Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens removed a State Board of Education appointee Monday night. On Tuesday, members were expected to discuss firing the state's top education official.
Monday the governor withdrew his appointee John "Tim" Sumners. Sumners had said he would not vote out Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven, whom Greitens is trying to replace. Sumners would have been the fifth Greitens appointee on the board, enough of a majority to vote to fire Vandeven, and three of Greitens' appointees called for a closed meeting to be held Tuesday.
But without Sumners' support, it appeared unlikely that Vandeven's opponents would have the votes to oust her. Replacing Sumners with a new Greitens' appointee could bring the pivotal fifth vote needed to remove her.
