SLPS asks employees to return all district credit cards after audit

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is asking all district credit card holders to turn those cards in.

In a release, the district says it is asking all district credit card holders to return their cards to the District Chief Financial Officer. The move, announced Thursday night, comes days after an audit that examined spending, hiring practices and pay. The audit reviewed over 1,100 credit card transactions, totaling $260,512 in charges. There were 637 questionable transactions, totaling approximately $148,000 (or 60%) of the total charges.

The audit also made recommendations on how the district can better manage finances going forward. The district says that the move announced Thursday night addresses four recommendations. The district adds:

We believe these measures will help maintain public trust and reflect our commitment to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. We appreciate the cooperation of our staff in implementing these changes.

It’s been a complicated year for Saint Louis Public Schools.

In early July, the district outlined a plan for newly hired chief communications officer, Phoenix Jackson, was let go by the district on July 30, just six weeks after she was hired.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones requested the audit in a letter that noted that the SLPS general operating budget at the start of the 2023-2024 school year was $17 million, while this year’s budget is projected to be in a $35 million deficit.

First Alert 4 Investigates pressed interim superintendent Millicent Borishade about district credit card spending before the decision to freeze the cards was made.

When asked, “Were you in compliance with the school district when using that district card?”

Borishade replied, “As far as I know, I was in compliance.”

We followed up with, “Some would say that’s a yes or no answer for that question.”

Borishade says, “Yes, I was in compliance. ”

First Alert 4 has confirmed Borishade is listed in the former superintendent, Dr. Keisha Scarlett’s expense reports.

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