After interviewing candidates last week, the Joplin chapter of the National Education Association (JNEA) endorsed incumbent Randy Steele and challengers Debbie Fort and Jeff Koch.
The endorsement of Steele comes as a surprise since JNEA members have had serious problems with the C. J. Huff Administration and every action recommended by Huff has been approved by a 7-0 vote, obviously including Steele.
Whether the JNEA or the state chapter (MNEA) will put any money into the race is unknown, Koch has already said he will not accept money from any group.
The other group that has endorsed, the Joplin Progress Committee endorsed Steele, Koch, Board President Jeff Flowers, Shawn McGrew, and Lynda Banwart. The committee contributed $1,000 to the campaigns of Steele, Flowers, McGrew, and Banwart.
Disappointed in the backing of Steele myself. He is a nice enough person, I guess, but he has been a loyal member of the Rubber Stamp Club and was a big part of the push for the constant appearance of unity. That effort has been a big failure. If he has a mind of his own and any ideas about how to start cleaning up the mess he participated in making, now would be the time to start that discussion. Until that happens, we have to assume that he will be nothing but business as usual. I will not vote for anyone from the Huff camp. Shame on the NEA.
ReplyDeleteThe Joplin School Board must get a grip on their frivolous, out of control spending! I don't think Randy has enough backbone to say NO to CJ and the other dreamers at the MODOT building.
ReplyDeleteIF Shawn McGrew could prove he isn`t just a Huffer, I`d vote for him. Randy Steele at least seems like he`d like to change.
ReplyDeleteI cannot find ANYTHING regarding who is pro-Huff (Common Core) or anti-Huff/Common Core. The information is just not out there. Anyone?
ReplyDeleteAs far as Common Core is concerned, both Jeff Flowers and Randy Steele are members of a board of education that was one of the first to support Common Core according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. Huff is also listed as a supporter on the same website. Jeff Koch has spoken against Common Core on a video on his YouTube channel, while Debbie Fort and David Guilford have strong reservations about it from what I understand. I can't find anything that indicates how either Shawn McGrew or Lynda Banwart feels, but I do know that McGrew has been solidly behind all of C. J. Huff's programs.
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