A Buchanan County judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the St. Joseph School District that was filed less than a week before the November 2017 election.

The lawsuit, filed by Eldon C. Green, claimed the district illegally used public funds to advocate for and support the passage of Proposition 1.

According to a news release from the district, Judge Patrick Robb granted a motion to dismiss. He ruled that the statute in question (115.646) does not apply to school districts or their personnel, and that it would be “judicial activism” to adopt Green’s position since the Legislature did not intend for the statute to apply to school districts.

“This is an important ruling for the St. Joseph School District and other districts in the state,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, St. Joseph School District Superintendent. “We relied on the community to provide financial support for the campaign, but those who work in the school district are in the best position to provide timely and accurate information about the district’s needs. Judge Robb’s decision reflects this common-sense approach.”