St. Charles School District Faces Financial Issues

Yes, suburban St. Charles School District is facing financial shortfalls in coming years and is considering closing some neighborhood schools. The once booming district has seen enrollment drop over the last few years.

This was completely predictable.

Just as the City of St. Louis lost population and students to St. Louis County we are seeing a repeat performance in St. Charles County. Most of the district is located in the older City of St. Charles, which is not expanding, while the rest of the county is turning farms and flood plain into sprawl as fast as they can.

School districts in the newest areas of St. Charles County are dealing with rapidly increasing student populations, straining budgets to build new schools and pay for fuel to transport students. Neighborhood schools just don’t exist in the new sprawl.

The myth of this idyllic county are unraveling before our eyes. It will be interesting to see if they have learned from mistakes made in our cities over the last 60 years or if they will be repeated.

– Steve