The St. Louis Regional Business Council has partnered with St. Louis Public Schools to address findings from a recent state audit, and district administrators recently met with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to present an action plan.
According to school officials, the plan addresses the audit findings and outlines a structured framework for improving fiscal practices.
Key areas include budget planning, strategic forecasting, procurement, internal controls, and payroll compliance. The district already has adopted new financial policies and is working daily to reinforce controls “to ensure sound financial management,” according to the district.
Superintendent Dr. Millicent Borishade said the “path to strong compliance readiness requires us to be policy-driven.” She said the district has begun the process.
“We know that means revising outdated policies and eliminating old practices, which we’ve been doing,” she said.
Dr. Karen Collins Adams, school board president, said the district is considering how RBC can provide backing to help meet mutual goals. She said such collaborations are needed to foster a strong educational environment for students.
“The board’s role is to ensure that policies serve as the guide and framework for decisions made that will ultimately benefit every student, staff member and family in our district,” she said.
The state audit released in August showed:
- The district paid about $3.5 million in attendance incentives in violation of the Missouri Constitution, including payments made to non-union employees without advance agreements and to skilled trades employees outside the scope of a legal contract.
- A review of 27 credit card transactions found that 17 of them — totaling $12,436 — were “questionable and/or unreasonable,” including $3,888 for a Top Golf event, $1,689 for a four-night stay at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and $1,282 for an Airbnb rental charged to the former superintendent’s district-issued card.
- The district paid $1,106 in late credit card fees and allowed excessive credit limits — including a $450,000 limit on one card that saw minimal use — without regular review.
The audit also found that from fiscal year 2024 to 2026, the district is projected to spend $86.5 million more than it brings in, based on budget documents provided to state officials.
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the district’s finances are rapidly worsening because the board failed to adequately prepare for the future.
The district has lost nearly 300 million dollars over the last six years to TIF and Tax-abatements. That was money approved by voters that should have went to the school district. As a matter fact, the district last a record 39 million dollars just last year to TIF and Tax-abatements
The district has lost nearly 300 million dollars over the last six years to TIF and Tax-abatements. That was money approved by voters that should have went to the school district. As a matter fact, the district last a record 39 million dollars just last year to TIF and Tax-abatements
The Regional Business Council (RBC) and the Opportunity Trust collaborate on education reform through policy advocacy, supporting school choice.
It’s quite concerning that Borishady is now discussing compliance, considering her past reputation for abusing compliance protocols. It’s difficult to understand how she can speak about it without it seeming hypocritical—can someone please make sense of this? Millicent is a nothing but an opportunist at best! Most of what is happening is because of Millicent and her best friend Keisha Scarlett. How can an alleged thief speak about compliance now after being exposed.
This is so diabolical Millicent is now discussing compliance, considering her past reputation for abusing compliance protocols. It’s difficult to understand how she can speak about it without it seeming hypocritical; can someone please make sense of this? Millicent is a nothing but an opportunist at best! Most of what is happening is because of Millicent and her best friend Keisha Scarlett.
Most followed the compliance process before the ladies with the bags 💰from Seattle swooped in and destroyed the remaining of esser funds and other budget funds. This is article is nothing but sounds bites coming from SLPS the biggest scam on earth sits right there at SLPS as Ray has literally pointed out.