Prop O: Our Schools. Our Community. Our Future.

For two years, the District worked closely with families, staff, students, city leaders and community members to shape the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan. The process included community conversations, forums, surveys, focus groups, and expert evaluations, along with site assessments and feasibility studies to ensure strategic, future-focused planning.

In addition to the projects included in Prop O, the District plans to use existing capital improvement funds to complete updates to Clayton High School’s performing arts area, as well as athletic enhancements at Wydown Middle School and Adzick Field. The District will also continue working with its design team to plan for future phases of renovations at Meramec Elementary School and Captain Elementary School, where additional facility needs have been identified.

Nearly two years ago, the School District of Clayton began a Long-Range Facilities Master Planning process to ensure our schools and athletic facilities continue to meet the needs of today’s students while supporting future excellence. Shaped by community input and expert review, the process identified approximately $240 million in upgrades necessary to align our facilities with the premier learning experiences already happening in our classrooms and on our fields.

To remain fiscally responsible without increasing the current tax rate, the Board of Education committed to a phased approach that prioritizes the most urgent needs first. Proposition O represents Phase I of this long-term plan.

Phase I includes renovations that address critical infrastructure challenges at Glenridge Elementary School, Clayton High School and Clayton High School's athletic campus, Gay Field.

At Glenridge, outdated building systems are impacting daily operations and student learning. The planned renovation will address the longstanding infrastructure needs of this 97-year-old building and transform the school to better support teaching and learning.

At Clayton High School, significant investments will be made to construct a Learning Lab. This new addition will support career-connected courses such as Algebra I in Manufacturing Processes, Entrepreneurship and Design (AMPED on Algebra, which integrates mathematical concepts with real business applications) and Geometry in Construction (where students apply math through hands-on projects like building a tiny house).

The area would also include a fully equipped robotics lab in which students can work with industry-standard engineering tools to build and test real-world projects.

Clayton High School’s athletic campus, Gay Field, would see upgrades to improve safety, accessibility and community use. Aspects of this project include turf replacement, which has reached the end of its useful life, along with new bleachers, renovated restrooms, a modern press box, upgraded concessions, and improvements to the locker rooms and training and coaching spaces.

Over the past two years, the District has developed a comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Master Plan to address critical needs across our schools and athletic facilities. Proposition O represents Phase 1 of that plan.

Completed last spring, the Master Plan was shaped by professional facility and site assessments, feasibility studies and meaningful input from the Clayton community. Feedback gathered through forums, surveys and focus groups played a vital role in identifying priorities and informing the proposed solutions.

Sixteen years ago, voters in the School District of Clayton approved Proposition W. The $39.4 million bond issue funded the complete reconstruction of Wydown Middle School at its current site.

Today, Wydown is ranked #1 in Missouri by Niche, and its student-centered learning spaces continue to meet the needs of Clayton students.

It has been 16 years since the School District of Clayton last asked voters to consider a bond referendum for facility improvements. During this time, many districts across the region have made significant investments to ensure their facilities keep pace with modern learning needs, safety standards, and community expectations.

Ladue, for example, sought $126 million in 2021 to fund renovations at all four of its elementary schools. These funds supported the complete transformation of Spoede Elementary, along with substantial upgrades at Old Bonhomme, Conway, and Reed.

Other districts—including Brentwood, Kirkwood, Lindbergh, Parkway, Rockwood, and Webster Groves—have also passed bond measures to refresh aging buildings, enhance safety features, and modernize learning environments to support students now and in the years ahead.