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Court decisions, state Board of Education resignation once again put Vandeven’s job in jeopardy

Margie Vandeven, commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, right, visits with students in Warren County in 2015.
Provided | Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Margie Vandeven, commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, right, visits with students in Warren County in 2015.

Missouri’s education commissionercould soon be out of the job after aStateBoard of Education member resigned — and a judge refused to reinstall a Joplin pastor to his slot.

Claudia Oñate Greim resigned from the state board on Thursday night, less than a day before members are slated to meet. Greim was the only person who Gov. Eric Greitens appointed who votedearlier this monthagainst firing Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.

“As I made clear during my two-month service, when and how change in leadership at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education should occur require thoughtful and independent study,” Greim wrote in her resignation letter. “I regret I cannot get comfortable with the current process by this is taking place.”

Greitens could replace Greim before Friday’s meeting with a new board of education member who wants to dismiss Vandeven. While school administrators and a bipartisan group of legislators have praised Vandeven’s work as the state’s top education official, Greitens hassought tobring in a replacement that’s more amenable to expanding charter schools.

The Missouri Board of Education could vote soon on whether to oust Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.
Credit Provided | Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Missouri Board of Education could vote soon on whether to oust Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.

The prospect of Vandeven’s dismissal became more likely thanks to two court decisions from Cole County Judge Jon Beetem.

Beetem rejected a bid from former board member Tim Sumners to immediately regain his seat on the board of education. He also declined to rule right away on whether the last board of education meeting violated Missouri's open records laws.

“Today's decision was a win for teachers and students,” said Greitens spokesman Parker Briden in a statement. “It affirms the Governor’s constitutional authority to make appointments as Missouri’s chief executive. Now we need to focus on the Governor's priorities: raise teacher pay, support public schools, and help students succeed.”

The upshot of Beetem’s ruling appears to be that Springfield resident Jennifer Edwards, who Greitens appointed to take Sumners’ place on the board, can stay on for Friday’s meeting. Edwards voted with three other Greitens appointees on Nov. 21 to fire Vandeven.

Friday’s meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in Jefferson City.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Marshall Griffin contributed information for this story.

Follow Jason and Ryan on Twitter:@jrosenbaum@rpatrickdelaney

Copyright 2017 St. Louis Public Radio

Since entering the world of professional journalism in 2006, Jason Rosenbaum dove head first into the world of politics, policy and even rock and roll music. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Rosenbaum spent more than four years in the Missouri State Capitol writing for the Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media and the St. Louis Beacon. Since moving to St. Louis in 2010, Rosenbaum's work appeared in Missouri Lawyers Media, the St. Louis Business Journal and the Riverfront Times' music section. He also served on staff at the St. Louis Beacon as a politics reporter. Rosenbaum lives in Richmond Heights with with his wife Lauren and their two sons.
Ryan is a reporter on the education desk at St. Louis Public Radio, covering both higher education and the many school districts in the St. Louis region. He has previously reported for public radio stations WFYI in Indianapolis and WRVO in upstate New York. He began his journalism career working part time for WAER while attending Syracuse University. He's won multiple reporting awards and his work, which has aired on NPR, The Takeaway and WGBH's Innovation Hub. Having grown up in Burlington, Vt., he often spends time being in the woods hiking, camping, and skiing.