By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A judge today (Wednesday) will consider whether to stop an appointed board from stepping in to run the St. Louis schools. That state takeover is set to begin Friday.
On Tuesday night, the city school board chose Peter Downs to be the board president by a 4-3 vote.
Downs says he's hopeful the hearing in Jefferson City will enforce a temporary restraining order until all legal arguments are heard.
"Our position is that the transition board cannot have governing authority until the CEO, nominated by the governor, has been confirmed by the senate," Downs said Tuesday. "So our position is that Friday is not an important date."
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has appointed Rick Sullivan, a Frontenac businessman, to serve as CEO of the transitional board; the other two appointments by the mayor and president of the board of aldermen are expected before Friday.