(AP) A Missouri state senator is formally calling on the state education commissioner to resign.

Democratic Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal of University City filed a formal resolution today asking Chris Nicastro to immediately leave office.

Chappelle-Nadal says Nicastro has been “less than truthful” in dealing with the legislature. She also criticized the commissioner for entering into a contract with a consulting firm to improve the failing Kansas City schools, even though the firm’s bid was higher than other submissions.

The resolution also cites Nicastro’s assistance with an initiative petition seeking to change the state’s teacher tenure laws as a reason that she should leave office.

The resolution has not been referred to a Senate committee. Nicastro’s job status can be affected only by the State Board of Education.

In December, emails released by Nicastro showed she was working behind the scenes to create a statewide district to run some of the state’s lowest performing districts.

It also showed that Springfield Superintendent Norm Ridder, who is retiring in June, was her pick to lead the district. Ridder has confirmed that he and Nicastro discussed the job possibility but that no decisions had been made.

He also previously stated that no action on that option was expected until after The Cities for Education Entrepreneurship Trust, or CEE-Trust, had made a recommendation to turn around the struggling Kansas City schools. The state board received that report this week.

On Monday, Ridder said he has not been part of the conversation in recent weeks.

“I’ve been stepping back and I haven’t been involved,” he said.