Mayor Francis Slay has selected Melanie Adams, former executive director of Teach for America, as his pick on the transitional board.

“This is going to be a challenging assignment for Melanie,” wrote the mayor on his blog. “It took decades for the St. Louis Public Schools to fall into their current state. It will take some time to fix them.

“But, it is my hope that the new transitional school board can bring people together from all over the City to make sure the fundamental right to a quality education is fulfilled for all children in St. Louis.”

Adams currently works at the Missouri History Museum under Robert Archibald, the museum’s president and a former member of the school board.

Coincidentally, the St. Louis Board of Education voted last month to withdraw from its contract with Teach for America. [Correction: Contrary to early reports, the board did not cancel the Teach for America contract. They only called for a review.]

Aldermanic President Lewis Reed will be announcing the final selection to the three-person transitional board on Thursday.

State Senator Jeff Smith, whose sponsorship is needed for Derio Gambaro to be confirmed in January, issued the following statement today:

“Derio Gambaro was a worthy opponent in our race for the 4th District Senate seat and a dedicated public servant during his tenure in the state House.

“However, given the specificity with which I outlined my substantive concerns about the Governor’s earlier nominee, I am disappointed that the administration chose to ignore rather than address the issues I raised. It is unfortunate as well that the administration refused my repeated offers for consultation on this appointment, particularly since I worked throughout the session in a bipartisan fashion on education issues.

“Since it is important that the city be represented on the State board, I will look forward to learning more about Mr. Gambaro’s educational philosophy and qualifications.”

Mayor Francis Slay, Police Chief Joe Mokwa and State Rep. Rodney Hubbard are among the supporters listed today for Derio Gambaro, Governor Matt Blunt’s latest appointment to the State Board of Education.

“Derio Gambaro has been a true civic leader in the City of St. Louis,” Slay is quoted on press release passed out at today’s announcement.

“Whether working at the neighborhood level, leading our Election Board, or serving as a State Representative, Derio has lead with conviction and compassion. I am pleased that he will be serving as St. Louis’ representative on the State Board of Education. I am certain he will be a champion for Missouri’s children and advocate for quality public education,” said Slay.

Joining the praise for Gambaro was Chief Mokwa and State Rep. Hubbard.

“I support his appointment to the State Board of Education and believe he will be a strong advisory for Missouri’s children and for public education in our state,” said Mokwa.

“I think Governor Blunt has made an outstanding choice in Derio Gambaro for this very important board,” Hubbard is quoted as saying.

“Derio has the respect and admiration of his community, and will act to ensure that Missouri’s students receive the best education our state has to offer,” said Hubbard.

Other statements of support came from two high ranking Republicans, Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (who also attended today’s event along with State Rep. Jane Cunningham) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.

Because it is a recess appointment, Gambaro will join the Board immediately. However, come January, his appointment is subject to Senate confirmation within 30 days for a term ending on July 1, 2012.

Check back later for video from today’s announcement.

In this exclusive PubDef video from June 2006, Derio Gambaro and the other then-candidates for the State Senate discuss their views on St. Louis Public Schools.

Gambaro: “I’ve always fought for St. Louis Public Schools. I will continue to fight the fight for St. Louis Public Schools. But until they receive full accreditation, it’s imperative that we give our parents and our children choices in their education.”

As you know, SLPS is scheduled to be stripped ov its accreditation in one week.

Gov. Matt Blunt will announce the appointment of Gambaro to the State Board of Education this afternoon.

Governor Matt Blunt will hold a press conference to announce the appointment of former State Rep. Derio Gambaro to the State Board of Education, which we first reported yesterday, at the site of Gambaro’s longstanding family business in south St. Louis.

The Governor will be in “The Hill” neighborhood today at the Missouri Bakery, 2027 Edwards St., at 1:45 p.m. The Bakery was founded by Gambaro’s grandfather and uncles in 1924.

READ IT HERE FIRST

PubDef has learned that Gov. Matt Blunt will be appointing former State Rep. Derio Gambaro to the State Board of Education tomorrow.

Gambaro represented south St. Louis in the House of Representatives for two terms between 1998 and 2000. In 2006, Gambaro ran in a crowded field of candidates to replace term-limited Pat Dougherty in the State Senate. He finished third in the race, behind political science instructor Jeff Smith and State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin.

In these two videos from June 2006 Gambaro sounded very critical of existing charter schools in St. Louis, particularly Confluence Academies which Smith co-founded.

During the campaign Gambaro was often criticized for supporting a scholarship program which many called a thinly-veiled school voucher program. He was also criticized for accepting financial support from Rex Sinquefield, a wealthy backer of school choice efforts in Missouri.

Because Blunt will be making the appointment while the State Legislature is on recess, Gambaro will immediately join the Board. However, when the Senate returns in January, Gambaro will have to be nominated sponsored by his state senator, Jeff Smith.

Smith tells PubDef that he just learned of Gambaro’s appointment today and has not decided whether he will support his former opponent next year. He said there are still some outstanding issues on which he would still like to see where Gambaro stands.

In the meantime, it looks like Gambaro will have several months on the Board to show Smith and everyone else where he stands on a whole range of education issues before he is up for confirmation.

Governor Matt Blunt’s nominees for various State department directors were passed out of the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments committee this morning, and will now go to the floor of the State Senate for debate.

Among these candidates is Katie Smith, Blunt’s controversial nominee for Director of Agriculture. Democrats have recently criticized Smith’s credentials, noting that she is not only young (she is 29 years-old), but also that she has worked primarily as an aide to lawmakers in Washington, not within Missouri itself.

State Senator Maida Coleman told PubDef this afternoon that Senate Democrats plan “debate as to [Smith’s] qualifications” for the Senate floor. Coleman explained that Senate Democrats feel that “there are very high expectations for the next director based on the shameful behavior of the former director,” and thus are approaching the nomination with caution.

Sen. Coleman did, however, express her hope that should Smith be confirmed in the position, she perform well. “As a veteran of the Senate and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will do my best to assist her in her job,” said Coleman.

Following the resignation of Missouri Department of Agriculture director Fred Ferrell, Governor Matt Blunt has nominated Platte City resident Katie Smith to become the next director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Ferrell resigned this past winter following sexual harassment allegations brought by former MDA employee Heather Elder. However, Gov. Blunt has denied that events surrounding Ferrell’s resignation have anything to do with his selection of a female candidate.

If the nomination is confirmed, Smith would become the first female director of the state’s Department of Agriculture.

Former St. Louis City Election Board Chairman Kimberley J. Mathis has been appointed to the Children’s Trust Fund Board.

Gov. Matt Blunt’s office announced the appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, earlier today.