ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Board of Education fired SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett Tuesday night at a special closed session.

Scarlett was placed on paid temporary leave of absence on July 26 after the board hired an external firm to review district finances and practices. SLPS Board President Antionette “Toni” Cousins said the board voted 6-0 to notify Scarlett of its intent to terminate her contract after discussing its external investigation.

Scarlett has the right to request a hearing before the board to contest the termination. If she does, that hearing will take place before the end of October.

“If Dr. Scarlett elects to contest, she will remain on administrative leave until her hearing before the board of education,” Cousins said.

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In the meantime, the board voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Millicent Borishade as interim superintendent for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year. Borishade has been acting superintendent since July and is awaiting certification approval from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to step into the role full-time.

The board has submitted key financial documents required for state audit: credit card lists, salary schedules, and contracts. The remaining files are expected to be uploaded by Sept. 27.

The SLPS also addressed transportation issues with a new app called First View, which gives parents real-time updates on bus locations and notifications when buses are near their stops. The app is free and can be used on smart phones and tablets.

With these changes in leadership, accountability measures, and new initiatives, the school board claims to be pushing forward to ensure a stronger school year.

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