Buchanan County judge grants 2-week extension in school board member lawsuit

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A Buchanan County judge has granted a two-week extension before she makes a decision on the future of a lawsuit that has been filed against a St. Joseph School District Board of Education member.

Buchanan County Judge Kate Schaefer is giving Cydney Puckett, one of five individuals that filed a quo warranto lawsuit against SJSD board member Kim Miller, two weeks to respond to a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. 

Miller's attorney, Jeffrey Davison, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Monday. He argues that the five individuals— Puckett, Dakota Allen, Sydney Pinion, Stacie Sanders, and LaTonya Williams— do not have the legal standing or jurisdiction to file a lawsuit like this. 

According to Davison's address filings, he is a member of Dunn & Davison, L.L.C. The law firm is also the general counsel for the Herzog Contracting Corp.

Puckett told KQ2 after Tuesday's hearing that she plans to review the cases that Davison cited in his motion. She said that a phone call, an email and a voicemail has been made to the Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office but the group has not heard anything back. 

This lawsuit was filed against Miller because of a personnel report vote that she made during the March school board meeting. Miller violated the Missouri Constitution by approving the hiring of her son.

The motion hearing is set for 2:30 pm on May 19, 2026, at the Buchanan County Courthouse in Division 1.