Judge Rules against St. Louis School Board, Leaving Governance Questions Unsettled
Board of Education sought to block state action

St. Louis - The St. Louis School Board expressed “great disappointment” Thursday when a judge in Cole County Circuit Court declined to grant a temporary restraining order blocking state intervention. The ruling paves the way for splitting governance of the district between the elected school board and a transitional board on Friday (June 15), the same day the district loses its accreditation.

On June 11, Commissioner of Education D. Kent King denied an appeal by the district. The appeal sought to have the State Board of Education reverse or reconsider its recent decision to strip SLPS of its accreditation. The court ruling on Thursday struck another blow to the St. Louis board.

“We still believe that the action taken by the State Board and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is unconstitutional,” said Peter Downs, president of the elected St. Louis School Board. “The State Board clearly acted unfairly when it applied standards to St. Louis that are not applied to other Missouri districts in similar circumstances. This is a small setback, but we are going to continue to fight for better schools and local control.”

Downs stated that the elected board will continue to act in the best interest of students. He asked that all parties support plans that the district administration has made for next year while they continue their fight in court.

“We have programs and plans in place that result in academic success, and our success is documented,” Downs added. “Sadly, we have yet to see a definitive plan from the state that addresses the academic and social needs of our students.” The St. Louis Board president thanked the parents who supported the elected board’s legal efforts.

The three-member transitional board will take over some governance functions on June 15. The appointed panel is made up of Rick Sullivan (nominated by Gov. Matt Blunt), who will serve as the district’s CEO; Melanie Adams (appointed by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay); and Richard Gaines (an appointee of Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen for the City of St. Louis).

The elected board will remain in place. Downs said he hopes that the transitional panel and the elected board can work together effectively.