February 2026 letter to the Clayton community

February 2026 Dear Resident, 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. ABOUT PROP O On Tuesday, April 7, voters in the School District of Clayton will be asked to approve Prop O, a $135 million zero tax rate increase bond referendum. Prop O would allow the District to: Renovate Glenridge Elementary School to better support student learning. While routine maintenance has kept the 97-year-old building operational, many core systems are reaching the end of their useful life and require investment to ensure the facility continues to meet current and future needs. Add a flexible Learning Lab at Clayton High School to support hands-on experiences in engineering, robotics, applied math and entrepreneurship. Upgrade Gay Field to improve safety, accessibility and community use. The turf has reached the end of its usable life, and the field house, press box, stands and parking areas no longer adequately support the many student-athletes, teams and events that rely on the facility. The District is committed to providing clear, transparent information to support informed decision-making. We encourage you to visit ClaytonPropO.org to explore the full scope of the projects and get details on future phases. If you have any questions, please reach out. Thank you for taking the time to learn more and for being an engaged member of our school community. Sincerely, Nisha Patel, EdD SUPERINTENDENT Stacy Siwak PRESIDENT Jason Growe VICE PRESIDENT Kimberly Hurst TREASURER Chris Win SECRETARY D. Leo Human DIRECTOR Pamela Lyss-Lerman DIRECTOR Ben Beinfeld DIRECTOR LEARN MORE ABOUT PROP O Call: 314.854.6000 Email: PropO@ClaytonSchools.net Visit: ClaytonPropO.org Scan the QR code