JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Latest on the removal of Missouri’s education commissioner (all times local):

1 p.m.

The Missouri State Board of Education has voted to oust Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven, hours after Republican Gov. Eric Greitens appointed a new member to the board.

Greitens has been trying to get a majority of board members to fire Vandeven, but the attempt failed on a 4-4 tie vote last week when another Greitens appointee, Claudia Onate Greim, broke ranks and voted to keep Vandeven.

Greim resigned Thursday and Greitens appointed Eric Teeman of Raytown. The board voted 5-3 Friday to remove Vandeven.

It’s unclear why Greitens wants a new commissioner to lead the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In a statement, the governor called the board’s vote “a major step in the right direction as we work to improve public education in Missouri.”

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A new appointee to Missouri’s embattled State Board of Education has resigned.

Claudia Onate Greim stepped down Thursday following months of work by Gov. Eric Greitens to fill the education board with a majority of his appointees and replace Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

Greitens appointed Onate Greim. But she later voted against an effort to fire Vandeven.

In her resignation letter Onate Greim said a change of leaderships requires thoughtful and independent study. She wrote that she “cannot get comfortable” with how the process is taking place and urged her successor to be steadfast.

Onate Greim’s resignation came the day before another scheduled board meeting. Greitens could appoint a new member to the board before the meeting, possibly someone who could provide the fifth vote needed to oust Vandeven.