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St. Joseph board elects Rhonda Chesney president amid dispute over a sitting member’s participation
Summary
On April 13 the St. Joseph Board of Education elected Rhonda Chesney as board president in a 4-3 vote and Jacob McMillan as vice president; members sparred over removing an item about alleged misconduct and whether board member Kim Miller should participate in votes.
The St. Joseph Board of Education on April 13 elected Rhonda Chesney as board president by a 4-3 roll call vote after a contentious reorganization process that also selected Jacob McMillan as vice president by the same margin.
The meeting opened with a motion to strike agenda item 3A — board business — while an external entity investigates related allegations. That motion prompted several members to argue over accountability and transparency, with one member saying the board had “turned away from accountability and transparency” and others replying that the complaints were already in the hands of administrators. The motion to remove item 3A passed 4-3.
After the roll call, nominations proceeded in order. A motion to elect Mike Moore failed on the first vote. The board then approved Rhonda Chesney as president 4-3; later, Jacob McMillan was elected vice president by a 4-3 roll call. Board members raised procedural objections after the votes, arguing that participation by one member — identified in the meeting record as Ms. Miller — created legal risk because of a counsel recommendation regarding her participation. Administrators recorded the votes by roll call; no formal court action or adjudication happened during the meeting.
Board members used the brief post-election comment period to set expectations for the new leadership. One member urged the newly elected officers to work “with all board members” and to balance support for administration with accountability; applause followed several remarks.
The board proceeded to routine business after officers were seated. A separate motion later re-adopted the board ethics policy (BBF), which the board must review biennially. That motion passed in roll call.
Next procedural steps: the board moved into its scheduled work session, where the administration presented a multi-part finance workshop and several program updates.
Actions at a glance: the motion to remove item 3A passed 4-3; Rhonda Chesney was elected board president 4-3; Jacob McMillan was elected vice president 4-3; the ethics policy BBF was re-adopted by roll call.
