The state takeover was initially met with protests from students and parents who worried about the loss of accreditation along with local control.

One of the administrative board’s signature achievements was hiring Kelvin Adams to lead the district in 2008, after nearly annual turnover at the superintendent position. Adams is credited with helping to restore community support in the city schools and has agreed to extend his contract to 2022.

The elected board has continued to meet during the years of state oversight. Since 2007, all but one of the seats have turned over in regular elections. The newest members are Adam Layne and Tracee Miller, who were elected April 2.

Elected board members have received leadership training over eight weekends since fall, and the newly elected members also will get intensive training before the next school year, said Melissa Randol, executive director of the Missouri School Boards’ Association.

“We’re really proud of the commitment that the elected board and the (Special Administrative Board) and Dr. Adams have made to ensure they’re ready to be a governing board,” Randol said.