Yes, Joplin R-8 has a full-time development and alumni relations specialist

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education, perhaps without discussion, is scheduled to vote on policy changes when it meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Administration Building at 32nd and Duquesne. One of those would strip the board of its power to hire, fire, and set salaries for administrative staff and give that power to one man- Superintendent C. J. Huff.

Among those positions that would be affected by this brazen power grab is one that was newly created in December- a full-time development and alumni relations specialist.

The district has never said what it is paying for this position, but since one of the requirements is that the person have a master's degree, it would be safe to assume that he is being paid a pretty penny.

That position, as well as all other administrative positions created by C. J. Huff as he has more than tripled administrative staff since he came to Joplin, survived the cuts that took place following the 2013-2014 school year, including all part-time reading teachers and a number of secretaries, bus drivers, custodians and other support personnel.

I wrote about the position in the December 16, 2013, Turner Report:

It is not what I call must-see TV, but every month I watch the tightly scripted televised meeting of the Joplin R-8 Board of Education.

The formula for these meetings is predictable- They start with a presentation involving students of the district and then we learn of some district program that is working remarkably well.

At some point in the meeting, we see a video. often accompanied by soaring music, detailing the progress in construction of our new schools.

What is never included in this tried-and-true formula is any discussion of actual issues that are affecting the students, parents, employees, and taxpayers of the Joplin R-8 School District.

Hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of dollars are spent on new programs, many of them of questionable value, and never is there even a solitary voice representing the taxpayers and asking, "How can we afford this?" (Note- That has changed since the April election)

That lack of initiative on the part of the board of education has led the disrict into dire financial straits. By a 7-0 vote this summer, the board approved a strategic plan that specifically calls for district reserves to fall to eight percent by next year and then to magically restore itself to 25 percent by 2015.

And no one has ever asked during these meetings, "How in the world are we going to do that?"

Not one word has been mentioned about pulling back on spending. We have yet to hear from one board member asking that someone consider the idea of cutting back on the extra layers of administration that have been added or slowing down the purchase of technology that we probably cannot afford, and may not need, at this juncture.

Instead of trying fiscal responsibility, the latest idea is to give administration more money to mismanage by putting everything the school district has on the market. We have all kinds of classrooms to sell- let's sell the naming rights. Let's hit up our local businesses for advertising on any kind of website or publication we have- after all, they're Joplin businesses, they will spend more money to support our children.

The idea was first floated at the November Board of Education meeting and no one questioned it. This is a remarkable change in the way the district operates, but no one questioned it.

The proposal, which was conceived by the district's director of community development Kim Vann and presented by board member Dawn Sticklen, began with a note that other people are making money off Joplin Schools, such as those who publish sports schedules and calendars, so why should the school not get in on the action?

As possible fundraising ideas, Ms. Sticklen mentioned the naming of the new facilities that are being built across the district and even classrooms in those buildings as well as sports fields.

Advertising could even be placed on the parking lot flags, she added.

Naturally, Ms. Sticklen said, rules would have to be implemented in the sale of such advertising that would "protect the integrity of education."

At a time when "filling the fund gap" is becoming more and more important for the school district, she said, these ideas could bring in much needed revenue.

Another source of income, the district website, could also bring in some cash, Ms. Sticklen said, noting that the site has 250,000 visitors a month. "This is traffic we can monetize."

Board President Jeff Flowers said there is "a lot of interest in the business community" in this kind of advertising.

Ms. Sticklen said the advertising would be more beneficial for the businesses than givingdonations.

Well sure, it's only money.

The next step in the process was taken Friday when the district, instead of using one of the high-priced people who are already wandering the halls at 32nd and Duquesne, advertised for a new position- someone to raise money for the district, a development and alumni relations specialist.

This is the job description provided on the district website:

Job Description
Primary Location	ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
Salary Range	Per Year
Shift Type	Full-Time

It is hard to even conceive of how much money has been spent by Joplin R-8 Administration over the past couple of years. Spending more money to hire someone who can bring in even more money to play with is not the answer.

Prostituting our school district so its leaders do not have to exercise fiscal responsibility is not the answer.