Tuesday, July 23, 2013

No Hope High School, but Joplin will have a Soaring Heights

The monthly Joplin R-8 variety show, otherwise known as the Board of Education meeting, is unfolding on the district's television station, Jet 14, even as this is being written.

The only change in the usual script is there is no showcase of students showing some positive thing that is going on in the district.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with emphasizing these positive things as I noted in my analysis Sunday of how Joplin R-8 Administration controls the message, but usually, any discussions of educational issues that take place occur during the earlier "work" session, which tonight was held at 5 p.m.

With no district showcase to start the meeting, the agenda went directly to updates on all of the building projects. This brought on another change in the usual script, as there was no professionally done video, complete with soaring music to accompany the report.

Speaking of "soaring," an update was given on the East Middle School/Soaring Heights Elementary complex. It is amazing that administration can find no use for Hope High School, a name the public seemed to want, but can name a building Soaring Heights. Apparently, it is only a good idea when administration comes up with it, instead of the public.

The board was told that community safe rooms are progressing nicely.

More to come.




4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd say "No Hope" should be the name of the district under the current leadership.

Anonymous said...

Could be that there are no groups left that want to be openly associated with the powers that be. Seems plausible.

Angela said...

"Soaring Heights" is an incredibly stupid name for a school. It sounds like the name of an organization that works to help at-risk youth or juvenile offenders.

...oh, I get it now.

Anonymous said...

How about Sugar Candy Mountain School and Dream Big High? The kiddies will all be so engrossed in their technology-based education that it will seem heavenly.

That's really what they believe, you know.