SLPS points to reforms as state audit raises concerns

Saint Louis Public Schools leaders say significant changes are already underway after a new state audit criticized past district leadership, financial oversight and governance and questioned whether its current governing structure can provide long-term oversight.

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released the second part of his audit Thursday, giving SLPS a “poor” rating and describing a district facing “massive operational distress.

“The bottom line is simple,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is a district that’s in the midst of massive operational distress.”

The audit concluded that the Board of Education had not functioned as an effective governing body and said leadership failures hurt employee morale and weakened accountability. Still, Superintendent Dr. Myra M. Berry said many of the findings reflect practices that predate the current administration and board.

“When the district received the initial findings, we did not wait for the report to begin taking action,” Berry said. She said SLPS has strengthened internal controls, clarified accountability and put new systems in place to improve transparency and financial and operational oversight.

The audit found board members spent about $75,000 attending nine conferences over 13 months, with five conferences lacking required approval. It also criticized the district for failing to pursue a performance bond worth about $3.1 million after former transportation provider Missouri Central School Bus ended its contract.

Fitzpatrick said the failure to pursue the bond was one of the most troubling findings. 

“I just cannot understand why the district wouldn’t take steps to try to make a recovery on that bond,” he said. 

Berry said the bond issue was new to her and that the district would investigate whether the money could still be recovered.

The district has since implemented a new transportation system, which St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer — who is also an SLPS parent — said has been an improvement. “I am very pleased with the current transportation contract,” Spencer said. “It is serving our students very well. It’s serving my family very well.”

She added that families across the city are seeing the difference in day-to-day reliability.

“I remain confident in our district,” Spencer said. “I’m very pleased with the district’s leadership to be here today and to be continuing to work on the issues outlined.” She also said the current transportation system is serving students and families better.

Fitzpatrick urged the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and lawmakers to consider whether a different governance model could provide greater stability. He stopped short of directly calling for a return to state control, saying the goal should be a long-term structure that avoids repeatedly shifting between state and local control.

Spencer agreed that stability is important but said any governing structure should remain accountable to voters. Board President Karen Collins Adams also pushed back against parts of the audit, saying much of it focused on previous leadership and that the current board should be judged on its own actions.

Berry said the district will continue addressing the audit findings while moving forward with its Future Ready plan.

“Our community should continue to expect our promise of accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship of public resources,” Berry said.