Turner v. Clayton Trial Over School Transfers Begins Monday

The school-transfers case formerly known as Turner v. Clayton is scheduled to go to trial beginning Monday afternoon in .

Judge David Lee Vincent III will begin hearing Gina Breitenfeld v. School District of Clayton in Division 9 starting at 1:30 p.m., the website of the states. The trial is expected to run through Wednesday, though more proceedings could follow.

At the heart of the case is whether suburban St. Louis County school districts such as Affton, Bayless and Lindbergh should be required to enroll students who request transfers from unaccredited St. Louis city schools. Officials representing Clayton schools argue that such a requirement would represent an unfunded mandate. Affton school officials worry about the adjustments needed to take on a large influx of students.

“It could be really very difficult on neighboring St. Louis County school districts...It would just depend on how many came knocking on the door and wanting to enroll in your district,” Affton Assistant Superintendent Ken Weissflug told Patch last year. “Most likely we can’t take more than 200 without having to hire more personnel or look at different facilities.”

On Feb. 7, Vincent consolidated Turner-related cases under the umbrella of the Breitenfeld case, the website Missouri Case.net states.

Breitenfeld, a St. Louis Public Schools parent who has children enrolled in Clayton schools, is the remaining plaintiff in the case. Two other plaintiffs, Jane Turner and William Drendel,.

More about Turner v. Clayton on Patch: