ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Public Schools released an internal audit Tuesday morning indicating what the culture was like during the troubled administration of former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett.
The 47-page-audit from SLPS shows hiring and salary increases were made without board approval by Scarlett.
It also lists questionable charges on credit cards, with 60% of more than $260,000 in charges reviewed being deemed questionable, $34,000 in prohibited expenses for things like gifts and donations and $19,500 in non-reimbursable travel costs, unapproved first-class airfare and lodging that exceeded set limits.
The report also peeks into the day-to-day office life under Scarlett's rule who issued critical changes—such as payroll adjustments, remote work approvals, and time sheet changes—were frequently made without proper documentation from the Superintendent.
Emails from Board members addressed to Chiefs were redirected to the Superintendent, who personally handled the inquiries.
Staff expressed concerns about potential repercussions or retaliation for resisting directives from the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, or Chief of Staff.
Scarlett was named superintendent of the district on July 1, 2023, succeeding former Superintendent Kelvin Adams, who retired in Dec. 2022. Adams led St. Louis Public Schools for 14 years.
Scarlett originally signed a three-year contract after moving to St. Louis from Seattle to take over the role, with Scarlett earning a yearly salary of $268,000.
But Scarlett was placed on a "temporary leave of absence" in July just weeks before the start of the school year and in October, St. Louis Board of Education voted to fire Scarlett for cause.
Under Scarlett's leadership, SLPS went from a $17 million budget surplus to a $35 million deficit in just a year.
In addition, Scarlett faced criticism for hiring more than a dozen people, including the hiring of a communications person who planned to do the job from Houston.
Scarlett also faced criticism for the handling of a still-unresolved bus situation after Missouri Central Bus Company cut ties with the district earlier this year.