ST. LOUIS – The relationship between St. Louis Public Schools and its teachers’ union has been strained for months, and now tensions are reaching a breaking point.

On Monday, nearly 2,000 members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) St. Louis signed and delivered a no-confidence petition against Superintendent Keisha Borishade. The petition was hand-delivered to district headquarters, alongside a personal letter addressed to School Board President Karen Collins-Adams.

The move follows Borishade’s proposal to close more than half of the district’s schools. Union members say the plan raises more questions than answers, particularly as the district continues to deal with damage to several campuses from May’s tornado.

“It was really just odd for us to talk about closing schools instead of opening schools. How do we come back to school, especially after the trauma of the tornado?” one teacher said.

Union leaders say two-thirds of its members believe the closures would do more harm than good, despite an outside audit Borishade ordered that suggested consolidation. Enrollment has already dropped at schools displaced by the storm, raising concerns about potential cuts to state and federal funding.

“Perhaps we should be looking at some of our buildings that are a surplus and using those in a creative way,” Clemens said. “But let’s sit down and do this, and not talk about closing schools, particularly when north St. Louis has been devastated the way it has.”

Union representatives also claim educators have been left out of key decision-making this year. Many who signed the petition asked to remain anonymous, citing fear of retaliation.

“We believe in elected school boards and have faith in elected school boards. And we’ve seen school boards and superintendents come and go. One of the consistent folks who should have a seat at the table are the employees,” Byron said.

Superintendent Borishade is expected to present a corrective action plan for the district’s finances on Tuesday. Union leaders say trust now lies with the board to act, calling it clear that “the ball is in their court.”