By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The battle over control of St. Louis public schools moved today to the Missouri Supreme Court.
The elected St. Louis School Board claims that the appointment of the three-member, state controlled transitional board was unconstitutional.
Its case was argued by attorney Kenneth Bronstron.
"They made a finding of unaccredited status that wasn't based on what their rules prescribe...they made a special effort that this transfer of power was going to occur," Bronstron said.
Assistant Attorney General Paul Wilson, arguing for the state, claimed that a law passed a decade ago that allows the state to take over failing school districts was properly followed by the Missouri Board of Education.
And he argued that the St. Louis School Board knew the consequences of not maintaining accreditation.
"The fact that that statute would cause a change of control if the district were to lose accreditation in the future was specifically acknowledged by the school district...and here we are, nearly 10 years later, that provision is finally triggered, and the (elected) school board is reneging on that provision," Wilson said.
The State Supreme Court's ruling on the case will come at a later date.