MO state senator asks education commissioner to step down

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV/AP) -
Powerful Jackson County lawmaker calls for Nicastro's ouster

A powerful area lawmaker is calling for state Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro to step down, saying she has demonstrated a tendency "to abuse power."

Sen. Paul LeVota, of Independence, and House member Genise Montecillo, of St. Louis, both Democrats, said in a statement Tuesday that the most recent example arose in recently disclosed emails from the education department dealing with a ballot measure to end teacher tenure and require that student performance guide employment decisions.

A department staff member originally proposed reporting to the state auditor's office that the initiative had potential for significant unknown costs to local school districts. Nicastro changed that to say the cost was unknown.

A state judge also earlier this year said that Nicastro and her staff provided false and misleading information about the state's attempts to close Gordon Parks Elementary School, a charter school in Kansas City.

more . . . http://www.kctv5.com/story/24078816/powerful-jackson-county-lawmaker-calls-for-nicastros-outster