Lanning charged in ‘disagreement’ with Garcia

By Marcus Clem

Board of Education member Whitney Lanning has been charged with second-degree harassment following an interaction with another elected official.

Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Davidson said the charge, which is a Class A misdemeanor, will not involve an arrest. Filings show Lanning received a summons by mail on Wednesday. She is set for an initial appearance at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, in front of Associate Circuit Judge Rebecca L. Spencer.

“… (O)n or about February 26, 2024, in the County of Buchanan, State of Missouri, the defendant, without good cause and with the purpose to cause emotional distress to Confidential Victim, followed the Confidential Victim while screaming profanities and threatening bodily injury,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael DeAngelis wrote in a court filing.

A probable cause statement in the case details Lanning allegedly approaching the victim in a doorway as she was leaving, yelling at her, following her through multiple rooms and throwing her own property at a wall. The court document said a witness intervened due to his belief the incident could turn physical.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials acknowledged an “incident arising from a disagreement” between two St. Joseph Board of Education members on Feb. 26. The members have since been confirmed to be Lanning and Isaura Garcia.

Both Garcia and Lanning have declined to be interviewed about the case. Superintendent Gabe Edgar said the district has no separate statement beyond what has already been issued. Board President LaTonya Williams declined to comment.

Garcia emailed News-Press NOW a statement at about noon on Wednesday.

“It is an honor to serve as a member of the St. Joseph School District Board of Education, and with that privilege comes a responsibility — a responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity and respect as we are not only leaders in our community but, more importantly, role models for our children.

“Our form of government only works through open communication as we learn to understand and respect differing opinions, and through collaboration and compromise as we collectively solve problems and better our community.

“Unfortunately, a member of our board of education has attacked dignity, respect, and acceptance of differing opinions.”

In her own emailed statement, Lanning said the matter on Feb. 26 pertained to her child.

“This was not a disagreement over school-related issues, in fact, it wasn’t a disagreement at all,” Lanning said. “My child was attacked in an effort to discredit district staff. As a mother I’ll always defend my child, and all children for that matter.”

Garcia indicated she would take action over the argument.

“As a public servant, I can no longer sit idly by while a member of the board of education attacks, verbally abuses and bullies other board members, District employees and members of the public,” Garcia said. “This behavior is unacceptable, and the members of our school, our community and our children deserve better.

“I am no longer going to tolerate or accept this immature, inappropriate and unprofessional behavior.”

Williams conveyed the district statement on Wednesday morning, prepared in consultation with the district’s attorney:

“The Board is aware of an incident arising from a disagreement among two board members occurring at the board meeting held on February 26, 2024.

“It is our understanding that this incident has been referred to outside agencies for appropriate action as warranted. The Board emphasizes that individual board members are responsible for their own actions and do not speak or act on the board’s behalf unless they are designated by the board to do so.”

The Garcia-Lanning interaction happened after a tense board meeting in which Garcia, David Foster, Kenneth Reeder and Kim Miller voted down a four-day school calendar, over arguments in favor from Lanning, Williams and Rick Gehring.

The district asked the board to approve the proposal to, it said, help with teacher recruitment and retention. The district will stick with a five-day class calendar for the foreseeable future after the 3-4 vote.

During the Feb. 26 debate, Lanning and Reeder exchanged shouted arguments and other board members participated in what proved to be one of the more dramatic conversations to occur during the seven-member board’s current tenure.

A board election for three seats, currently held by Williams, Reeder and Foster, is set for April 2. Neither Garcia nor Lanning are candidates as their terms are not ending this year.