New R-8 Board Policy: Huff team no longer has to document what it says about former employees

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education continues to make moves designed not only to allow C. J. Huff and his administration to bully current employees, but also to cause problems for those who have left the district.

One policy change occurred after I was fired, partially for violating a policy that did not exist when I recorded H. R. director (now chief operating officer) Tina Smith's four and a half minute "interrogation" of me before I was removed from the classroom and escorted to my car by a police officer in front of students and teachers.

The policy they cited did not allow unauthorized recording when students were involved. It had nothing to do with a teacher using it to protect himself against someone trying to railroad him. Now the words are in the board policy.

During the January meeting, the board, without even talking about it (again, it was slipped through on the consent agenda) approved, supposedly for clarification, a policy that would make district recording between employees a violation of policy.

During the June meeting, again without discussion, the board approved the second and final reading of a policy that eliminates the requirement that district officials document any claims they make about a former or current employee's work. Now it just requires that any statement be "factual" and we have to rely on administration officials to tell the truth.

That thought should leave all former and current employees uncomfortable. These are people who have not shown any reluctance to harass people even after they have left the school district.