Cleveland High School to Close

After weeks of rumors, the St. Louis Board of Education has placed a resolution on the agenda of next week’s regular meeting to close Cleveland JROTC Academy.

At an administrative meeting tonight, Superintendent Creg Williams told board members and the public that the conditions at Cleveland have become unbearable for students. He showed photos of exposed electrical outlets, peeling paint and deteriorating brickwork.

“Everyday we allow our children to be educated in this environment is detrimental to those students,” said Williams.

The district’s plan would call for moving the students to Madison School, located downtown on 7th Street.

Ald. Dorothy Kirner (25th Ward), in whose ward Cleveland resides, addressed the board briefly. She said the school was an anchor for her southside community and closing the school would be “really tough.”

Board member Bill Purdy, who had expressed doubts about the move, said that Williams made a compelling case.

Williams said that the building would need $15 million to repair and another $7 million to remodel. The whole school could be rebuilt for $2 million less, according to the superintendent’s figures.

He spoke to Purdy and Kirner’s concerns by pledging that the building would not be abandoned.

“I’m not saying close it, board it up,” said Williams. “I think that would be devastating to that community.”

He said that the district would examine alternative uses of the building, including putting it up for sale.