Lawsuit Planned to Remove Purdy? [Updated]

KTVI Channel 2 is reporting that a lawsuit is being filed by citizens on behalf of former Superintendent Creg Williams and former Vashon basketball coach Floyd Irons, who were both were fired last week. The lawsuit reportedly seeks to remove board member Bill Purdy.

A rally is being planned for tonight by opponents of the school board majority. It will be at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

UPDATE: Channel 5 reporter Sharon Stevens gives a little more details about the lawsuit. She reports Purdy is being sued by fellow board members Flint Fowler and Ron Jackson and 47 other citizens, including Floyd Irons. The lawsuit claims Purdy is serving on the board illegally and should be removed.

KSDK reports the issue being whether a person can run for the school board if he or she has relatives who work in the district. Two of Purdy’s daughters and a grandson are teachers in the district. A recent change in Missouri state statutes allows school board candidates to serve, even if there is family working in the system.

But according to Stevens, the school board bylaws still say that is illegal. Those bylaws have not been amended to reflect the state law and that is what the lawsuit is based on.