Sources: Two Joplin R-8 principals asked to resign

The Angie Besendorfer era in the Joplin R-8 School District has come to an end.

Though Superintendent C. J. Huff, because of his delegation of all things that resemble education, is still surrounded by Besendorfer loyalists, the R-8 Board of Education has reportedly taken steps to remove a couple of her lower-level hires.

Sources tell the Turner Report that two principals, both handpicked by the former assistant superintendent, and both of whom have been lightning rods for controversy, have been, or will soon be, asked to resign. If they do not resign, a vote to fire the principals will be taken at this month's board meeting.

The principals are both at the helm of schools that have been overwhelmed by discipline problems and have been under fire from parents, because of the discipline problems and because of poorly implemented, unwanted grading systems.

One source said that board members have had concerns about one of the principals for quite some time, particularly after the principal told them things about the school and about the teachers that turned out not to be true.

Questions have also been raised about the qualifications of the other principal.
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