ST. LOUIS – Two of the three incumbent members running for the 2025 St. Louis Board of Education election have decided not to run. Board vice presidents Matt Davis and Natalie Vowell announced in a social media post Tuesday that they would not file to run by the 5 p.m. deadline.
Board Chair Toni Cousins is the only incumbent running in the April 8 election among at least a dozen candidates.
Davis said in a social media post that he had mixed feelings about the decision.
“I am acutely aware that the past four years have been difficult for both my family and my work, with the school board being all-consuming most of the time.Another four years of being a semi-absent husband, father, And it’s not fair to be business partners,” wrote Davis, who was first elected in 2021. “I’m certainly looking forward to returning to a sense of normalcy, but I’m torn by the feeling that we’re abandoning a very good cause.”
Davis said he supports Cousins ”with all my heart.”
Vowell, who has served on the board since 2017, pointed to efforts made in 2019 to restore local control of the district.
“I hope that the remaining and incoming trustees seek solid governance practices that are effective for themselves, district leaders, educators, and most importantly, students and families, and that the district achieves accreditation. I wish you all the best of luck in retaining your Board membership, which will continue to be democratically elected by the people of the City of St. Louis,” she wrote in a social media post.
The decision to sit out the race comes as the board faces intense scrutiny following the firing of former superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett after one year on the job. An internal evaluation revealed thousands of dollars in suspicious spending, raising questions about what the board knew or should have known about district operations.
Scarlett has promised to sue for unfair dismissal.
Last summer, a board member called for both Davis and Cousins to resign.
A state audit is underway.
The district has also faced criticism for approving a patchwork transportation plan that went into effect this school year after the former bus operator terminated its contract. The district’s efforts this year include a variety of transportation options, from traditional school buses to Metrobus rides and van-based vendors.
The incoming school board will have to deal with a number of issues, including the departure of several staff Scarlett hired from the district and the restructuring of the management team following the departure of staff who joined before her term but have since moved on. You may be forced to make a decision.
There will be significant financial challenges to address, including how to deal with the end of pandemic-era aid and possible school closures due to declining enrollment and rising building maintenance costs.
