changed after two Cardinal Ritter representatives came to “High School Night” at her elementary school to tell students about their predominantly Black Catholic high school. When Armstead came home, she told her
See Armstead, A10
Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American