Friday, March 06, 2015

Anne Sharp: We will decide how important fund balances are

The leadership skills of Joplin R-8 Board of Education President Anne Sharp were on display during the question-and-answer session held Tuesday night in the Joplin High School cafeteria to review the state audit.

The most important finding of the audit was that the district's fund balance has slipped from $16 million three years ago to an anticipated $4.6 million in June 2015, a dangerously low level.

And now, after being a major part of a school board that has rubber stamped eight million dollars in "might-as-well" spending on artificial turf for practice fields, a track when we already have one, extra tennis courts, concession stands, lighting, and press boxes, $3 million in a vain effort to meet C. J. Huff's vow to open the new high school on time in August 2014, and one million for travel over a three-year period, Anne Sharp says the board will determine if being fiscally responsible if something it should consider trying.

From the Joplin Globe article:

Board President Anne Sharp said board members are expected to meet this spring to determine priorities, including what emphasis to place on restoring fund balances.

"At that point (after the April election) that board will get the goals set for the upcoming year, so the focus is on what the seven of us feel is the most critical for our school district," she said. "We are going to be focused more on our students than it has been for the past three years, when it was focused on getting our students back in buildings. We get to go back to doing school."

It is good to know that after the April election, the school board will change its approach and start making fiscal responsibility and focusing on students its new priorities.

Of course, it would be easier if Anne Sharp, who has already had 15 years on the board to determine her priorities, were sitting on the sidelines when those discussions take place.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

President Sharp needs to remember that not everyone is born independently wealthy. To those of us who have to actually work for a living, this issue is a top priority.

I am relieved to know that she is willing to wait for the new board. I can't say as I blame her for that, as it appears that she has no idea whatsoever how to fix the situation. In that situation, I believe the best thing she can do is step aside and let someone with fresher eyes take over. Please. I need a paycheck, even if you don't, President Sharp.

Anonymous said...

It's just so much more fun to just walk around and take pictures all day, isn't it. All this THINKING. How dreadful.

Anonymous said...

The end game for R8 is either to raise taxes or get a new bond issue (borrowing) approved to bail them out. What they need to do -- cut spending -- they don't have the courage or will to take on.

Anonymous said...

Could anyone tell me when we will have a public forum for the want to be board members. I feel that they all have hidden agendas....some as simply as covering past decision they made while board members to getting back at all the people that supported the middle school boundary change that lead to them homeschooling one of their daughters and then even enrolling her in private school so she could play sports.......all to avoid going to North....

Anonymous said...

233, If anyone was avoiding the North MS, they made a big mistake in my opinion. They have one of the best principles in Brandon Eggleston and also did not have to go through any of the moves due to the Tornado. Eggleston ran a very disciplined school. I rarely heard of anything going at school that was out of the ordinary for middle schoolers. I feel my kids were more than prepared for the step up to HS and I credit the staff at North MS. A loss for them as far as I am concerned if they avoided North.

Anonymous said...

Thank 251.....I am a very proud member of the North family and am happy you see are school in that light. I would also like to point out that not all joplin school buildings have teachers leaving at high numbers.....last year we only had 3 teachers leave...one retired after 35 years....one was ask to not come back and one is no longer with us....NMS Joplin s best kept secret

Anonymous said...

Melinda Campbell is running for Joplin School Board. Her two children attended NMS. Great school!!!

Anonymous said...

North and South are both decent schools and both have well-respected principals. The problem is that, with Joplin Schools, large decisions are made without parent(taxpayer) involvement or knowledge. This particular decision affected hundreds of children, many of whom had lost their homes during the tornado and needed stability. Representatives are picked by Administration and fail to inform fellow parents (taxpayers). Motives behind such changes are hidden or just plain lied about (the reason given for redistricting was because South was getting too crowded - it actually had to do with making sure the schools are economically balanced but Administration thought that sounded bad). An outside, non-local company is called in to make a report on how to redistrict (costing taxpayers thousands of dollars). Parents who question the practices of the Board and Administration are ignored, targeted as "troublemakers", and threatened. THAT is why several families took their children out of Joplin Schools.

Anonymous said...

My ? is this....will they return in 9th. Grade and should we have a school board member who takes her ball and plays on another court when she does not get her way.... did the last board member resign when she took her daughter to Webb city......other parents may have taken their children out of the district but they are not running for a school board position .

Anonymous said...

Another reason parents were irritated about the boundary change was because it did not affect the children of one single Board member. Their kids all stayed in South district. Even Mr. Landis who lived in East district. Easy enough to make the call when it's not your own children, I guess. An example of "do as I say, not as I do."
But, that's old news - moving on.

As far as people running for school board, I personally don't care if someone chose to homeschool a child after a run-in with administration, and then re-enroll him/her at a later time. They do have other children in Joplin Schools, and I think it's great for once to see someone actually trying to make a change instead of just complaining. A Board member just has to be a taxpayer living within the city limits of Joplin. If you only want Board members who have children in Joplin schools, then you'd better get rid of most of the current Board members!
I have been very unhappy with the current administration and Board - the ways they've handled taxpayer money, the ways they've tried to limit parent input, the ways they've devalued teachers, the lack of transparency. I am ready for a change and will vote for people who are capable of asking questions and disagreeing with Administration, when necessary. If you are happy with the way things are, then by all means, vote to keep Ms. Sharp in office.

Anonymous said...

Agree with most of what you said........but I do think it's fair to point out that mr. KIMBROUGH ' grandkids also lived in the area in question...... and if what you say is true about Landis he should be called on the carpet also....but I do believe his wife works in the district as a teacher. And we all know one of the only perks teachers in joplin schools get is a choice of schools for their kids.... it Def isn't the money they get paid for the hard work they do. I to deliver it's time for a change......I just want people in there that do not have an agenda and are ready to work hard for ALL the students of Joplin........

Anonymous said...

His wife is a teacher and they are within their rights to choose what school their kids go to and I wouldn't begrudge a teacher this benefit, but the point is they didn't choose North or East, they chose South. But the Board villainized other parents who wanted to make the same choice. That's all I'm saying.
I absolutely agree with you that I don't want Board members who have a personal agenda, and I'm waiting for a public forum to be held where we can all ask questions. I hope all parents show up and ask questions!

Anonymous said...

My child was not affected by the change, but I was in the Admin building to drop off some papers the day after that vote and members of Admin were positively gloating. It was disgusting and tacky, and our children deserve better representatives.