SJSD sees six filings for two open School Board seats in first week

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph School District saw six filings for two open seats on its School Board after the filing period opened Tuesday.

Terms are up in April for board member Whitney Lanning and newly seated member Tom Richmond. Richmond joined the board in May after former member Rick Gehring announced his resignation.

SJSD saw filings for Jacob McMillian, Cynthia Cook and Deborah Schmuck on Tuesday.

Travis Smith was added to the list on Wednesday, Geoffrey Sollars filed on Thursday and Cassandra Veale on Friday.

Only two out of the six candidates who have filed so far have appeared on ballots for the Buchanan County General Municipal Election over the last five years.

Jacob McMillian was listed on the April 2024 ballot and Cassandra Veale was listed on the April 2025 ballot.

Both McMillian and Veale also ran as candidates to be selected to fill Gehring's open spot earlier this year.

Any person interested and qualified to run for a position on the School Board in the April 7, 2026, election is encouraged to apply.

Qualifications to apply are:

• Be citizens of the United States of America
• Be voters of the district
• Have resided in Missouri for a minimum of one year immediately preceding their election or appointment
• Be at least 24 years of age
• Not be delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on their place of residence. If an applicant is a past or present corporate officer of any fee office, that office cannot be delinquent in the payment of any taxes owed to the state
• Have not been found guilty of, nor pled guilty to, a felony under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under Missouri law or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in Missouri
• Have not been convicted of or entered a guilty plea for the offense of assault in the first or second degree, or the offense of harassment in the first or second degree, where such assault or harassment occurred on school district grounds
• Not be registered or required to be registered as a sex offender
• Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing candidate
• Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing committee has filed, all required campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission, when applicable, for all previous elections in which they were candidates.

Persons interested may file at the St. Joseph School District's Administrative offices, located at 1415 North 26th St.

Filings will continue during SJSD's regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The district said the hours are subject to change.

Filing will not occur on days when SJSD's offices are closed due to inclement weather or due to an unforeseen event in which the district would need to close.

So far, the district offices will be closed from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 29.

The last day for candidates to file is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Candidates with questions should call 816-671-4003 or email donnabaker@sjsd.k12.mo.us.