Thursday, September 11, 2014

Mike Landis: The election doesn't matter

It was one of those exchanges that tells a lot about how board members think and what they think of the people who gave them the privilege of serving

During the discussion that followed interviews of the four candidates for the vacant Joplin R-8 Board of Education seat Wednesday afternoon, the board made a decision, one that appeared to have been made before the meeting, that a preference would be given to those who had run for school board in April.

Maybe they should have told Jennifer Martucci and Lane Roberts earlier, so they could have saved themselves some trouble, but that decision left two candidates- Jeff Koch and Shawn McGrew. Both men had put themselves forward for elective office for the first time with Koch finishing fourth, barely out of the running, approximately 900 votes ahead of McGrew, who placed sixth in a field of seven candidates.

It was obvious from the beginning that the fix was in for Shawn McGrew.

Board member Jim Kimbrough noted that Koch had received considerably more votes than McGrew in the election.

Mike Landis, a board member since 2001, had a quick, curt response.

"The election doesn't matter."

For people who supported Jeff Koch last night, Landis' words were particularly upsetting.

Elections do matter.

To put it in perspective, 900 votes is 20 times the number of votes by which the bond issue that brought us a new Joplin High School, East Middle School, Irving Elementary, and Soaring Heights Elementary passed in 2012.

That election mattered to Mike Landis. This last election, probably less so. Consider that it brought him a fellow board member, Debbie Fort, who he and other board members, including Board President Anne Sharp and the departed Dawn Sticklen, have treated with contempt during televised board meetings.

Fort received the most votes of any candidate in that race and knocked out Landis' buddy, Jeff Flowers, another reason he probably didn't think this election mattered.

And consider that Jeff Koch garnered more votes than McGrew, who had been one of the Slumber Party Four, moved up to the top of the ballot through a manipulation of taxpayer facilities designed to benefit board members Randy Steele and Lynda Banwart, Flowers and McGrew.

I thoroughly expected going into last night's meeting that the board would play it safe and pick Martucci or Roberts, either one a choice that would have been welcomed. That would have kept Shawn McGrew off the board, but it would have also kept Jeff Koch, someone who actually understands finances and whose record of involvement in school functions and community and civic activities is just as admirable as the one recorded by McGrew, which so impressed the board members who cast their votes for him.

What has become increasingly clear through the recent actions of Sharp and Landis is a resentment and contempt for the people they are supposed to be serving. At the August board meeting, Sharp rudely cut off Fort when she relayed a parent's question about the parking fees at the new Joplin High School.

She said anyone who wanted to know could call the principal.

The meeting was televised, the topic has been widely discussed in the community. In one fell swoop, since the people who could answer the question were at the meeting, Sharp could have provided a public service. Instead, she sent the message that people were not important. If there were 20 people who wanted to know the reason for the parking fees, she had no problem telling all of them to take their valuable time, take a few moments of a secretary's valuable time, and take a few moments of a busy high school principal's valuable time (and with all of the challenges facing him at the hastily opened JHS building, Kerry Sachetta needs every minute he can get), so that she would not have to deal with the people who are supposed to be her bosses.

At the previous meeting, Fort asked why employees could not wear jeans on Friday as they do at Missouri Southern State University where she works. Sharp said that when teachers wear jeans they act less professional. She did not have an answer when Kimbrough asked why they allowed teachers to wear them once a month if they were going to be less professional when they wore them.

On April 11, 2012, I had my life extended when a doctor implanted a pacemaker. It did not bother me a bit that he wore jeans while he conducted the operation or that he has worn jeans at every checkup I have had since that time.

I will take a true professional in jeans over a self-righteous board president in a pant suit any day.

Elections do matter, and considering the behavior that veteran board members have exhibited over the past few years and the attitudes that they have shown since they have been challenged for the first time, that is a message that Mike Landis, Annie Sharp, and the other members of the Joplin R-8 Board of Education should remember.

Last April, Debbie Fort was elected with the highest number of votes and Jeff Koch was nearly elected and this was long before we learned about the six-and-a-half-mile ribbon and the "might-as-well' spending, and the district's dire financial situation. Plus, we have an audit, which no one thinks is going to make the board or the C. J. Huff Administration look good.

Three seats will be available in April.

Elections do matter.




18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, if elections don't matter then how did Landis get on the board?

They really are so full of themselves that they don't care at all about the people who provide the money that they are spending.

How in the world do these people sleep at night?

Anonymous said...

Truly outstanding writing. You are correct, Mr. Turner. Every election matters, and Mr. Landis would do well to remember he was elected to serve the people, not that conceited, puffed up, crooked, weak excuse of a superintendent. Landis and Sharp need to step down, along with Steele. Time to replace all of CJ's protection.

Anonymous said...

6:24-

They sleep well because they have no sense of ethics to be disturbed. When you have no sense of ethics you can do whatever you want and sleep just fine. Just ask Cj. He can tell you all about laying his head on his pillow.

Anonymous said...

Mike Landis has served enough time on this school board.
Out with the old- in with the new.

I encourage everyone who wants a change to assemble peacefully outside of the admin office on September 23
I will be there and will provide signs and masks for anyone who wants to remain Anonymous

And he better be careful with his fingers in so many pies- I seem to recall his brother doing some prison time for not paying payroll taxes because he thought he was too smart and too big to be caught.

Anonymous said...

Mike Landis has served enough time on this school board.
Out with the old- in with the new.

I encourage everyone who wants a change to assemble peacefully outside of the admin office on September 23
I will be there and will provide signs and masks for anyone who wants to remain Anonymous

And he better be careful with his fingers in so many pies- I seem to recall his brother doing some prison time for not paying payroll taxes because he thought he was too smart and too big to be caught.

Anonymous said...

This piece should be on front page of The Joplin Globe. Excellent, accurate and spot on, Randy.

This really does need to be taken up by the media somehow. Great topic for KZRG!

Anonymous said...

I look forward to voting another one of Huff's Heroes out next time, too.

They didn't apparently learn the lesson of Flowers, whose arrogance contributed to his replacement.

They still don't see how their contemptuousness towards the public and to parents makes the public and the parents less inclined to support them.

It isn't that difficult of a relationship to understand. It isn't even as hard as running a school district, which they also fail at, spectacularly.

Anonymous said...

Three words
Short Man Syndrome!

Anonymous said...

I bought a house built by Mike Landis and have done everything but put new walls up and replace the roof ( the house was 3 years old when I bought it 4 years ago ). He is not a man of his word. I tell people when his lips are moving he is usually lying . He is the manager for his young son Grant. I wouldn't trust him even walking my little dog's .

Anonymous said...

Maybe "the election didn't matter" but THE NEXT ONE WILL. :)

Anonymous said...

IS mikes brother in the federal pen for tax frauad??

Anonymous said...

Yes his brother is in jail for tax fraud. Looking forward to voting in April.

Anonymous said...

7:06-- What time will the assembly take place on Sept 23rd? And what else can be done to get the word out?

Anonymous said...

None of these comments addrss what is going on INSIDE our Joplin High School!!! The grotesque Public Display of Affection (PDA). I watch as teachers look the other way at this lewd behavior is taking place of all sexual orientation in the halls and walkways. I thought we were to have the students "... Career Ready"!! This will not be tolerated in the work place. Let's take care of some real issues that are affecting our kids!! Sorry teachers, but you are allowing it and just standing around.

Anonymous said...

Hey Lil Mike

Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
`Round here

Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
'Round here

Anonymous said...

If the teachers are letting it happen odds are they know it will do no good to report it. They are not backed by their principals. The powers that be will let kids get away with whatever to keep the numbers looking halfway good. The teachers are at the bottom of the totem pole.

Anonymous said...

Screw Mike Landis. Short on stature, short on personality.

Anonymous said...

Agreed.