The St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education announced at a press conference that it had relieved Dr. Millicent Parishade of her duties as superintendent effective immediately and appointed Dr. Myra Berry as interim superintendent.

Board President Dr. Karen Collins Adams said the board made the decision after an executive session and deliberation intended to “ensure stability, maintain confidence, and preserve the focus of students and learning.” She told reporters the action was taken “but not with cause.”

The appointment puts a long-time district employee and former principal in charge of day-to-day operations while the board conducts a search for a permanent superintendent. "To lead the transition, the board has appointed an interim superintendent who has immediately assumed the responsibility for day to day operations," Collins Adams said. She added the board will launch a search that will be “open and inclusive” and that families, staff, students and community members will have opportunities to provide input.

Speaking after her introduction, Dr. Myra Berry said her immediate priorities include listening to stakeholders and keeping students at the center of decisions. "Every choice, every consideration, and every plan forward will be guided by what is best for our children, our staff, and our community," Berry said. She said she plans to meet with the board, district leaders, principals, teachers, labor unions and community partners "to listen, to learn, to align our priorities."

Labor representatives offered public support at the event. Byron Clemens, speaking for AFT Local 420, expressed the union’s backing for the interim appointment and said the union looks forward to continuing collaboration with district leadership. "We worked with Dr. Berry and look forward to continuing the relationship," Clemens said.

Reporters pressed the board for details the press conference did not provide. Collins Adams said the board had not released financial terms related to the departure and that severance or buyout information was "not specified" at the time. When asked whether school closures or tornado damage played a role in the personnel decision, Collins Adams said the five-hour executive session covered multiple issues and that no single factor pinpointed the decision.

The board discussed reopening several schools damaged by the May storm. Collins Adams said the district is "actively looked at reopening several of the schools that have been damaged by the May" and that "maybe 3 or 4 schools" could be ready to reopen before January, though she emphasized the timeline must be validated with principals, parents and operational staff. The board said it will provide the community a timeline and further details before any move.

On finances, Collins Adams said the district’s most recent finance presentation showed the district in a stronger position than some earlier reports suggested; she referred to a finance briefing at a recent board meeting and said the district is not on an immediate path to fiscal failure. Specific metrics cited during the press conference were described by the board as approximate and not fully detailed in the release; the exact figures and budget documents were not provided at the event.

The board indicated it hopes to have a permanent superintendent in place by the start of the next fiscal year. Collins Adams said the board’s target is to complete a search and have a permanent superintendent by July 1, noting the search will include background checks and community input.

The board directed communications staff to share information with the public; Charles K. Poole, the district’s executive director of communications, coordinated the press event. For follow-up questions, Collins Adams said reporters may contact Carl B. Mitchell or her office for additional records and information.

The press conference concluded with the board emphasizing transparency, community input on the superintendent search and a stated commitment to reopening neighborhood schools where feasible.