Tuesday, October 07, 2014

It's not a chandelier, but how much did it cost and where is the rest of the puzzle?

One of the rumors that Joplin R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff has felt obliged to dispel (that usually means he is feeling the heat) has been the persistent story that among the might-as-well spending that has come to define the new Joplin High School, was an expenditure of $150,000 for a chandelier.

This is how C. J. Huff responded to the criticism in his blog:

I am happy to report that there is NO $150,000 elephant tusk Italian chandelier in the new high school or any of our other district schools or buildings for that matter.

It appears there are no chandeliers in the new high school and that the light fixture in question is pictured with this post.

My questions:

1. How much did this cost?

2. Where is the rest of the puzzle?


16 comments:

Anonymous said...

CJ is using the classic "straw man" technique. Set up a flawed scenario, then refute it. By the way, I never did use red type to respond to this blog..... ergo...,,

Anonymous said...

Looks like some crappy hippy version of a chandelier to me.

Anonymous said...

Once again Turner the Turner report goes off the deep end. See! Not $150,000! I'm pretty sure this exact fixture or something similar is available at most WalMarts in larger metropolitan areas. It's fake Rhino Tusk and you have to buy it now or you might as well forgeddaboutit!

Next time: "Why whatever Turner says is what we are most definitely not worrying about!"

Randy said...

I am surprised that you didn't add that I have "finally gone too far," or that I have "crossed the line" with this one. That seems to be what happens every time I have some fun with something the C. J. Huff Administration has done. Nowhere did I say that the light fixture cost $150,000. I am sure whatever it did cost was too much and that it did not come from Wal-Mart. The quick response does make me wonder if there is something more to this.

Anonymous said...

The 3:04 post was intended as sarcasm.

Apparently I failed to some extent.

Rhinos have horns not tusks.

My apologies, I guess whatever that phrase is where parody can't be distinguished from actuality applies here.

Anonymous said...

3:04, I got a good chuckle out of it. Not sure who picked it out, but-----YUK. I don't think Wal-mart would even carry this ugly thing.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, the classic "it must be a member of the Joplin admin team" response from Turner. Done in a feeble attempt to undermine any statement that doesn't agree with his own....

Anonymous said...

I showed this picture to a colleague who previously worked with commercial building design in Las Vegas and Colorado, primarily with casino design. I asked her to estimate its cost. Without looking at the accompanying text her response was $75-150K. Custom commercial lighting fixtures are much higher than residential ones, and this one is quite large and undoubtedly a custom designed piece.

Shouldn't the expenditures for a public building be...public?

Anonymous said...

Actually, Rhino "horns" are made up of hair. Not sure why I know that but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Anonymous said...

@657- the expenditures for a public building are public.

Now all that is needed is to determine how this Not A Chandelier Whatchamacallit is reported on the books. Could it be 'jumbotron' or perhaps it is a 'software maintenance and support lease purchase agreement'.

Could be there is custom furniture on the way from Germany that exactly matches the shape of the Not A Chandelier Whatchamacallit.

Should be interesting. There should be no doubt that the Turner Report will get the information.

Anonymous said...

I was told by the principal that it cost around 100k and each of the 30 or so "pen" like lights in the same area cost around 30k each.

Anonymous said...

Lets put over expensive chandeliers aside although I agree with everyone that the expense, if true, is ridiculous. I'm glad I'm not a Joplin school parent. Someone forwarded me an email today from a counselor from one of the Joplin schools and confidentiality is obviously a problem with this counselor. Although the email did not pertain to a student, a counselor sent a blast email to several people that gave out way too much confidential info about another person that anyone with common sense---particularly a counselor---would know is sensitive personal information that should not be shared. I would not want any child speaking to this counselor although I need to emphasize no information about students was included in the email

Anonymous said...

Mike Pence: you know who 6:03 is talking about

Anonymous said...

Well I think it's only fair that all parents should know who 6:03 is talking about if we have a child at the high school!! If that counselor is handing out infor about others, it's only a matter of time before it includes a students name!!
The nerve to wonder why corruption this town is so widespread!!

Anonymous said...

Hey randy drive by the baseball field today a nice big sink hole collasped an area by the wall.- student of joplin

Anonymous said...

6:12 IS a member of the Admin Team,.. kind of like "Nothing Turner or his readers say is valid because he is a disgruntled disgraced employee..."