ST. LOUIS — A dozen candidates filed by Tuesday’s deadline to run for three seats on the embattled St. Louis Board of Education — but not incumbents Natalie Vowell or Matt Davis, who said serving had been “a long tough fight.”
April’s election comes at a tumultuous time for St. Louis Public Schools following the ouster of a new superintendent for wasteful spending.
Davis, the board’s vice president, said his nearly four-year term has proven a hardship for his family and his job as an attorney.
St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education Vice President Matt Davis, left, speaks with President Antoinette “Toni” Cousins during a school board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Sumner High School in St. Louis.
“While I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to a sense of normalcy, I am torn by a feeling that I’m giving up on a very righteous cause,” Davis wrote Tuesday on Facebook.
Board member Natalie Vowell also said Tuesday she will not run after serving for eight years. “I wish the remaining and incoming board members the best of luck in seeking solid governance practices that work for them, the District’s leadership, educators, and — most importantly — our students and families,” she said in a Facebook post.
People are also reading…
That makes the board’s president Antionette “Toni” Cousins the only incumbent to seek reelection.
The SLPS board faces scrutiny for its oversight of ex-Superintendent Keisha Scarlett, who gave jobs and contracts to friends and made at least $88,500 in questionable credit card charges from July 2023 to July 2024, according to a recent audit from accounting firm Armanino.
An additional $53,567 in charges not covered by the audit were made on the credit card issued to the board’s executive assistant Shameika Henry. The card was used for more than $2,900 in Amazon purchases and nearly $2,000 for meals where Henry was not present.
Henry’s charges also included airfare and hotels for Cousins’ seven trips to conferences in Boston, Washington, San Diego, Atlanta and Dallas including three flight upgrades, a violation of district policy. Cousins also regularly attended dinners with Scarlett and interim Superintendent Millicent Borishade, including at 801 Chophouse in Clayton, where $3,613 was charged on district-issued cards over six visits.
Cousins has not responded to questions about her reelection campaign or expenses linked to the board.
In addition to an ongoing state audit, the challenges for the SLPS board in the next year include a projected $35 million budget deficit, a school bus shortage, dozens of staff vacancies and calls to close half-empty schools.
The current board is in disarray, with only one member who trusts their colleagues, according to a recent self-evaluation conducted by the Missouri School Boards’ Association. The anonymous survey also showed that all board members believe they follow the norms for conduct, but their fellow members do not.
Aside from Cousins, the other candidates for the three contested board seats are:
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced a plan to audit the St. Louis Public School system following increased concerns over finances, curriculum and busing in the district on Aug. 8, 2024.
- Krystal Barnett: CEO of Bridge 2 Hope, a parent advocacy group supported by charter school funder Opportunity Trust. Barnett is one of two candidates supported by Coalition with St. Louis Kids, a group founded by former charter school leader Chester Asher.
- Tavon Brooks: A Realtor and site supervisor for Mission: St. Louis, an anti-poverty nonprofit. Brooks ran an unsuccessful campaign for city alderman in 2021.
- Karen Collins-Adams: Director of the Rising Teachers alternative degree program at St. Louis University, former principal in Hazelwood School District and wife of longtime former SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams.
- Zacheriah Davis: Teacher at Cardinal Ritter College Prep high school in St. Louis, also taught in SLPS from 2014 to 2018. Davis is the second candidate on the Coalition with St. Louis Kids slate.
- Allisa (AJ) Foster: 2016 SLPS graduate. Foster completed the 2024 school board fellowship program through Opportunity Trust.
- David Jackson: SLPS board member from 2007 to 2015.
- Brian Marston: Web developer at Washington University, SLPS parent of two children, former director of YouthBuild job training and alternative education program.
- Robert Mason II: CEO of DoubleWolf Enterprises real estate development and former paralegal with St. Louis city and county. Mason serves on boards for Dutchtown South Community Corporation and Annie Malone Children and Family Services.
- Bill Monroe: Retired police officer, charter school founder and former SLPS board member.
- Teri Powers: Former Democratic committeewoman for the 24th ward. Powers ran an unsuccessful campaign for alderman in 2019.
- Andre Walker: Financial analyst with Walker Wealth Management. Walker owns a rental car business.
