SJSD School Board holds reorganization meeting, Prop 2 follow up

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization work session on Monday.

The Board honored Isaura Garcia and welcomed incumbent, Kim Miller and new Board member Jennifer Kerns.

After four rounds of voting, LaTonya Williams was re-elected as Board president.

Ronda Chesney was elected as Board vice president, taking over from Mike Moore.

"I've know Ronda for years and we already work together really, really well," said Board president, LaTonya Williams. "In our jobs, outside of the School Board. So, I know that we will also work really well in the School Board."

The board also saw the departure of member, Rick Gehring.

"As a member of the board, it is hard to take the beating every single day for years. It is exhausting and it's easy to say, 'It's what you signed up for," No. It is not what we signed up for, you know?" Williams said. "I don't blame Rick at all, as a matter of fact, all of us do. It's no anger or animosity. He was my friend prior to getting on the board, and he is still my friend."

The board will move to appoint a replacement for Gehring's position until the April 2026 election.

The work session also saw a wide demographic throughout the audience, with a majority of the audience being kids.

"There were lots of students in the audience, and there were not only angry students ... As a matter of fact, there wasn't any angry students, it was just interested students," said Williams. "They were asking us (the board) lots of questions afterwards, and we encouraged that. I mean, I want the kids involved. It's what we do it for."

The next BOE meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 at the Troester Media Center, located at 3401 Renick St.