When the filing period for the April election opened, a slumber party was arranged in the Administration Building at 32nd and Duquesne, circumventing filing rules and enabling Huff's favored candidates, incumbents Jeff Flowers and Randy Steele, Shawn McGrew, who has been heavily involved in Huff's Bright Futures organization, and Lynda Banwart, who spearheaded the successful bond issue drive that resulted in the construction of East Middle School, Irving Elementary School, Soaring Heights Elementary School, and the combined Joplin High School/Franklin Technical Center to receive favored places on the ballot. Studies have shown over and over that people who are uncertain about whom to vote for tend to vote for the first names. Thanks to the board members using their own keys to ensure they would be first in line, the order will read Flowers, McGrew, Steele, Banwart.
That was how the race for board of education began- with the Jeff Flowers/C. J. Huff group putting its thumbs on the scale of the election process.
It looks like the race will end in the same fashion.
The taxpayer-supported Bright Futures has scheduled a volunteer thank-you breakfast for 7:30 to 9 a.m. on election day, Tuesday, April 8.
The event not only will be funded by Bright Futures, but will be held in a facility that was also financed by the taxpayers, the new East Middle School.
It certainly has the appearance of a get-out-the-vote rally in everything except name.
Do these people have no shame?
12 comments:
>>>Do these people have no shame?<<<
Why even bother to ask?
nothing will happen until they run out of money and have to try for a new tax hike.
good luck then.
Who wants to take bets if Flowers, Steele, McGrew and Bandwart just so happen to be volunteers too! Hoping to get people that volunteer for Bright Futures to cast their votes for the "leaders" of the Bright Futures program. Using the volunteers for their own personal gain. Would anybody be surprised?
Let's request they hold their "appreciation" on the 9th instead! Then we would truly know it is for the volunteers and not themselves!!
Perhaps, considering that the district is down to 8% reserves, that the new high school is still unfinished and is way over budget, that staff have not had decent raises in years and years, and that students need materials to work with, the good and altruistic volunteers being honored by Bright Futures should tell CJ to please use those Bright Futures tax supported dollars to support the students and staff. I would tell him thanks, but no thanks, doing a good deed is reward enough in itself and please put that money where it belongs. In the schools.
CJ Huff is desperate and will stop at nothing to try and save himself at this point. It will take the community to set the standards for the schools and students within them. Say NO!, volunteers. Just say no.
This is just like his graduation rate celebration where CJ spent thousands in a vain attempt to show he was successful as a superintendent to a very select audience. He wastes thousands and thousands of dollars on trips, nonessential personnel, fake and unnecessary celebrations, and ridiculous programs when that money could be going to the kids and to attract quality staff, since he fires people at a rate higher than any district around and the teachers are fleeing for the third year in a row. We have to demand something better, folks. NO ONE VOTE FOR HIS HAND PICKED CANDIDATES! DEMAND THE BOARD FIRE THE JERK AND GET SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY. WE'RE DONE WITH CJ HUFF.
I'd have to say any Board member who backs Huff is as dirty as he is. How do they intend to pull the district back out of this mess if they were stupid enough to let it get this way to begin with? It's time to insist that CJ stop wasting our money on the frivolous nonsense like this breakfast, and it's time to turn the Board into a responsible governing body. I'd rather have State control than local, if this is the best they can do.
I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Bright Futures is funded 51% privately and 49% publicly, which means through the school district. So, CJ, by hosting this little banquet, is paying for what appears to be an Election Day electioneering violation with what could be our tax dollars. It is not only offensive, it appears to be illegal. Granted, it's not the first apparently illegally funded activity by the district, but it's a pretty bold move, considering that everyone is now focused on the spending habits of R8. I guess at this point he has nothing to lose...or does he?
The school where this event is being held isn't a polling place is it?
wasMore manipulation!!!!! If Huff would do his job instead of playing chess he
would be a little above failing. Board members are elected to represent the students and patrons not
CJ Huff. This district is in a mess
because of him and his cronies. Leave Huff so this mess can be cleaned up.
Why does Huff feel the need to spend spend spend. The patrons will NOt bail him out. He needs to finish one
thing before spending on something else. This behavior is unheard of anywhere. Kansas is calling.
Outrageous! According to the Missouri Ethics Commission (www.mec.mo.gov/WebDocs/PDF/Misc/EthicsGuide2013.pdf) this may be a Conflict of Interest violation regarding the use of public funds. Someone more knowledgeable of Missouri election law and ethics needs to weigh in. Maybe someone (Randy T., Debbie F., and Jeff K.) could file a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Maybe Bright Futures can help Huff pack and get situated somewhere else. That would be one investment that would pay off well for all of Joplin's students.
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