ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Kelvin Adams, an executive for the school district in New Orleans, on Thursday was chosen to lead St. Louis public schools, becoming the beleaguered district's eighth superintendent since 2003.

Adams will get a three-year contract. Terms were not immediately announced. He was expected to be in St. Louis on Friday.

Adams has never been a superintendent but was the only one of the three finalists to have previously worked in St. Louis. He is currently chief of staff for the Recovery School District in New Orleans. His selection was approved in a unanimous vote by the three-person state-appointed board that oversees the district.

"Even though he does not have that experience, I am satisfied he can do the job here that needs to be done," board member Richard Gaines said.

The district received 35 applicants for the position. In addition to Adams, other finalists were Eric Becoats, co-interim superintendent of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C.; and Donnie Evans, a former superintendent in Providence, R.I.

In New Orleans, Adams coordinates day-to-day operations for the 12,500-student district. He worked in St. Louis during the 2006-07 school year, serving as executive director of human resources for the district.

Board member Rick Sullivan praised Adams as a "hands-on" administrator who has played a key role in helping to revitalize the New Orleans district devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"Everything we found, the man has an unblemished record," Sullivan said.

The St. Louis district is the largest in Missouri with about 28,000 students. The state took control in June 2007 to try and turn around the district long troubled by budget problems and poor academic performance. While the state board runs the district, an elected board still exists, though with no real power.

Diana Bourisaw began as superintendent in 2006 before the state took control. As a result, the new three-member board decided to advertise the position and asked her to reapply. She declined, and left the job in July.

Interim superintendent John Wright did not apply for the permanent position.

Peter Downs, president of the elected school board, said none of the three finalists were acceptable.

"They should turn around and ask Bourisaw to come back, and if she says no, they should ask Dr. Wright to stay on, and ask an experienced local educator to take the job," Downs said.

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