CHERRY TWP — The Moniteau School District voted at a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, to reappoint its law firm after failing to do so at the regular December board meeting.

In a 5-4 vote, the district rehired Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham.

The discussion around the reappointment — the only item on the agenda for the special meeting — took about 30 minutes, with some board members questioning the proceedings of the board.

At the Dec. 7 meeting, the board voted 5-4 to open up the position.

Aubrie Schnelle, district superintendent, said the next day administrators received an email from solicitor Andrea Parenti resigning. The renewable service contract with the firm was up at the end of the year.

On Wednesday, the vote to reappoint the law firm as the district’s legal representation passed with President Michael Panza, Vice President Joann Duke, Jennifer Rottman, Linda Dillaman and Mark DeMatteis voting yes, and Randy Armagost, Michael Baptiste, Bryan Sack and Matthew Zietz voting against the motion.

The only board member to change his vote from the preceding meeting was DeMatteis, who said Wednesday that he was not swayed or contacted about his vote by another school board member.

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