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ST. LOUIS — The president of the beleaguered St. Louis Board of Education intends to run for reelection in April, according to a teachers union leader.

Antionette “Toni” Cousins said she will defend her seat while speaking Monday at a legislative lunch hosted by the American Federation of Teachers St. Louis Local 420, said Ray Cummings, the union president.

Cousins has not filed as a candidate with the city’s election board and did not respond to questions Wednesday. Matt Davis, the board’s vice president, said he has not decided on running. The third expiring board seat belongs to member Natalie Vowell, who said she has not filed “yet.”

The election comes as the St. Louis Public Schools board faces scrutiny for their oversight of ex-Superintendent Keisha Scarlett, who gave jobs and contracts to friends and made at least $88,500 in questionable credit card charges in her one-year tenure according to a recent audit. The audit also cites $10,863 in questionable expenses by interim Superintendent Millicent Borishade, who came to SLPS from Seattle with Scarlett in July 2023.

Additional credit card charges not included in the audit show Cousins received three flight upgrades, a violation of district policy. Multiple SLPS staffers said Cousins frequently socialized with Scarlett and Borishade, including meals at 801 Chophouse in Clayton where $3,613 was charged on district-issued cards over six visits.

Two of the 801 Chophouse charges totaling $1,531 were on the card issued to the school board’s secretary Shameika Henry. Henry’s card was also used to charge $263 at the Water Grill in San Diego where board members including Cousins attended a conference. Henry was not in San Diego when the charge was made.

Henry’s card also racked up $1,188 in charges at local restaurants such as the Fountain on Locust, $980 to Walter Knoll Florist and $864 at Sam’s Club.

At the union luncheon, Cousins said she was not issued a district credit card. She also talked about the recent $10 million federal grant awarding 30 electric buses to SLPS. The district plans to convert a vacant school into a vehicle charging station that would be open to the public, said Cummings, the union president.

The candidates who have filed for the school board election are Krystal Barnett, Karen Collins-Adams, Zacheriah Davis, Allisa (AJ) Foster, David Jackson, Brian Marston and Bill Monroe.