SJSD Board of Education member says fellow board member committed a Missouri Constitution violation

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A St. Joseph School District Board of Education member believes a fellow board member has committed a Missouri Constitution violation.

Board member Whitney Lanning posted on Facebook Tuesday night that fellow board member Kim Miller committed a constitutional violation by voting on the district's personnel report.

In an email sent to board president LaTonya Williams and vice-president Ronda Chesney, Lanning states that Miller voted on the personnel report when she had a first-degree relative listed in the report.

Lanning shared her email with KQ2 and in that same email, she said during that same vote, Williams abstained from the vote because she had a first-degree relative included.

According to Article VII, Section 6 of the Missouri Constitution, any public official or employee in Missouri appoints or names any relative within the fourth degree has to forfeit their office or employment.

Late Thursday night, Lanning shared on her SJSD School Board Facebook page that she has filed an official Missouri Ethics Commission complaint against Miller.

KQ2 reached out Williams for comment on Thursday evening and she said that she is looking into the matter and has no further comment at this time.

When reaching out to the St. Joseph School District, KQ2 was told by a district official that this a board matter and needed to speak with the board president.

Meanwhile, KQ2 also reached out to Miller Thursday for comment on this potential constitutional violation, but as of Friday morning, KQ2 has not heard back from Miller.