SLPS invites parents to back-to-school fair
ST. LOUIS - The school year for St. Louis Public Schools starts two weeks from today. The district hopes a new bus vendor will help address recent transportation troubles.
The district invites families to attend a back-to-school block party on Tuesday at its headquarters located at 801 N. 11th Street. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A district spokesperson said attendees can learn about the new partnership with Zum. He also said families can also get a closer look at the new, air-conditioned buses.
The return to class comes nearly four months after a devastating tornado displaced more than 2,000 students. Some schools also sustained damage.
“I have two high schoolers who would have been attending Sumner High School this year,” said Chasity Boykin.
Boykin and other parents have concerns over how prepared the district will be at the start of the school year.
“A lot of parents that I do know, they are very nervous,” Boykin said.
Christopher Dampier operates Barber Life 314 near the corner of N. Kingshighway and Farlin. He said families are still struggling with the May 16 tornado.
“People are still trying to get themselves together,” Dampier said.
Dampier hopes the St. Louis community will continue to show support for families in need of help. Boykin feels the same way.
“We work hard to keep one another uplifted,” Boykin said. “We build one another up.”
Parents have also expressed concerns over a study recommending school closures due to the declining district population.
Boykin said that the report has led her to look for other schooling options for her children.
