State school for disabled in Columbia considered for permanent closure

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The State Board of Education is considering a proposal that includes a Columbia school for disabled children among several statewide closures.

The board first heard the proposal to close 12 Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled in May and heard an update to the plan on Tuesday. On the list is Delmar Cobble School in Columbia, which was temporarily closed in February because of staffing shortages. Students from the school now attend schools in Marshall and Jefferson City.

The school in Marshall, Prairie View State School, is among the 12 slated for closure next summer under the plan, along with Dogwood Hills State School in Eldon.

Delmar Cobble and other schools that are temporarily closed would close for good this fall, under the plan.

A DESE spokesperson said in a written statement that dates are not set in stone, depending on when the board of education takes final action on the plan. It's also undetermined what would happen to the real estate after the permanent closure, the statement says.

The plan could save the state nearly $13 million in deferred maintenance costs and another $1 million annually, according to board documents.