For 41 years the Metropolitan School in Maplewood has catered to the educational and social needs of kids with learning disabilities. I can appreciate this as my mother taught special ed. for some 30 years in Houston.

But the current financial crisis may mean the end of the line for the Metropolitan School. Enrollment is down one-third because too many parents can't afford the tuition (more than $20,000 a year) or qualify for a loan.

Now parents are scrambling to try to find a big donor or donors to give $500,000 to keep the school open for the spring semester. Otherwise it will close in mid-January. Parents found this out at a parent teacher meeting November 6th.

If you or someone you know can help, call the school at (314) 644-0850. The Executive Director is Rita Buckley.

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