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ST. LOUIS—Two of the three incumbents up for election to the Saint Louis School Board in 2025 have decided against running. Matt Davis, the board’s vice president, and Natalie Vowell, both announced in social media posts Tuesday that they would not be filing to run by the 5 p.m. deadline.
Board President Toni Cousins is the only incumbent who will stand for election on April 8, among at least a dozen contenders.
In a social media post, Davis said the decision came with mixed emotions.
“I am keenly aware that the last four years has been a hardship on my family and my job. Most times the school board was all consuming. It is not fair for me to be a semi-absent husband, father and business partner for another four years,” Davis, who was first elected in 2021 wrote. “While I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to a sense of normalcy, I am torn by a feeling that I’m giving up on a very righteous cause.”
Davis said he “wholeheartedly” supports Cousins.
Vowell, who has been on the board since 2017, pointed to the work done to restore local control of the district in 2019.
“I wish the remaining and incoming board members the best of luck in seeking solid governance practices that work for them, the District’s leadership, educators, and—most importantly—our students and families, so that our district can maintain accreditation and our board members will continue to be chosen democratically, by The People of St. Louis City,” she wrote in a social media post.
The decisions to stay out of the race comes as the board has faced heavy scrutiny in the wake of former superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett’s firing after a year on the job. An internal assessment found thousands of dollars in questionable spending, raising questions about what the board knew or should have known about district operations.
Scarlett has pledged to sue for wrongful termination.
Last summer, one fellow 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 took effect during this school year after its former bus vendor opted out of a contract. The district’s approach this year has included a variety of modes of transportation, from traditional school buses to MetroBus rides and vendors with vans.
The next school board could face decisions on a number of fronts, including the rebuilding of an administrative team after several of Scarlett’s hires left the district, along with others who came on before her tenure but have moved on since then.
There will be significant financial challenges to address, including the end of pandemic-era aid and how to address potential school closures amid shrinking enrollments and rising costs for building upkeep.
