The St. Louis Public School District has witnessed the departure of another senior official, as Transportation Director Toyin Akinola announced her retirement after more than a quarter century of service. First Alert 4 reported that Akinola's decision was anticipated, and her successor has already been appointed.
The district has been navigating through a troubled period, stemming from various transportation issues which arose at the start of the school year. In an emailed statement, Akinola expressed pride in her service, stating, "I have proudly served the district for over 25 years in various roles with sincerity and integrity, and I have no regrets," as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Akinola's retirement comes in the wake of SLPS implementing an emergency transportation plan following the cancellation of a contract with its main transportation vendor over the summer. The fallout included persistent transportation challenges for students at the opening of the school year in August. Shawntay Vaughn, a single working mom with a child in the district, previously shared with 5 On Your Side, "Single moms like myself rely on our school system as an additional support system. I now have a shortened work schedule to accommodate picking up my kids from school."
Akinola's tenure ended amidst larger issues within the district, including the controversial termination of Superintendent Keisha Scarlett for cause and a tumult from an initial $17 million surplus to a projected $35 million deficit in the general operations budget. Mayor Tishaura Jones and other leaders have been vocal regarding expensive contracts issued during Scarlett's oversight.
