最新杏吧原创

It was for $100, and resident John Davidson said it was to help the students coming from Riverview Gardens and Normandy with little incidentals, like maybe a cab ride home when they finished after school activities. He challenged others to give if they could as well.

Many in the crowd of about 650 applauded Davidson鈥檚 gesture, and echoed Williams鈥� sentiment about the 150 students coming in to Kirkwood schools.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to wrap our arms around these students and provide what they need to be successful,鈥� Williams said.

But they still had concerns. What if the failing districts went bankrupt? Would Riverview Gardens students take their children鈥檚 spots on sports teams? And most of all, they were frustrated with legislators. They also didn鈥檛 like the thought of test scores suffering.

鈥淭here go our property values,鈥� one person mumbled.

Just last week, the Riverview Gardens leaders selected Kirkwood as the second district to bus students. Mehlville was the first, but its administrators said there was only room for 218.

After Normandy choose to transport its students to Francis Howell schools, the issue sparked a firestorm of angry concern at a town hall meeting there last month.

Lotteries have placed students in the districts, and another was held Tuesday for about 300 children who were not admitted into the schools of their choice. Most of the children are from the Riverview Gardens School District and had tried to transfer into Mehlville or Kirkwood schools, their only options where transportation will be provided.

Preliminary numbers released from the Cooperating School Districts of Greater 最新杏吧原创 late Tuesday show placements in Francis Howell, Ferguson-Florissant, Hazelwood, Mehlville and Kirkwood as the highest among the area. Parkway and Pattonville were each seating about 100. In Kirkwood, Williams said Tuesday night that the elementary schools would have 80 to 85 students total, middle schools 40 and the high school about 30 students.

Now, three parents in Riverview Gardens, with the help of a school-choice advocacy group, have said they are prepared to file a lawsuit against the Mehlville School District after their children did not get seats in the lottery process. They鈥檝e asked the district to find more space by Thursday for transfer students. If not, they鈥檒l file an already-drafted lawsuit.

Based on Mehlville鈥檚 enrollment drop, the Children鈥檚 Education Alliance of Missouri believes there is room. The group, which has backing from billionaire investor Rex Sinquefield, also is assessing whether Kirkwood could take more students. Mehlville Superintendent Eric Knost said they were working with their attorneys to respond, but maintained that they鈥檝e made every effort to place transfers without compromising the education of any student in the district.

The lack of transportation options has left an untold number of students from being able to transfer, since many of their parents lack cars or work schedules that would allow them to get to neighboring schools on their own.

鈥淪urely as advocates for education it certainly does weigh on us,鈥� said Sherrie Wehner, an official with the Cooperating School Districts of Greater 最新杏吧原创, which is processing the transfer requests. 鈥淚t is completely out of our control.鈥�

More than 2,600 students requested a transfer from the unaccredited Normandy and Riverview Gardens schools into districts across the area the state Supreme Court decision on June 11. It said that students in unaccredited districts have the right to attend higher performing schools nearby at the cost of their home district.

According to Cooperating School Districts, 777 students requested Kirkwood or Mehlville.

At the Kirkwood meeting on Tuesday night, state Sens. Scott Sifton and Eric Schmitt told the crowd they shared their frustration.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to cut it anymore if we鈥檙e divided,鈥� said Schmitt. 鈥淲e need to come together for the sake of the kids who want a better life.鈥�

Elisa Crouch of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.