By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – The state of Missouri will remain in control of St. Louis public schools for at least three-and-a-half more years.
The State Board of Education has voted unanimously for the three-person, state-run Special Administrative Board to oversee the St. Louis school district until June 30th, 2014.
Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro says it's not yet time for the city's elected school board to resume control.
"School improvement is a very difficult and lengthy process, particularly in a large urban district," Nicastro said. "It's something we'll have to continue to support and monitor, and hope that it doesn't take too much longer."
Nicastro says public schools in St. Louis have made progress under the state-run board. The latest Annual Performance Report shows St. Louis schools increasing the number of standards required for accreditation from three last year to five this year. Nine is the minimum number required.
"There's no question that the governance has stabilized," Nicastro said. "We're pleased with the leadership of the Special Administrative Board and the superintendent...I think we're also pleased with the evidence that the elected board has demonstrated to improve their own governing capacity."
But the elected school board still has no authority over the St. Louis school district.
Meanwhile, the State Board of Education took no action today on a recommendation that the elected board be reinstalled after the district regains accreditation, and then only gradually over a number of years.