By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Governor Matt Blunt says he supports the states move to establish St. Louis Public Schools as a transitional school district.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury have until March 17th to nominate appointees to a new transitional school board.
Governor Blunt will appoint a CEO to the transitional board in the event that the district loses accreditation.
Blunt says that he and the mayor have discussed the issue and agree that cooperation is essential.
"I believe the types of people that he and I appoint would work well together, says Blunt. "I'm hopeful that Mr. Shrewsbury's appointee would also be somebody that would work well with appointments that we might have."
Opponents of state intervention, such as the St. Louis Teachers Union, are concerned that appointees by the governor and mayor will support school choice programs that may help even more students leave the district.