The Post-Dispatch has an article today on Fort Zumwalt School District in St. Charles County opening its fourth high school next school year. This puts Fort Zumwalt in select company, as one of only six school districts in Missouri with four high schools, out of more than 500 school districts. Others may read this article and want to congratulate Fort Zumwalt, which is fine, but I read it and despair over the enormous number of school districts that are tiny and should be forcibly merged with neighboring districts.

Most of the extremely small districts are in the rural areas, although St. Louis County has some, Hancock Place and Bayless mostly, that should merge. It’s not as if these small, rural districts just want to be left alone to operate by themselves. Many of them are currently suing the State of Missouri for more tax money. I hope they lose their lawsuit and the state refuses to increase financial support for any school district below a set number of students.

Missouri has as much duplication in government as any state. The examples abound: too many St. Louis City Alderman, to many St. Louis County municipalities, too many state representatives, too many separate counties, and way too many school districts.

On another note, the new school, Fort Zumwalt East, has chosen its new mascot and colors: the Lions, and black and gold. Nice to see they are starting off the new school by copying everything from University City High School. Next, I bet Fort Zumwalt will put enormous lion statues at the entrance to O’Fallon.