ST. LOUIS — Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has called on the Missouri auditor to investigate ºüÀêÊÓƵ Public Schools, where the superintendent was placed on leave over financial dealings.
“As Mayor, I have extremely limited authority over SLPS or the SLPS Board. However, shortly, the City will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for auditing services for the SLPS Board, for a period of three fiscal years, beginning with the 2023-24 school year,†Jones wrote Friday to Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. “I believe that, under the current circumstances, having a companion audit performed by your office that fully assesses recent SLPS administrative and Board practices is also necessary.â€
The state auditor and a spokesman for SLPS could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.
In a split vote, the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Board of Education placed Superintendent Keisha Scarlett on temporary paid leave July 25 pending the outcome of an investigation into her spending and hiring practices. During Scarlett’s yearlong stint as superintendent, the school district’s general operating budget plunged from a surplus of $17 million to a projected deficit of $35 million. The school board in September will consider a property tax hike to help boost revenues.
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The SLPS board has also come under scrutiny for its oversight of the district after approving more than 20 new administrators and consultants that had prior connections to Scarlett and her last employer, Seattle Public Schools.
Jones sent a letter on July 26 offering the city’s assistance to the SLPS board, which has not responded to the mayor.
The school board replaced Scarlett with acting superintendent Millicent Borishade, one of her first hires and closest friends. Borishade does not have a Missouri superintendent’s certificate and received a vote of no confidence from teachers in her last school district outside Seattle.
Borishade on Thursday canceled the annual back-to-school pep rally for SLPS staff scheduled for Aug. 12 at the Enterprise Center.
“As a former teacher and principal, I understand the importance of having ample time in your building and classroom to prepare for the first day of school. In the spirit of ensuring you have enough time in your classrooms, August 12th will be set aside for that purpose,†Borishade wrote to principals, teachers and staff.
The turmoil in leadership comes just two weeks before the first day of school, as families are still unclear how their children will get to school because of a critical bus shortage. A community meeting will be held Tuesday at Vashon High School to discuss the transportation plan.