Board of Educ. of the City of St. Louis v. Missouri State Bd. of Educ., No. 07-00488 (Mo. Cir. Ct. Jan. 23, 2008)
A Missouri trial court has ruled that the Missouri State Board of Education (MBOE) did not act either arbitrarily or capriciously in declaring the St. Louis Public Schools unaccredited and handing power to govern the school district over to an unelected school board appointed by MBOE. The court also rejected constitutional and other challenges to MBOE’s actions broght by elected school board. Although a manual used by the state should have been promulgated in accordance with state law, the error was not sufficient to overturn MBOE’s accreditation decision, which the court found was reasonable, amply supported by the facts, and neither arbitrary nor capricious. The court concluded that “the challenged actions of the [MBOE] were fully lawful and effective and that the June 15, 2007, transfer of control over the operation of the District from the City Board to the [appointed board…] was complete, constitutional and is in full effect, reserving to the City Board only the concurrent power of auditing and public reporting.”
Board of Educ. of the City of St. Louis v. Missouri State Bd. of Educ., No. 07-00488 (Mo. Cir. Ct. Jan. 23, 2008)
[Editor’s Note: The Associated Press reports below that the elected board has not yet decided whether to appeal. Veronica O’Brien, a member of the elected school board who approved of the state takeover, said the new board’s work so far has been disappointing. “I think for the special advisory board to be effective, they’re going to have to make some major changes,” she said. “At this point, I don’t believe they’ve accomplished anything. Everything is status quo.”]
Source: Kansas City Star, 1/23/08, By Associated Press