"You know the problems," I have been told by some, while others have suggested that because I did not quietly fade away after C. J. Huff, Angie Besendorfer, and their crack team of administrative assassins worked me over during my termination hearing that somehow that gives me some kind of special quality that would make me a strong candidate.
And, of course, there is name recognition. I have heard it suggested that I have a major advantage in that everyone knows who I am.
For the most part, the people who are deeply interested in the school district know who I am. Others likely do not and it is how they would be introduced to me by those interested in the continuation of C. J. Huff's administration that convinces me that even if I wanted to run for school board I could not win and C. J. Huff would be in a position to try even more of the brand of character assassination that he and the Besendorfer groupies employed during my hearing.
This election cannot be about me. It has to be about doing what is best for the students, teachers, employees, and taxpayers.
The election has to be about restoring a sense of decency to a school district that has been stripped bare of that quality by Huff and Besendorfer running roughshod over their teachers and placing their ambition ahead of the well-being of the children and the financial health of the district.
The election has to be about restoring access of the people to the board members they have elected. When the board agenda is controlled with an iron fist by the superintendent to the extent that issues that deserve a public airing are never heard, local control of schools has vanished. Public involvement must be more than a made-for-television special that masquerades as a governmental meeting. While school board members should not be meddling in the day-to-day operation of a district, there is a big difference in watching out for the taxpayers and the children and meddling. When every vote is 7-0, even when some board members disagree, that is not the board speaking with one voice, that is creating a cult of personality and as C. J. Huff told the Missouri School Boards Association in October 2011, he and the R-8 Board of Education are "joined at the hip."
The election has to be about restoring fiscal sanity before a district that only a few years ago prided itself on climbing "Mount Joplin" finds itself in bankruptcy court. The mess that has been made of the R-8 District's finances cannot be blamed on the tornado. It is a man-made disaster that happened when this board (and there has been only one change in its membership in the past seven years) decided to hire an inexperienced superintendent from a small school district who was not ready for the big time and who was willing to cede his responsibility for most of the school's operations to a power-driven assistant, an assistant, I might add, who knows when the handwriting is on the wall and is, to coin a phrase, deserting a sinking ship.
The election has to be about restoring intelligence to a board that does not seem to realize that hundreds of teachers are leaving the district, some by choice, many not. How can the board not even question the clean sweep Huff and Besendorfer have made of the district's principals? It appears that High School Principal Kerry Sachetta and South Middle School Principal Steve Gilbreth are the only ones who have survived the Huff-Besendorfer principal purge and they were reportedly on Besendorfer's list for this year, I have been told by sources within administration. Many of them have been replaced through the Besendorfer junior administrator system, the teaching/learning coaches.
Filing for school board begins later this month. My name won't be on the list, but for the first time in recent memory, there should be plenty of choices for voters- people who are not caught up in the glow of bright futures- people who are willing to cast a dissenting vote and dissolve the illusion that all is right in the Joplin R-8 School District.
Seeing new names on the list of candidates will be a welcome change. Seeing current board members deciding not to try for three more years would be the best early Christmas present this school district could receive.
That would truly be a miracle on 32nd Street.
14 comments:
No greater truths have been spoken. The district is in dire need of help. It's past time for fresh minds and tight fists on the Board.
I would like to know why the school board has allowed the current administration to plunder the district's resources as it has. What group of reasonable people would agree, on their own terms, to allow this to happen! We need some explanations, but I doubt that's going to happen. It isn't worth having your name ruined just to see it on a plaque in a new building--now right beside the Seymour Hiney Restroom or the N. O. Learning 21st Century classroom. Shoot, anybody with five bucks can have their name in the building now, so there must be a more compelling reason for the board to allow this to happen.
Are you KIDDING me? After everything you have said you don't have the b*lls to run? It is is much easier to criticize and complain then it is to actually get involved and try to make a difference. Are you suggesting anyone else that runs that shares your POV wouldn't be "targeted" by Huff? That doesn't sound like the Huff you write about daily. Again you prove that my suspicions about your motives and trustworthiness. You choose to be a bully rather than a leader.
Kelsey Norman has the same principal. I don't think that East's principal went to school with Angie nor does he go shopping with her. Keep it up Turner. Your blog is so tabloid it is funny.
To Anon. 4 pm- You seem to have a warped view of what a bully is. Mr. Turner is putting his views out under his name, taking on people who have the entire Joplin establishment behind them and he is a bully? Mr. Turner is absolutely right on every point. If he ran, we would end up hearing more about his "pornographic" book than we would about his views on the issues. We would see the lies that Tina Smith, Klista Rader and CJ Huff told about him at the hearing spread around again as if they were the truth. There is no one else who runs that could be targeted in the same way at Turner could, though I am sure CJ and the real bullies will come up with something. When all of this is over, the people of Joplin will owe Mr. Turner a great debt of gratitude. He is far more effective as a writer and as a reporter than he would be as a candidate and he, unlike you, is smart enough to recognize that fact.
Just keep criticizing Randy...that's all you can do. You already proved to be a bully and now you proved you are a coward. The only thing you can do is throw stones and mud. If you think it is so important, then stand for election and take the heat of holding office.
It is amusing when people who do not have the courage to use their own names call others cowards. Keep reading and I am sure you will.
It is ironic that the person accusing Mr. Turner of flinging mud and criticizing is doing the same thing.
Luke: Chapter Six, verses 26-42. Be a good read for all concerned:-)
Amen, 4:23!
Look at all this nonsense being posted here.
The R8 sucks and lickspittles are in a panic.
Someone must really be worried about something being discussed here. I doubt it is Randy.
I wonder if there is some bad news on the financial side coming soon?
You know, when accreditation was at risk and the scores were coming in low last summer, Huff and Co created a media diversion with a $3,000 graduation celebration. I wonder what kind of diversion he'll come up with for the next impending disaster. A sacrifice to the publicity gods--firing another teacher? Surely, he wouldn't dare. We'll be watching. And remembering. But even that won't help them for long.
It would have to be an exciting reason for a firing to generate much interest around here. It isn't exactly a novelty these days. The media would have to be alerted also. But it wouldn't surprise me.
4:07, I believe if you really look in to the matter the new principal at East knew Bess before he was hired. I imagine he didn't even know of the opening until she contacted him.
The east principal is her fair haired boy. Wonder if he and hart are nervous yet. The east principal got all the questions for his interview ahead of time. Cronyism has ruled under Bess. Hope that changes.
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