SJSD Board of Education members explain reasoning in superintendent contract vote

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) The St. Joseph School District's Board of Education tacked on an extra year to Superintendent Ashly McGinnis' contract, but the vote wasn't a clean 7-0 approval. 

KQ2 filed a Sunshine Request with the St. Joseph School District last week for the official vote and how each board member voted for Superintendent Ashly McGinnis' contract. 

The board ended up voting 5-2 to add an additional year to McGinnis' contract. 

The five board members who voted "yes" include Board Vice President Ronda Chesney, Jennifer Kerns, Kim Miller, Mike Moore and Tom Richmond.

The two "no" votes were from Board President LaTonya Williams and Whitney Lanning.

KQ2 reached out to all seven board candidates Thursday and asked each one for the reasoning behind their vote.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, four of the seven board members responded with statements.

Whitney Lanning — 'No' Vote:

"In the past year, Dr. McGinnis failed to ensure timely completion of federal funds reimbursements, she did not notify us of a million-dollar procurement mistake, both of which she was charged with overseeing. There has been a significant lack of clarity and communication with the board and the community regarding the current consolidation of schools. There have been and continue to be a bevy of policy and statutory violations. As a result, I could not in good conscience vote in favor of an extension of the superintendent's contract."

Mike Moore — 'Yes' Vote:

"I supported a one-year extension of Dr. McGinnis' contract because she's making good progress on the district's improvement plan and I believe the stability provided by having consistent and stable leadership in place is important as the school district navigates the challenges of the next few years."

Tom Richmond — 'Yes' Vote:

"It is a pleasure to support Dr. McGinnis in working to move the District forward in support of our students, teachers, staff, and community. This has been a trying year, but Ashly has assembled an outstanding staff that is working every day to manage change and produce success. There is a lot of work to be done, but Dr. McGinnis has demonstrated the leadership and determination to make a positive difference."

LaTonya Williams — 'No' Vote:

"With many district employees still waiting on clarity regarding their placements and then contracts for next year, I believed it was important to prioritize providing them stability first. I felt this decision could wait until our staff had theirs in place. My decision was rooted in fairness and thoughtful governance, and I remain committed to working collaboratively in the best interest of our students, staff, and community."

McGinnis' contract originally ran through the 2027-2028 school year, but the one-year extension keeps her in the role through 2028-2029.