Sunday, November 30, 2014

Al Sharpton in St. Louis: The Ferguson fight isn't over

National Weather Service video: Winter weather advisory issued for parts of southern Missouri

Freezing drizzle expected tonight in Joplin area

(From the National Weather Service)

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
329 PM CST SUN NOV 30 2014

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-012130-
BOURBON-CRAWFORD-CHEROKEE-BENTON-MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-VERNON-
ST. CLAIR-HICKORY-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-BARTON-CEDAR-POLK-DALLAS-
LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-JASPER-DADE-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-NEWTON-
LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY-STONE-
TANEY-OZARK-OREGON-
329 PM CST SUN NOV 30 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI
OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED...

  LIMITED EXCESSIVE COLD RISK.
  ELEVATED ICE ACCUMULATION RISK.

DISCUSSION...

  FREEZING DRIZZLE AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
  OVERNIGHT TONIGHT GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE
  44 CORRIDOR. MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS...MAINLY ON ELEVATED
  SURFACES...OF A GLAZE TO A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH ARE
  POSSIBLE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND SUNRISE ACROSS SOUTHERN
  MISSOURI.

  NORTH TO NORTHWEST WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL OCCUR AT TIMES
  THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. WIND CHILLS WILL DROP INTO THE UPPER
  SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

  FREEZING DRIZZLE AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO
  MONDAY MORNING ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSOURI. THE HEAVIEST IS
  EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE AND
  CONTINUE THROUGH MIDDAY. TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS FROM TONIGHT
  AND MONDAY MORNING WILL BE A GLAZE TO AROUND ONE TENTH OF AN
  INCH SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 44 WITH THE HEAVIER AMOUNTS EXPECTED
  ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI. THOSE TRAVELING TONIGHT THROUGH
  MONDAY SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SOME SLICK SPOTS
  MAINLY ON BRIDGES...OVERPASSES...AND UNTREATED ROADS AND PARKING
  LOTS.

  WIND CHILLS WILL DROP IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO LOWER TEENS MONDAY
  MORNING.

Winter weather advisory issued for Branson area

(From the National Weather Service)

LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND FREEZING DRIZZLE LATE TONIGHT AND
MONDAY MORNING...

.A STRONG COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY MARCHING SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPING SHARPLY BEHIND THE FRONT
AND WILL FALL BELOW FREEZING THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AND REMAIN
BELOW FREEZING THROUGH THE DAY MONDAY. MOISTURE IS LIMITED BUT
BETTER MOISTURE IS LOCATED ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSOURI ON TO THE
SOUTH.

AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TONIGHT INTO
MONDAY MORNING BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR
FREEZING DRIZZLE GENERALLY SOUTH OF I-44 WITH MEASURABLE
PRECIPITATION EXPECTED ALONG AND SOUTH OF A GALENA TO AVA TO
EMINENCE LINE. THERE WILL ALSO BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME POCKETS
OF SLEET WITHIN THE AREA OF FREEZING RAIN AS THE VERY COLD AIR
MASS OVERSPREADS THE REGION.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP DURING
OR JUST PRIOR TO THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. SLICK SPOTS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP...MAINLY ON BRIDGES...OVERPASSES AND SOME UNTREATED ROADS
AND PARKING LOTS. PATCHY DRIZZLE WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO MONDAY
AFTERNOON BUT THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL END BY AROUND NOON.

MOZ096>098-103>106-011100-
/O.NEW.KSGF.WW.Y.0012.141201T0900Z-141201T1800Z/
DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-STONE-TANEY-OZARK-OREGON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AVA...WEST PLAINS...WINONA...EMINENCE...
KIMBERLING CITY...GALENA...BRANSON...FORSYTH...GAINESVILLE...
THEODOSIA...THAYER...ALTON
208 PM CST SUN NOV 30 2014

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO NOON CST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPRINGFIELD HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING RAIN AND POSSIBLY SOME
SLEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO NOON CST MONDAY.

* TIMING AND AREAS AFFECTED...FAR SOUTHERN MISSOURI ALONG AND
  SOUTH OF A GALENA...TO AVA...TO EMINENCE LINE LATE TONIGHT TO
  NOON MONDAY.

* SLEET ACCUMULATIONS...SLEET ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINOR BUT
  THERE COULD BE POCKETS OF LIGHT SLEET ACCUMULATIONS WITHIN THE
  FREEZING RAIN AND FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* ICE ACCUMULATIONS...A THIN GLAZE TO AROUND ONE TENTH OF AN INCH
  OF ICE ACCUMULATION WILL OCCUR MAINLY ON ELEVATED  SURFACES...WITH
  THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY...GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL OCCUR BEHIND
  THE FRONT WHICH WILL HELP TO COOL ELEVATED SURFACES BELOW
  FREEZING.

* IMPACTS...SLICK SPOTS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR MAINLY ON
  BRIDGES...OVERPASSES...AND SOME UNTREATED ROADS AND PARKING
  LOTS. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL VARY FROM GOOD TO POOR ACROSS VERY
  SHORT DISTANCES AS SLICK SPOTS DEVELOP DURING THE MONDAY MORNING
  COMMUTE AND THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS MONDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SLEET WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY
ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

John Hacker named grand marshal for Carthage Christmas Parade

Carthage Press Managing Editor John Hacker, (seen more often on this blog as the co-author of 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado and Spirit of Hope: The Year After the Joplin Tornado), will be grand marshal of the annual Carthage Christmas Parade, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.

The lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree is set for 6 p.m.
***

Joplin Globe supports expansion of JHS Performing Arts Center

Five days have passed since Sharon Beshore and Clifford Wert of Connect2Culture presented the Joplin R-8 Board of Education with a plan to expand the still unfinished Performing Arts Center to make it a magnet for Broadway productions and major stars.

That is probably at least four days more than it took the Joplin Globe to decide it is fully behind the proposal.

The means for financing the expansion were left a bit iffy- a mixture of grants, donations, and wishful thinking appeared to be the plan, but nevertheless, the Globe, which has also supported every proposal these people have come up with, whether it be in their guise as Connect2Culture, or in their other identities as the Joplin Progress Committee or CART (Citizens Advisory Recovery Team) is 100 percent behind this one, even in its birthing stage.

Considering the lack of progress on the development of the tornado-stricken part of the city, you would think the Globe's Editorial Board might be a bit more cautious in its praise of this proposal- at least to the extent of taking a wait-and-see approach.

Instead, it was two thumbs up.

The headline should have said "Spoiler Alert," instead of "This makes sense."

The editorial begins in this fashion:

There is no doubt that Joplin needs a performing arts center. We need a place where the community could gather to view small Broadway productions, national theatrical touring productions, contemporary and classic rock, jazz, dance troupes, opera, and an entire melting pot of the arts like Joplin has not been able to attract for years.

The Globe Editorial Board continues with its praise for the project, noting most tellingly that it will give a jump start to the development of 20th Street.

The editorial ends with this comment:

Yes, we're still a long way from the final vision, but not that far away from opening the curtains on something we think is the solution to a big cultural void in Joplin. We're excited for the possibilities.

The city would be better served with a solution to the big newspaper void in Joplin, but that would be too much to hope for. These people who have attempted to control the city by commandeering the development of the tornado zone, choosing the "proper' candidates for city council and school board, and have provided us with Wallace-Bajjali Development Partners and its well of endless promises have needed a news source to keep an eye on it.

Instead, the Globe has chosen to wave his pom-pons and cheer every outlandish idea that has come down the pike.

This Connect2Culture plan is lacking in details and seems destined to be just another proposal that the taxpayers will pay for, perhaps not in local taxes, but state and federal. Those grants have to come from somewhere.

I am all in favor of more culture for Joplin.

I am also in favor of keeping an eye on Connect2Culture and the Joplin R-8 Board of Education and making sure that tax money is spent wisely and not thrown away on costly ideas that look great on the resumes , but leave the rest of us paying the bills.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Ferguson reacts to Officer Wilson's resignation

Fifteen arrested at Joplin DWI checkpoint

A report from KSN News

Candlelight vigil held for four Nixa students killed in crash

Darren Wilson resigns from Ferguson police force

Melanie Huonker leaves KSN for Tucson

Right on the heels of her former KSN Living Well co-anchor departure, Melanie Huonker announced this week she is leaving for the Tuscon NBC affiliate where she will be the morning traffic reporter.

Carla Pesono take over Bandy's role, joining 6 and 10 p.m. anchors Phillip Mitchell and Jessica Schaer.

Huonker has been at KSN since May 2012, replacing original Living Well host Toni Valliere.



Billy Long: It's time to build the Keystone Pipeline

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

The application to build the Keystone XL pipeline was submitted to the U.S. Department of State over six years ago. The Keystone XL is a simple extension of the existing Keystone pipeline and represents a great opportunity to strengthen our domestic energy security and provide Americans with jobs.

On November 14, the House again passed legislation to build this infrastructure project by a vote of 252 to 161. Then the Harry Reid-led Senate rejected legislation to move forward on the pipeline by one vote on November 18.

There is strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate to build this pipeline, but President Obama has repeatedly dragged his feet delaying construction of this state-of-the-art energy infrastructure project. The House and Senate will send legislation next year to President Obama and he will have to act. Time will tell if President Obama will veto this legislation and say no to the jobs and domestic energy security that would come with the construction of the Keystone XL.

The Keystone XL is an opportunity to lessen our dependence on oil from the Middle East. The U.S. Department of Energy indicated the pipeline would be able to move up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day. This is half the amount of oil our country imports from the Middle East.

Construction of the pipeline would also support 42,100 jobs, both direct and indirect, according to the U.S. Department of State's Environmental Impact Statement.

I remain steadfast in finding a solution to ensure the Keystone XL gets built so we can strengthen our domestic energy security while providing hard working Americans with good paying jobs.

Agenda posted for Monday, December 1 Joplin City Council meeting

Joplin City Council will meet 6 p.m. Monday, December 1, at City Hall.

1.     Call to Order
            Invocation
            Pledge of Allegiance                    

 2.                  Roll Call

3.                  Presentations
1. Connect2Culture to make presentation on Memorial Hall.
                                                           
4.                  Finalization of Consent Agenda

5.                  Reports and Communications

6.                  Citizen Requests and Petitions   

7.                  Public Hearings
1. Public Hearing Procedures

1. COUNCIL BILL NO.  2014-278 - AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-256, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, November 15, 2004, by removing from District R-1 and including in District C-3 property as described below and located at the northwest corner and southeast corner of 32nd Street and Central City Road/Antelope Road in the City of Joplin, Jasper County and Newton County, Missouri. (Requested by Wildwood Ranch LLC Planning and Zoning recommended approval).2. COUNCIL BILL NO.  2014-279 - AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-256, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, November 15, 2004, by removing from District R-1 and including in District C-0-PD property as described below and located west of Connecticut Avenue generally between 24th Street and the Kansas City Southern Railroad right-of-way in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. (Requested by Polsinelli, PC. Planning and Zoning recommended approval).

3. RESOLUTION NO. 2014-021 - A RESOLUTION granting a Special Use Permit (First Request) to Polsinelli PC and Verizon Wireless LLC for the installation of a wireless telecommunications tower located approximately 345 feet west of the northwest corner of 24th Street and Connecticut Avenue, in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. (Requested by Polsinelli, PC. Planning and Zoning recommended approval for a permanent Special Use Permit).

4. COUNCIL BILL NO.  2014-280 - AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-256, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, November 15, 2004, by removing from District R-1, District C-1, and District C-1-PD and including in District C-3-PD property as described below and located generally between 18th and 20th Streets between New Jersey Avenue and Carolyn Place in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. (Requested by Charles Kuehn. Planning and Zoning recommended approval).
5. COUNCIL BILL NO.  2014-281 - AN ORDINANCE providing for the vacation of all public street right-of-ways north of 20th Street between Delaware Avenue and Carolyn Place, including Delaware Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets and all of Carolyn Place, in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. (Requested by Charles Kuehn. Planning and Zoning recommended approval).

6. COUNCIL BILL NO.  2014-282 - AN ORDINANCE approving the voluntary annexation by the City of Joplin of property east of Prigmore Avenue between Interstate 44 and East Alliance Parkway in Jasper County, Missouri. (Requested by Joplin Industrial Development Authority Planning and Zoning recommended approval).

2.                  Consent Agenda
         1. Minutes of the November 17, 2014 Council Meeting

2. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2014-283 - AN ORDINANCE Request to Review the Final Plat of SCHUBER’S VALLEY located at the southeast corner of 26th Street and Oliver Avenue in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.

2.                  Resolutions

3.                  Ordinances – Emergency

1. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2014-029 AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City of Joplin to enter into an Agreement with Jonathan D. Bhend for the purpose of employing him as Public Defender for the City of Joplin; authorizing the Mayor to execute said Agreement by and on behalf of the City of Joplin, Missouri; and containing an emergency clause. 


2. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2014-188 - AN ORDINANCE approving the purchase of a property at 2719 E. 32nd Street, consisting of .578 acres located in the Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 13, Township 27 North, Range 33 West, in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri and authorizing the payment of One Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand and 00/100 dollars ($132,000.00) and containing an emergency clause.

3. COUNCIL BILL NO.2014-189-AN ORDINANCE authorizing the execution of an Agreement by and between the City of Joplin and Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc. to provide engineering services for theTurkey Creek WWTP Project Amendment, not to exceed Two Hundred Twenty Two Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($222,000.00) and authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute said Agreement; and containing an emergency clause.

4. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2014-190 - AN ORDINANCE approving a contract with AT Urban Development. in the amount of Two Hundred Ten Thousand Four Hundred Fifty One and 30 /100 Dollars ($210,451.30) for the Eastmorland and Royal Heights Sidewalk project in the City of Joplin, Missouri and, amending the Annual Budget of the City of Joplin for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 as adopted by Ordinance 2014-177 on October 20, 2014, and containing an emergency clause, pending MoDOT approval.

11.    Ordinances – First Reading
1. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2014- 521 - AN ORDINANCE amending Division 3, Investment Policy, of Article V. Finance, in chapter 2, Administration, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Joplin to implement certain language changes to the investment policy.

12.    Ordinances – Second Reading and Third Reading

13.    Unfinished Business
    14.    New Business
1. News from the PIO

2. Vote to go into closed session, which shall pertain to legal action, causes of action, or litigation including a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communications between a governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys as set forth in Section 610.021(1) RSMo, as amended, 2013.  This meeting, record, and vote to be closed to the extent provided by law. The City Council shall adjourn at the end of the session. 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Hickman Mills school turning things around after state audit

C. J. Huff supporter contributes $115,000 to State Auditor Schweich

Almost without fail the past couple of months, any time I have had a post about retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield trying to buy candidates, such as GOP candidate for governor Catherine Hanaway with oversized contributions, an anonymous commenter has asked why I do not write the same things about Joplin businessman David Humphreys and the $111,111 he contributed to State Auditor Thomas Schweich.

This running commentary seems to go in line with the idea being pushed that Humphreys has bought the state audit of the Joplin R-8 School District, therefore anything that is discovered during the audit has to be taken with a grain of salt.

First, I have reported on Humphreys' contributions over the years, including the $111,111 to Schweich.

The propaganda wave attempting to discredit the audit before the results are revealed can be expected. It started before the audit even began, with supporters of C. J. Huff making sure the media were aware of Humphreys' contributions. Stories in newspapers across the state suggested an ulterior motive, while reporting that C. J. Huff had requested that an audit take place.

One thing that has not been mentioned is that one noted C. J. Huff supporter, Peter Herschend of Silver Dollar City, the president of the State Board of Education, who held a closed door meeting with Huff at 32nd and Duquesne shortly before the R-8 superintendent announced he was in the running for the Missouri commissioner of education position, has contributed $115,000 to Schweich, according to Missouri Ethics Commission documents.

Both Herschend and Humphreys have been contributing to Schweich for the past few years.

It is safe to say we are getting a professionally done audit.

It is also safe to say that we need to do something about a system that permits unlimited contributions to candidates.
***

Reader: Climate of fear continues to grow at East Middle School

A reader left the following comment to the post Bud Sexson: We've Had a Culture Problem at East Middle School, which detailed Sexson's report at Tuesday night's Joplin R-8 Board of Education meeting:

I agree 100% with Mr. Sexson. There is a culture problem at East Middle School. However, this is the only thing we agree on. 

The culture problem was not with the 10 that left, but rather with the 2 that remain- Mr. Sexson and Mr. Weaver. They fail to acknowledge or take responsibility for their inability to be leaders. They are also unable to admit that their educational experiments are dismal failures. Instead, they harass and bully staff. The culture of fear in the Joplin District is best exemplified at East Middle School. 

Teachers are scared to take a stand because Mr. Sexson and Mr. Weaver, with the complete support of Dr. Huff, have made examples of those who dare to disagree. To say it is a hostile work environment would be an understatement. Teachers who ask questions, dare to write a referral, or who aren't in the administrations inner-circle of favorites are harassed until they leave.

 Yes Mr. Weaver, referrals are down because there is no discipline. You do not know the professional method of handling discipline. Giving teachers binders of suggestions, screaming and turning red are not professional, nor are they acceptable. Teachers do not write referrals because they are the ones reprimanded, not the student. Students are encouraged to "run to the principal to tell on the teacher". 

The climate of fear, mixed with experimental educational practices at the whim of two administrators that are constantly in competition with each other is not healthy for adults or children. 

It is also not ethical that Mr. Sexson is rarely at work due to his inability to take care of his personal business on his own time. He is using the taxpayers' time to have his cable installed, take care of his banking, and have maintenance done on his vehicles. And, yet Dr. Huff and the BOE let it continue. 

Dr. Huff and the BOE cannot declare innocence because they have been told numerous times about the problems at East, complete with detailed documentation. They have been begged to investigate. They turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. 

No, the culture has not changed with the 10 that left. The culture at East continues to be a problem. Mr. Sexson and Mr. Weaver engage in a daily power struggle, teachers are isolated in their "houses" -therefore trust and cooperative teaching are not nurtured, there is still an absence of discipline and sound educational practices, and the climate is fear continues to grow.

***

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Rebuild Joplin prepares to close, last home to be unveiled

A report from KOAM News
KOAM TV 7

C. J. Huff announces another JHS ribbon-cutting, tells why he is so awesome

Less than two months after the new Joplin High School grand opening was held, complete with the cutting of a six-and-a-half-mile ribbon, R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff says another ribbon cutting will be held at the facility- this time to celebrate the building's completion.

Huff made the announcement during a one hour Facebook question-and-answer session this afternoon.

  • Dr. CJ Huff The high school will be completed in March. We will host another open house in the spring. We can't wait to share the beautiful Performing Arts Center with our community.
  • Dr. CJ Huff The open house will also include a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Huff's thoughts on other topics:

Lights left on at Joplin High School

Dr. CJ Huff I'm responding to a question from a couple days ago related to the lights being left on in the gymnasium at Joplin High School over night. As it stands right now, there is on-going electrical work happening after school hours in the gymnasium. We have a mid-night shift of custodians who come in at mid-night to clean the gymnasium in preparation for the next day of school

Conflicts of interest in Bright Futures

Dr. CJ Huff There was a question regarding a conflict of interest between Bright Futures Joplin and Joplin Schools. There may be confusion over the role of Bright Futures Joplin and the organization Bright Futures USA, which is a not-for-profit organization. Bright Futures Joplin is an affiliate community of Bright Futures USA. Currently, there are roughly 34 Bright Futures USA affiliate communities in 7 states serving over 150,000 children.

The funding for Bright Futures Joplin is provided for by community donors who see the need to support children in our community whose basic needs aren't being met. There are three components to the work of Bright Futures Joplin. 1. Meeting children's basic needs when those needs are identified within 24 hours by working with local human service organizations and interested donors, 2. Building community leadership capacity by engaging the community in conversations and problem solving around some of the greater challenges faced by our kids, 3. Providing opportunities for children to give back to the community that gives them so much through service learning projects. We are proud of the fact Bright Futures started in Joplin and that other communities have see the value in supporting their children and their teachers like we support ours and have adopted the framework as well. There is no conflict of interest as this program is supported by the community. Donations for Bright Futures Joplin are included in the Joplin Schools budget as a separate line item and is tracked separately. It is a collaborative partnership between the community and Joplin Schools.

The Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

Dr. CJ Huff It's certainly something we are watching closely in Joplin. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the community of Ferguson. There are so many good people who are doing the right thing by demonstrating peacefully. Last night we had a peaceful demonstration in Joplin on Main Street.

Broken Windows in Buildings

Dr. CJ Huff I'm only aware of one broken window in the school. It happened a few months ago during construction and hasn't been replaced yet. It is on the punch list to be repaired by the contractor that broke the window. As for the heat, we do have heat. One of the processes we have to go through with any new system in large buildings is a balancing of the heating and air systems. Now that the heat is on, the contractor responsible for balancing the system is going through the building and adjusting the system. This will be an on-going project for a year or so as the building cycles through the variations in temperatures as the seasons change. It is not as comfortable as it should be, but it is in the process of being fixed.

What Will Be Done with Empty Buildings?
Dr. CJ Huff We have a facilities committee that is working on that question right now, as well as several other facility related questions that we need to get answered. Our plan is to have a recommendation ready for the Board to consider early this next spring.

How Does C. J. Huff Remain So Awesome?


    • Dr. CJ Huff You know they say behind every awesome man is an awesome woman. My wife Jennifer and I will be celebrating the anniversary of our first date on November 27, 1996 tomorrow! I'm blessed with a wonderful wife and beautiful kids. CJ

  • The Grading System
Dr. CJ Huff All subjects are working on the criteria by which we determine whether or not children are meeting the standards. For grading purposes meeting these criteria determine whether or not students have reached mastery. It provides clarity to the students as to where they are on their way to mastery of a particular standard and gives parents a better sense of their child's growth areas. It benefits kids by aligning the curriculum vertically K-12 and providing consistency to both students and teachers system-wide.
***
Advertisement- C. J. Huff said under oath that he only read the dirty parts of this book. Considering that the other parts of the book featured an inept, narcissistic superintendent of schools, it makes you wonder.