Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Governance And Cabinet Onboarding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Saint Louis Public Schools board introduces new members and cabinet, names committee assignments
Summary
At an onboarding meeting, the Saint Louis Public Schools Board of Education introduced new board members and cabinet leaders and published committee rosters, with President Dr. Karen Collins Adams emphasizing service to students.
Doctor Karen Collins Adams, president of the Saint Louis Public Schools Board of Education, opened an onboarding meeting where new board members and cabinet leaders were introduced and committee assignments were announced.
The introductions matter because the committees named at the meeting will oversee budget, real estate and other areas that affect district operations and student services. The board also set expectations for upcoming onboarding and governance work, including a summer retreat hosted by the Missouri School Boards' Association.
Most of the meeting consisted of officers and new members stating their reasons for serving and cabinet leaders briefly describing their portfolios. ‘‘I’m on the school board because I love the children of Saint Louis,’’ Doctor Collins Adams said. New board member AJ Foster said she is a native of Saint Louis and a graduate of Saint Louis Public Schools and urged that students be given a voice in decisions that affect them. Superintendent Millicent Poreshadeh said her focus is that ‘‘every student is capable of learning’’ and introduced cabinet members who each offered brief statements of purpose.
The board released the rosters for standing committees and several advisory bodies. Highlights announced by Collins Adams included: MSBA (Missouri School Boards’ Association) delegates Donna Jones and Emily Hubbard with AJ Foster as alternate; MSBA director Tracy Hikes; TIF (tax-increment financing) Commission representatives Ben Conover and Kimberly Johnson; the LRA (Local Redevelopment Authority) representative Tracy Hikes; the standing Committee on Budget, Equity and Transparency chaired by AJ Foster; and the Audit Committee that includes Kimberly Johnson and Doctor Karen Collins Adams. The communications committee was listed with Donna Jones, Gloria Nolan and Brian Marston. The Prop S subcommittee (a Prop S subcommittee of the budget committee) was named and its members were listed.
Board members, cabinet chiefs and staff spoke in turn. Cabinet members introduced by the superintendent included Allison Dino (chief of schools), Natasha Mitchell (chief technology officer), Kimberly Johnson Miller (chief financial officer), Charles Kpool (executive director of communications), Square Watson (chief operations officer), Laura McLaughlin (general counsel), the director of compliance and internal audit, and Kelly Ginge (fiscal controller). The superintendent also outlined key district initiatives including literacy and a parent university program. The board announced a summer board retreat set for June 2–3 to be hosted by MSBA.
No formal policy votes or budget decisions were taken during the introductions; the meeting later moved into a finance onboarding presentation and then adjourned to closed session. The board briefly conducted a roll call before adjourning to closed session, with members indicating assent.
