// a href = ./ //

   A broken water main is forcing some south city residents to boil their water.  

   The city of St. Louis has issued a boil order while crews finish repairs to a 12-inch water main at Jamieson and Westway Road, near Francis Park.  The boil order affects the southwestern part of the city, including those south of Arsenal, west of Hampton, north of Eichelberger and east of River Des Peres.  

   Residents are instructed to boil water for three minutes before drinking it or using it in cooking.  If water sample tests due back Tuesday afternoon are clear, the boil order could be lifted at that time.  

   Because of the boil order, all three campuses of  the Word of Life Lutheran School and Step Ahead Childcare Academy in Southwest St. Louis will be closed Tuesday. 

   Some schools initially closed after Wednesday night's storms will be open today.  

   Shenandoah Elementary School in Chesterfield will hold classes today, despite roof damage.  Parkway District officials say some students will meet in different classrooms until repairs are made.

   Some schools in the Hazelwood district will also be back open today, but several other remain closed. Classes are cancelled at Hazelwood West High School, West Middle School, McNair Elementary, Russell Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, and West Early Childhood Center. After school activities are also cancelled.

Shenandoah Valley Elementary in Chesterfield remains closed today but will be open tomorrow.

Parkway School District officials say some students will be moved to other classrooms, but remain in the school. 

 

   Violent storms rocked the St. Louis metro area Wednesday evening, spawning tornadoes and strong winds that damaged buildings, toppled trees and downed power lines.  

   Storm damage and power outages have prompted some schools to cancel classes for Thursday.

   Shenandoah Valley Elementary School in Chesterfield has canceled class after the storm tore the roof off the building. 

   All Hazelwood Schools are closed due to power outages. There are also concerns about fallen trees and debris blocking bus routes in the district.

   Vianney High School has canceled classes over power issues as well.

   Additional school closings will be added to this list if warranted.

Funding for many metro-east schools is nearing "crisis" status. The situation is getting so bad, that state education officials are pleading with state legislators to increase school funding by more than $800 million.

But the budget proposed by Governor Pat Quinn would cut education spending by more than $300 million.

Many Illinois school districts are already operating on deficits after the state failed to fully fund its obligations for the past two years. Virtually every metro-east district is laying off teachers in anticipation of less state funding next year. Some are cutting sports programs and closing schools.

St. Clair County schools superintendent Susan Sarfaty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that "Districts are no longer cutting fat from their budgets — they’re cutting bone." Sarfaty says "there's no more fat to cut."

The Cleveland Junior Naval Academy will remain open, but five other public schools in the City of St. Louis will be closed. That was the decision of Saint Louis Public School leaders at Wednesday night's meeting of the Special Administrative Board.

Superintendent Kelvin Adams says the small magnet high school was spared after parents and alumni developed a recruitment plan that will add 30 students to the incoming freshman class this fall. They'll build on that increased enrollment through partnerships with middle schools.

District officials still plan to close Sherman Elementary, L'Ouverture Middle School, Fresh Start South, Multiple Pathways, and Beaumont High School.

Plans to switch from a three-tier bell system to a two-tier system were scrapped. That will save the district more than $5 million next year.

A broken water pipe is forcing school officials to call of classes at St. Joseph Catholic School in Wentzville. Principal Dwight Elmore says the school will be closed on Tuesday.

There's no word if the pipe will be fixed in time for class on Wednesday.

Residents in the City of St. Louis may learn Wednesday night which public schools are facing closure.

St. Louis Public Schools superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams has said he will make several proposals at the 6 p.m. meeting of the special administrative board. Among his proposals, Dr. Adams is expected to recommend that some schools close next year and other be phased out as a cost-cutting measure.

Dr. Adams says several factors, including academic performance, would be considered in deciding which, if any, schools would close.

There has been wide-spread speculation that the Cleveland NJROTC Academy would be phased out, accepting no new freshmen after this year.

Wednesday’s Special Administrative Board meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at 801 North 11th Street.