By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis School Superintendent Diana Bourisaw avoided losing her job Tuesday night by one vote.
School board president Veronica O'Brien called the special closed meeting and accused Bourisaw of showing a lack of leadership and vision to carry the district forward in the wake on a potential state take-over of the school district.
Bourisaw, who's in just her fifth month on the job, responded by re-iterating her vow not to quit despite pressure from some board members: "My record speaks for itself and if people choose to look at it, I've taken districts that are academically deficit and financially stressed and provided the necessary leadership to move them ahead on behalf of the children and that's why I'm here.
Bourisaw is the 6th superintendent in St. Louis in since 2002.
Board member Ron Jackson is part of a vocal minority who would like to see her replaced. "If there had been a search for a superintendent, Diana Bourisaw would not be the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools," Jackson said Tuesday. "I don't see her having the leadership qualities."
Bourisaw will remain at her job after the board voted 4-3 to keep her.
The developments come just prior to a meeting by The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education which could see control of the district handed over to a special transitional school board.