ST. LOUIS 鈥 The three most recent credit card statements from 果酱视频 Public Schools show nearly $200,000 in charges but an overall decline in spending after the ouster of ex-Superintendent Keisha Scarlett.
The school district suspended all credit cards in December after the Post-Dispatch reported on $1.6 million in charges that indicated multiple violations of travel policies, including airline upgrades, luxury hotels, and spending on family members and other non-staff.
During Scarlett鈥檚 tenure from July 2023 to July 2024, the district charged an average of $111,014 a month on a total of 21 credit cards. From October to December the monthly charges averaged $62,985.
At their meeting Tuesday, the SLPS board will approve the district鈥檚 credit card expenses for the first time. The U.S. Bank statements released Friday on the include multiple trips last fall:
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- $243 on tickets for the Charlotte Hornets.
- $1,200 on restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- $4,800 on hotel rooms at the Gaylord Opry in Nashville.
- $1,078 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Seattle.
- $1,400 at the Westin Kansas City.
- $1,800 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington.
- $874 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
- $718 at the Oaks country club in Mexico, Missouri.
- $867 at the Tradewinds Island Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida arriving Nov. 26, two days before Thanksgiving.
The charges in Charlotte were part of a nearly $11,700 trip to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip conference for students interested in business, which was attended by two teachers and six students from Gateway STEM High School.聽聽
The latest statements also show thousands paid for local meals over three months including $1,365 at Panera, $1,200 at Russo鈥檚 catering, $905 at Pappy鈥檚 Smokehouse, $623 at Schnucks on Lindell Boulevard, $507 at Bandana鈥檚 BBQ and lesser charges like $44.91 for a DoorDash order to 7-11.
The school board on Tuesday will also review candidates for a vacancy created by the departure of member Sadie Weiss last month. Weiss cited the board鈥檚 lack of concern for the credit card spending in her resignation speech.
The board鈥檚 executive assistant Shameika Henry spent $53,567 on her SLPS credit card from July 2023 to July 2024. Henry鈥檚 card logged $5,500 in charges from October to December, including $244 at Jimmy John鈥檚 and $46 for Poplin laundry service.
鈥淵ou wanna hit me for a $40 upcharge on Southwest Airlines? Come on, y鈥檃ll,鈥 果酱视频 Board of Education President Antionette 鈥淭oni鈥 Cousins said in a meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. Cousins responded to recent criticism SLPS has received, as well as accusations of unethical behavior from a fellow board remember who resigned the same night. Video courtesy of SLPS, edited by Jenna Jones.
