Dr. Myra Berry was introduced as the new Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools in a press conference Monday.
Berry most recently served as the district's interim chief of Human Resources, is a former principle in the district. She is described as a homegrown, longtime SLPS employee.
"Our promise is clear," says Berry, "to keep students at the center of every decision we make."
Berry was asked how her approach would be different from her predecessors.
"We are focused on student success," said Berry, adding "safety, staff morale and building community trust."
Her most recent predecessor, Dr. Millicent Borishade, was removed from her position on Friday after a closed meeting of the school board. When asked what lead to her removal, Board President Dr. Karen Collins-Adams was light on specifics. She pointed to increased tension between Borishade and community members.
"At many of our board meetings... discussions were getting relatively intense on the kind of things the community was asking for."
She also provided fewer details on the severance Borishade was given for her removal, refusing to disclose that number. Asked if it was fair to taxpayers to buyout the superintendent while the district struggles with financial issues in recent years, Collins-Adams described the sunken cost of keeping Borishade.
"Why if we have serious problems, and we have community concerns, and we're not progressing, [why] would you want to keep [Borishade] in that place?"
So what happens to the district's 'Reimagining SLPS,' proposal to close a large number of schools withing the district? Collins-Adams says it remains ongoing, but was not committed to closing any schools. She adds the board is committed to being transparent with the public and they want to come up with an exact plan to show the public.
In fact, some SLPS schools could reopen soon. Collins-Adams says the school is eyeing three or four schools damaged by May's tornado they are hoping to reopen ahead of January. She did not disclose which schools were on their radar.
Collins-Adams says the board will begin a national search for their next superintendent. They hope to have one in place ahead of the next fiscal year, which begins in July.