Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Joplin School District to spend $15,000 for people to update Facebook pages

The public relations push of the Joplin R-8 School District has taken a new turn with the creation of 15 Eagle Communicator positions.

Teachers are being encouraged to apply for the jobs, which will come with $1,000 stipends. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 24.

For that money, the teachers will manage the Facebook pages for their buildings.
















Buildings that will have Eagle communicators are the following:

Joplin High School
East Middle School
North Middle School
South Middle School
Cecil Floyd
Columbia
Soaring Heights
Eastmorland
Irving
Jefferson
Kelsey Norman
McKinley/Early Childhood
Royal Heights
Stapleton
West Central

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How the Joplin School District plans to use Facebook and C. J. Huff speeches to make Joplin the school of choice in southwest Missouri



36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why is this being allowed to go on? Do they not realize yet that we parents and patrons are fed up with this nonsense? Think of the books and materials that could have been purchased with that money. That's almost half of the salary of a new teacher, looking at the salary schedule online.
Absolutely unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

This is beyond shocking. It is shameful. And it is an outstanding example of the kind of poor decision making and wasteful spending that destroyed the district. I suppose the board rubber stamped this too. We will remember this.

Anonymous said...

Let me get this straight. In July they burned through 30 grand or more sending people in another stupid trip, and now they're wasting my hard earned dollars on ignorant Facebook? My kids could be in an unaccredited district and this is the freaking priority of the MODOT gang.

I can't believe it. I just can't. Idiots.

Anonymous said...

Who wants to be in the next 100 out the door?

Anonymous said...

And the person at the high school gets paid the same as the grade school? You'd be a fool to do that.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Wow. This is insulting to everyone. Parents- be upset that $15000 is being spent on Facebook updates and not more staff or resources for your students. Students that might read this- same as above. Teachers/ staff- enjoy that 1 percent raise we got. Does that even cover the increase in gas, especially for the traveling teachers????

Anonymous said...

Apparently our 30+ grand spent in sending 27 school people to a conference about making do with less was a wasted trip.

Anonymous said...

These are the most arrogant people I've ever seen. The district is broke and the kids aren't learning on those damn computers, the teachers left, and this is their solution? It's freaking hard to understand.

Anonymous said...

In a district operating in the hole, don't you wonder where the money came from? I didn't see a listing in the budget for it. Hmm. Must have raided something somewhere. An audit would be great.

Anonymous said...

What a waste.

Anonymous said...

Unreal. No words to describe this unprecedented waste.

Anonymous said...

I have got to find another job. Any other district would be better. Looking at another year with no books or supplies and now this. On top of a 1% raise. It's unbearable.

Anonymous said...

Why I just read yesterday that Bright Futures has just received--wait for it--15 grand in donations just this week!
Recycling, maybe?
Speaking of Bright Futures, I thought they were a community/faith based organization. But when you look at the budget, you'll see for the last two years they've been allotted over 700 grand each year. What got sacrificed for that?
Definitely time for an audit. And new management.

Anonymous said...

You mean the district raised taxes on old people, families, and businesses struggling after the tornado and this is how they abuse that money? What a stab in the back to the community, as well as the students who don't have what they need to learn.

These people have got to go. School Board? It's on you for permitting it.

Anonymous said...

And they expect us to come to opening day excited to be back? What if we boycott? I can't stand the thought of being in the same room with them. Please don't tell us you appreciate us. Your actions speak louder than words.

Anonymous said...

Now remember, the Board vowed at their retreat to not be involved in daily operations. Or to worry about individual concerns. That the whole district is going down apparently isn't their concern, either, because the same people who destroyed it are still in place wasting our money.
It's time to clean out the whole mess and start from scratch. Maybe we should see if we have to wait until April. A special election would be worth it.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Did you know if a students lunch account falls to -2.00$, it's the districts policy to feed their students only a cheese sandwich for lunch. Seems to me that this money should go into a fund to help feed these children.

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that $ 10,000 is being spent on opening day t shirts for each and every employee.

Anonymous said...

Well, that'll make up for it all. Maybe if we're good kids we'll get ice cream when it's over. It's such a waste. No one cares about stupid tee shirts anymore. I'll never wear mine. Straight to cross lines. Or bright futures.

I don't want to go. Period.

Anonymous said...

Put that ten grand with the 15 wasted on Facebook and it becomes a nice sum. Wonder what could be done for the students with that? Parents, what would you rather have than employee tee shirts and Facebook?

Anonymous said...

Will the t shirts match my Coach handbag? If they don't I won't wear mine. No way. We have to have high standards here.

Anonymous said...

As a taxpayer, I am in shock over the absurd & hideous behavior of our school administration. Is there a higher level of admin in the state that we can complain to? I am currently trying to figure out how I can refuse to pay school district taxes. As far as laptop learning goes, my child was so very unprepared for college. Without actual teaching, these kids just don't have study skills. You can't google everything!

Anonymous said...

There is the Missouri School Board Association and DESE.

Anonymous said...

A group of community members would be good to talk to DESE. They would be interested in hearing from more Joplin people.

Anonymous said...

So, I'm guessing hoping to have any leftovers from that 62 mil is out of the question. It's like watching kiddies in the candy store. And they're about as responsible. Get them out. Like yesterday. Put some adults in the store, please.

Anonymous said...

This is just all way too hateful. Let's play a game to lighten the mood. How about...Show Me the Money!!

Let's set the scene: In 2010/2011, the Joplin District was so broke that it laid off teachers and took away all things electrical, like desk lamps and pencil sharpeners. Then a tornado struck, and the community found out it was seriously underinsured. To top that off, that was the year the TARP funds ran out, meaning those ultra important TLC jobs and trips had no more funding.

Now, back to the game. Here are the questions:
1. Without the TARP funding, how did we not only keep the TLCs, but added other jobs as well?
2. Since we are in a deficit, how do we drop 25 grand for frivolous expenditures like t shirts and Facebook?
3. How are we stil funding huge trips like the 23 that flew to Houston or the 27 that flew to DC?

Now for the answer. Be careful here. Get it right..
What was that response? There's silver linings in funnel clouds? Ohhh. Sorry. Nice try though, Dr. Besendorfer.

Perhaps someone else would like a try at the questions? We'll wait a bit longer...

Anonymous said...

I am not defending Joplin, however, think about it. Managing FB and the school website can be a link between school and parent. If a person spends 2 hours a week (which could easily be done) only during the school year, it would equate to $13-$14 an hour. I think that is fair wage. A teacher's time is worth something.

Anonymous said...

That's right. A teacher's time is worth something. So stop spending money frivolously and then there will be more to go around. Or more teachers, which means smaller classes. Either one works.

Anonymous said...

Continuing the money game, here are the next questions. Last year, the district hired five career path people, only one of whom was an experienced teacher, in order to guide the district in implementing it's career paths. We were told that they were hired for five years to be paid for with a grant. The year of 2011-2012, the district hired four 21st century coaches to assist with the implementation of the computers into the curriculum. How they were paid was not specified, that we know of.

Upon reviewing the Joplin Race to the Top Review (google those words to see it yourself), it was noted that funding was being sought for those career path positions and for seven more 21st century coaches. So here's the question, and I hope our contestants can answer it soon and accurately, if we already have funding for these positions, why are we seeking more funding for the same jobs? What a curious situation.

If you search the review, what you learn is that Joplin usually scored high for vision, but very low for transparency in financing and funding and 0 in teacher buy-in. Anyone surprised? You must all go see this for yourselves. It will help you understand the direction of the district.

Anonymous said...

To rob Peter to pay Paul is all the less a great sin.

Anonymous said...

Schooldigger.com has interesting information concerning school rankings. Look up Joplin. As a district, it is low. The high school is very low! Very sad.

Anonymous said...

I just looked the district up on schooldigger. Now I'm more depressed than ever. We were doing so well until about five years ago. Now it's horrible. And the Board isn't concerned enough to replace their leadership? Because that's the common denominator in the fall. Any business with this kind of failure would can their CEO.

I suppose it will be April before anything can be done, and that means another lost year for our kids.

Anonymous said...

We have seen all of this wasted money and we get worse and worse. Get the kids some books and paper and pencils, please. Quit wasting time and money on crap and get back to basics. They don't need stupid career classes if they can't even read and write. Get it together, Joplin, or we'll go over your heads or into the courtroom to regain control of this district. Experiment on your own kids but leave mine alone, please.

Anonymous said...

Where is all the money coming from? That's not been addressed yet. Perhaps they'd rather not say.

Oh what a web we weave when first we set out to deceive!

Anonymous said...

Well, I guess the last game was too difficult. We'll try another one shortly: Fact or Crap. And if we do well with that, we'll move on to Truth or Consequences. That could be very interesting. Or maybe it should be Truth AND Consequences.

The truth will out. It always does.

Anonymous said...

I have been saying these things for the last 2 yrs. I quit teaching because it became a "good ole boys" gang. If you AREN'T with them 200% then you are worthless to them. If you try to TEACH the children something, you are worthless to them. If you have a different idea than their's or buck the system in ANY way, shape or form... you are worthless to them. I am calling for an official State investigation of this district and its administrators! Who is with me? I have had just about enough of their arrogance, wastefulness, and lack of respect for the parents and teachers!! What say you???