(AP) – The president of the Missouri State Board of Education says the education commissioner’s review of a proposed initiative petition was nothing out of the ordinary.

Emails show Commissioner Chris Nicastro interacted with a group developing a ballot proposal that would end teacher tenure and require that student performance guide employment decisions.

Sen. Paul LeVota, of Independence, and House member Genise Montecillo, of St. Louis, released a joint statement Tuesday calling for Nicastro to step down. The two Democratic lawmakers’ statement specifically pointed to Nicastro’s handling of a cost estimate for the proposed ballot measure.

Missouri’s education commissioner is appointed by the state Board of Education. Board President Peter Herschend said Tuesday that department staff performed a routine consultation on the measure and Nicastro’s review was not out of the ordinary.

2 p.m.  Tuesday  (AP)  Two Missouri Democratic lawmakers are 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, said in a statement Tuesday 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 of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

The State Board of Education appoints the education commissioner.