Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A look at the group proposing the expansion of the JHS Performing Arts Center

The surprise announcement at Tuesday night's Joplin R-8 Board of Education meeting that Connect2Culture wants to expand the Joplin High School Performing Arts Center (which is not scheduled to be completed until spring) and bring a touch of culture to the city was a highlight of the meeting, but certainly bears closer examination.

It would be a boon for Joplin and could bring in Broadway plays and major entertainers, the board was told.

Even better, it will not cost the taxpayers a cent, board members Sharon Beshore and Clifford Wert told the R-8 Board. It can be done through grants and private financing. The  school board agreed to pursue a relationship with the not-for-profit group,

Left unsaid for those who are not familiar with Connect2Culture is just who is this group? The plan to establish an amphitheater to attract major entertainers is not a new one. It has been the focus of Connect2Culture since the not-for-profit was formed five years ago.

It pushed the so-called SPARK plan, which would have set up the center downtown, but that like everything else connected to the redevelopment of Joplin (except for the redevelopment that has been done by people who have no connection to the official redevelopment sources such as master developer Wallace-Bajjali Development Partners) has been at a standstill.

The board of directors at Connect2Culture features a list of names that have become familiar in their efforts to remold the image of Joplin since the tornado. Many of the people are charter members of the Joplin Progress Committee, which pushed slates of candidates in the city and school board racers in April.

One person who sits on the Connect2Culture board, though I don't recall if it was ever mentioned Tuesday night is R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff. The following list of board members comes from the Connect2Culture website:

Board of Directors:
Sharon Beshore, President (Missouri Arts Council, Board; Spiva Center for the Arts, Trustee)
Clifford Wert, Co-Vice-president and Treasurer (retired US Bank, President, Joplin Region)
Cynthia Schwab, Co-Vice-president (Founder, Pro Musica)
Gina Atteberry, Secretary (Crossland Construction, General Counsel)
Paula Baker, board member (Freeman Health System, President and CEO)
Brad Belk, board member (Joplin Museum Complex, Executive Director)
Alex Curchin, board member (City of Joplin, Municipal Judge; Crossland Construction, General Council)
Troy Hill, board member (Baird Kurtz & Dobson, CPA)
C.J. Huff, board member (Joplin R-8 Schools, Superintendent)
Robin McAlester, board member (Empire District Electric Company, Corporate Communications)
Jo Mueller, board member (George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, Executive Director)
Rob O’Brian, board member (Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, CEcD — President)
Dan Stanley, board member (Edward Jones, Financial Advisor)
Carolyn Phelps, board member (Arts Supporter & Philanthropist)
Dot Willcoxon, board member (Arts Supporter & Philanthropist)
Trisha Patton, ex-officio (Downtown Joplin Alliance, Executive Director)
Tonya Sprenkle, ex-officio (Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice-President)
Sam Anselm, ex-officio (City of Joplin, Interim City Manager)


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had Mrs. Beshore as an instructor at MSSU in the teacher education program. I think she has good head on her shoulders. Practical and knowledgable.

However, I think the questions asked about the public using the performing arts center were valid and with good points.

Anonymous said...

Joplin needs more things to do. I don't argue with that. However, not everything that comes to Joplin needs to be connected to a school building. Have they never heard of Stranger Danger? Put the new center somewhere in the vicinity of the school, there is a lot of area to be used yet, but not connected to the grounds.

5:58--Ms. Beshore's proposal to connect this to the school system belies your conviction that she has a good head on her shoulders. This is not a good idea at all. It's just another grandiose media opportunity for CJ and his followers.

Anonymous said...

This group was hand picked by R. Mark Rohr to get his SPARK project approved. The Chamber of Commerce was also involved at one point.

Anonymous said...

Have they considered that many plays, musical performances and other types of performance art contain adult language and off color material. This would not be suitable or appropriate in a high school setting.