ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The Parkway School District has announced it will not proceed with the construction of a new, early childhood center as originally planned. Jeff Todd, president of the Parkway Board of Education, made the announcement Wednesday during a district board meeting.
The proposed $26 million facility, which was intended to be built between Wren Hollow Elementary School and Southwest Middle School on Wren Avenue in Manchester, has been deemed no longer viable.
"Our community has been clear: high-quality early childhood education is a priority, and it's one that the Board of Education fully shares," Todd said. "While our initial site posed unexpected challenges, including traffic and neighborhood concerns, we are committed to finding viable solutions. The funds approved by our community through Prop S will be held in reserve for early childhood when a suitable solution is identified.”
The Parkway community has voiced their concerns for years and in Nov. 2022 voters approved Prop S, which addressed the need for an early childhood center in the 63021 area. The concern for residents living near the projected site became an issue of traffic.
“Where we were going to build the facility with two existing schools there was some serious traffic issues," Parkway Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty said.
The district said many families are on a waitlist each year because of this problem.
According to the press release the district shared with 5 On Your Side the issue of early childhood education will be addressed in two ways:
- Immediate solutions: Parkway has launched a South Area Early Childhood Workgroup to find short-term ways to increase early childhood capacity and access for families in the south area of the district.
- Long-term planning: Parkway’s Facilities 2050 initiative, a district-wide effort to address aging infrastructure, will prioritize early childhood education. This long-term strategy aims to ensure that all Parkway students have the facilities and resources they need for quality learning.
"Early childhood education gives our students an important foundation, and it remains a top priority,” said Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty emphasizing the district’s commitment to early childhood education. “Our commitment to expanding and improving early learning opportunities hasn’t changed. We're actively working on plans to give our youngest learners the spaces they need to thrive."
Darin Wernig, a communication specialist with the City of Manchester, said it remains the city’s objective to maintain safety and support the needs of residents and stakeholders in this area.
“If you have a child ready for early childhood we may not meet your immediate needs," Marty said. "We’re going to do our best, and make this a priority.”
Updates will be shared with the Parkway community here.