State of Illinois takes control of East St. Louis schools

From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The East St. Louis (Ill.) School Board has handed the reins of its failing school system to the Illinois State Board of Education. The intergovernmental agreement states that or at least three years, the seven-member board and school district administrators may no longer approve any contract, or make personnel, financial or curriculum decisions without first getting written approval from the state. The schoool board also has voted to place Superintendent Theresa Saunders on administrative leave with pay.