SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A Springfield teacher is suing the Missouri Board of Education over a closed session it held last week during a controversy over removing Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, Laurie Sullivan alleges the board violated the state’s open meetings law by holding a closed meeting Nov. 21 to discuss Vandeven’s future.

Tim Sumners of Joplin and Missy Gelner of Springfield were appointed and then removed from the board by Gov. Eric Greitens. He appointed Jennifer Edwards hours before the Nov. 21 meeting. Sumners and Gelner participated in the closed meeting but only Edwards was able to vote.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Sullivan’s lawsuit contends Sumners and Gelner were not properly removed from the board. Sumners on Tuesday sued Greitens to challenge his remova

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Joplin man who was appointed to the Missouri Board of Education and then blocked from voting on the fate of the state education commissioner is suing Gov. Eric Greitens.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Cole County, John Sumners asks the court to determine if he remains a board member and whether Greitens broke the law by rescinding his appointment earlier this month.

Sumners publicly alleged in mid-November that the governor’s staff pressured him to vote to during a board meeting Nov. 21 to replace education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

Less than a day before that meeting, Greitens tried to rescind Sumners’ nomination and instead nominate Jennifer Edwards of Springfield.

The lawsuit names Greitens, Edwards and seven board members.

The governor’s spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.