Letter from Kim Miller

By NewsPress Now

Letter from Kim Miller

Whitney Lanning Should

Resign from our School Board

By: Kim Miller

The recent harassment charge against Whitney Lanning is disturbing to me, and what’s more disturbing is that this is a pattern of volatile behavior, condoned by our board president, aimed toward those who hold opposing opinions. Her behavior in Jefferson City during Great Northwest Days was so volatile towards me that I filed a complaint with the capital police. This behavior shouldn’t be acceptable for anyone holding multiple positions of leadership and sets a poor example for children in our community.

In addition to her role on the St. Joseph School Board, I know that Ms. Lanning is also the Executive Director of the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph (CAPSTJOE). I am also aware that in 2022, there were multiple allegations of a hostile work environment under her leadership. That position, and her position on the school board effect children and families across Northwest Missouri, not just here in St. Joseph. This is also disconcerting.

As a school board member for St. Joseph, I was alarmed and appalled by what happened after our board meeting in February. This incident led to a harassment charge filed against Ms. Lanning and is an embarrassing and shameful look not only for our school board, but also for our community. Her use of vulgar language, threats to harm us, bullying to coerce us to do what she wants, and degrading us, if left unchecked, can cause harm to others who may end up working with her in future settings. That is why I believe that Whitney Lanning should resign from her position on our school board, and from her position with CAPSTJOE. These institutions are too important to be led by someone who has shown such a lack of integrity and little respect toward those with whom she disagrees, which I believe is key in serving in public office.

The St. Joseph School District is at a crossroads. We are trying to encourage big changes to our district. We need to increase teacher salaries and our attendance rates. We need to raise our academic scores and lower our classroom behavior incidents. These are just a few of the issues on which we need to focus. All of these are difficult issues to deal with under normal circumstances, but having a school board member charged with a crime after her attack on another board member makes it exceedingly more difficult to work on the changes our district needs especially without being fearful that her behavior will recur.

I completely support due process. However, things change when we make the decision to pursue public office in our community. Normal processes that apply to everyone else change because we are now in positions of leadership, positions that require integrity, honor, respect, and dignity. When Whitney Lanning decided to lead an organization like CAPSTJOE, or when she ran for school board, she was implicitly telling us that we could trust her, and with that, be held to a higher standard of behavior and ethos. The continued incidents that she’s been involved in, especially the one resulting in her being charged with the crime of harassment, show us her true character. It’s clear to me that Ms. Lanning needs to resign.