Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Effort to install Mike Landis as R-8 Board president thwarted

If the Joplin R-8 Board of Education had met Tuesday, two things would have happened which would have a detrimental effect on the school district.

Mike Landis would be the board president and approximately $300,000 would have been spent on a testing system being pushed by the C. J. Huff Administration that not only continues the tradition of recent years of having numerous practice standardized assessment tests throughout the year, but extends that practice to grades K-2.

The chances of either of those things happened lessened considerably when there were not enough members for a quorum.

Why were those members not there?

A more important question- why was a special meeting necessary in the first place?

Contrary to what C. J. Huff said there was no emergency in which a board president would have to be appointed on a "temporary" basis to make sure that checks, for both employees and bills, could be paid on time. Those bills are normally paid at the regular meeting on the fourth Tuesday of the month, in this case April 28. KZRG reports that Board Attorney Norman Rouse even has a workaround for this "crisis" situation, which would enable the board's vice president from the previous year, Landis, to sign the checks, with the approval of the board, without having to elect Landis president.

The only legitimate reason for a special meeting was to comply with state law which requires newly elected board members to be sworn into office within 14 days of election. Once Jeff Koch and Jennifer Martucci were sworn in prior to the dedication ceremony for the Joplin High School Performing Arts Center last week, there was no reason to hold a special session.

Except that C. J. Huff was fully aware that the reason Koch could not attend an April 21 meeting was because he is on a three-day business trip to Washington, D. C. Even at that, Koch was able to carve out a time from his schedule of meetings in the nation's capitol to agree to meet with the board via Skype. The time for the meeting was agreed upon to be 4 p.m. It was only going to be a short meeting, Huff indicated, to take care of a few items that absolutely had to be dealt with before the regular meeting.

But when the agenda was posted for the meeting on Friday, the time was set for 3:30 p.m., a time which did not fit into Koch's schedule- and which would give C. J. Huff a majority to elect a board president, and make no doubt about it, if Mike Landis had been elected, it would not have been temporary.

The election of a board president would give Huff a leg up on the appointment of a replacement for former Joplin Police Chief Lane Roberts, but more importantly, the board president and Huff are the ones who set the agenda for the board meetings.

The newly elected board members and Debbie Fort have expressed a desire to make the meetings more accessible to the public. Under rules that were instituted shortly after Huff arrived in 2008, those who wish to address the board  have to register in advance, are limited to three minutes, and cannot talk about any subject unless it is on the meeting agenda. This, combined with board training that emphasizes putting all faith in the superintendent and not dealing with the public until the public has jumped through all of the necessary hoops, has isolated the Board from what its constituents want and has created the problems which the public has attempted to solve through the election of four new board members, Fort, Koch, Martucci, and Lynda Banwart, in the past two years.

Huff's efforts to keep things the way he has had them for the past seven years continued Tuesday. Martucci was reportedly unable to make the meeting because she had a sick child and her husband was out of town.

Koch had suggested that if the meeting had to be held, it should be held later in the week. Though Huff was unwilling to change the 3:30 p.m. meeting time so more board members could be there, When the board was unable to meet at 3:30 because it lacked a quorum, the first thought was to reschedule for 6 p.m.

That didn't happen. Huff moved the meeting to 8:30 p.m. instead because Banwart was unable to make it at 6 p.m.

Of course, there was no quorum at 8:30 p.m. either, so the board sat around for about an hour, listened to how much the $300,000 testing system would help the district, and then board members made a point of noting that the same presentation would not be made for Koch, Martucci, and Fort next Tuesday when the regular meeting is held.

That's certainly good news for Koch, Martucci, and Fort.

The fact that no meeting was held Tuesday was even better news for Joplin R-8 taxpayers.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Note also that if the board meets with one or more of the anti-Huff faction attending by Skype, a failure of that connection for whatever reason would I assume allow a pro-Huff majority to continue business.

The bad faith showed by scheduling the meeting before Koch would have in theory been available by Skype suggests the anti-Huff faction had better show up in person and stay together. That is, entering the room together, and all three leaving if a break is required, lest one of the enable the required majority of 4 person or more for a quorum.

More and more, it looks like you (Randy) will be having a lot to continue reporting about the district over the next year.

Anonymous said...

Wow, just wow! Have any of you watched the original Dallas television show? Huff and Landis are starting to remind me of JR Ewing. If Huff can't get Landis in as President he's probably already working on a plan to get Steele in. Let's hope Fort, Koch and Martucci are ready. It might be good to have as many of the patrons for change attend the official board meeting:fill the audience area to standing room only. This would provide added pressure and another reminder to Banwart and Steele that the voters have spoken and we want change now! Oh, if only we could wake up and find out that the last seven years have been a dream, a very bad dream.

Anonymous said...

Good thinking @4:50. Huff and party will try any trick they can think of. We need a couple of Roberts's Rules experts (parliamentarians) present at the meeting to monitor the proceedings.
Koch, Fort and Martucci may want to bone up on Roberts' Rules before the meeting so that they can be ready with a "point of order" where necessary. Oh, one of them needs to bring a copy of the rules for Landis and Huff to refer to.

Anonymous said...

Correct me if I am wrong, but one of the emergencies I heard on KZRG was the signing of teacher payroll checks. I know that payroll for Joplin Schools is electronic transfers. They may need an approval for payroll, but seriously, this happens every month. It was as if teachers salaries came on as a surprise. Sounds like just another way to disrespect the newly elected BoE members.

Anonymous said...

When is Landis up for re-election? or shall I say ousting? His family must be so proud of little Mikey.

Anonymous said...

Why would he reschedule due to Banwart being unavailable but wouldn't reschedule due to Martucci being unavailable??! Sounds like Huff isn't taking the new changes well at all . Let's get him out of office already !!!

Anonymous said...

@5:13 AM: Thanks. This is one of those "You aren't paranoid if they are out to get you" situations, unfortunately. But fortunately, the anti-Huff faction is smart and staying at least one step ahead in this "game".

One might say that following Robert's Rules is irrelevant in a board where the incumbent pro-Huff half didn't care about violations of the Sunshine laws, but especially with Martucci's husband being a lawyer, proper procedure is ultimately enforced by the threat or reality of a civil lawsuit. So it's best the anti-Huff faction dot their 'i's and cross there 't's.

@5:47 AM: I hope some are pointing out these emergencies, real or not, were manufactured by the convenient timing of yesterday's scheduled special board meeting. If continuity of operations "for the kids" was more important than maneuvering to mitigate the pain of deadlocked board (until Michael "Elections don't matter" Landis comes up for re-election next year), Huff and company could have made it all work out smoothly in appearance as well as reality. These sorts of stunts ... well, recruiting people into the District for the next year is going to be even more difficult.

Thinking about it some more, if Huff realizes he's on his way out and that he's fatally damaged his career, he might not care if the District burns down around him; he's certainly showing no signs he cares about giving the appearance things are dire. We are advised to avoid putting an opponent in a no win situation where he's desperate, but if the opponent manages to do that to himself....

Anonymous said...

Animals are at their most dangerous when they are cornered. And make no mistake about it....Mr. Huff is cornered.

Anonymous said...

SO, what is the solution. When the board actually does come together, the 3 as you call them "pro Huff" members will never vote for Debbie Fort as President, and Martucci and Koch are brand new.

Anonymous said...

My guess? Huff finally snaps and opens fire with an automatic weapon while screaming "meet my little friend!"

Anonymous said...

According to Robert's Rules, if there isn't a quorum they cannot make motions or vote on anything. The president does not get a vote unless there is a tie, and in order to make a motion one has to be acknowledged by the president, and anyone who speaks out of turn or interrupts (*ahem* charles) gets a "point of order."

Isn't one of Martucci's sons in Franklin Tech? Franklin Tech teaches Robert's Rules to the kids at the beginning of the year for their class meetings, and, if I'm not mistaken, Martucci's kid is the parliamentarian for SkillsUSA. No doubt Martucci is getting a schooling in Robert's Rules so that she will be prepared for the meetings.

I have full confidence that Martucci, Koch, and Fort will be able to get this spending under control and stop this useless $300k assessment program that will undoubtedly hurt the kids and put unnecessary pressure on those little ones. The kids don't need that.

Anonymous said...

One, the school board does not have to operate under Roberts Rules of Order. Two, other than run the meeting, the President doesn't have any more power than any other member and votes on every issue. And three....their is no President..and at a 3-3 it doesn't look like one will be elected anytime soon.

Anonymous said...

6:39 AM: Good question.

I maintain my hope, which we can't rule out yet, that one of the pro-Huff members will turn. If that member is not willing to make Fort president, I don't see why Koch, for example, couldn't fill that role even if "brand new".

Or the 6 might agree to rotate an informal president from each side session to session, just to have someone running the meetings.

Failing that, who knows?

As for the financial issues, who "signs" the checks, well, that could get interesting, especially with one side seemingly eager to create "emergencies". Which seldom result in good government....

Dusty Roads said...

Start having all meetings at 6 PM and Koch needs to get his house in order and start being present for all meetings or it will be business as usual.

Anonymous said...

There are petitions to sign to put Mr. Kimbrough back on the board for one more year. He will fill the empty seat until some fresh candidates can be found. Follow this link and ask where the petitions can be found.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Kimbrough/1410949875890964

Anonymous said...

"Dusty Roads": are you suggesting Koch has to keep his calendar open for any day in which Huff and company want to call a special session?

We have to consider the worst case, that there was no way a post-election, within 14 days special session was going to be called when all of the anti-Huff faction could attend. But unless and until Koch has trouble attending regular sessions it is ridiculous to claim he "needs to get his house in order".

I'm sure that upsets some people that the anti-Huff faction has neatly handled every dirty trick Huff and company have tried. I'm afraid we'll all just have to live with that.

Anonymous said...

This type of maneuvering is unacceptable and unprofessional. Huff needs to be removed.so this district can clean up and this town can mend. It's your turn to go M Landis, your replacement is coming. He has been in this board too long anyway!

Anonymous said...

Any doubts about whether it is really all about the kids anymore?

Game of Thrones Joplin style.

Anonymous said...

Mike Landis, September 10 2014:

"The election doesn't matter."

Anonymous said...

Just looked at the Joplin School's website and noticed that there is another meeting next week on the 28th of April which is not unusual. However the unusual part is the start time. 4pm start time. Again seems like someone is trying to pull something over our heads.

Anonymous said...

Our Banking is structured the same with our business and if one of the two parties is absent we have a letter in place to be able to stamp checks (signature stamps)for our bills. Not that complicated, unless you have hidden agendas.

Anonymous said...

It's odd that Martucci was able to make it to the high school to have her picture taken for the school board website but wasn't able to make a meeting.

Anonymous said...

Photo above:

That Mona Lisa smile on the little dummy's face is the direct result of having CJ's arm shoved elbow deep working the puppet.

Huff, to date, has not had to be the smartest guy in the world: just smarter than the idiots that dominated the BOE.

Anonymous said...

It's odd that Martucci was able to make it to the high school to have her picture taken for the school board website but wasn't able to make a meeting.

Only odd if you haven't been paying any attention to what our host has been writing, or most of the commentators. The anti-Huff 3 are being very careful to prevent meetings with both a quorum only they can make and an pro-Huff majority.

If you can't understand this concept, the anti-Huff 3 not being willing to throw away their parity with the pro-Huff 3, what we elected them to do in a landslide, I'm really not sure what to say that's not personally insulting or that doubts your good will.

Anonymous said...

I guess I've missed something...what meeting did Jennifer miss?

Anonymous said...

I guess elections really DO matter. Hmmmm

Anonymous said...

The 3 so called anti-Huff members are playing the same games as the so called pro-Huff members. It will be business as usual

Anonymous said...

Brilliant....just brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Love the Game of Thrones reference above. Huff is obviously King Geoffrey. Cannot wait for His "wedding party." His mommy, Queen Cersi has left to be heir reich chancellor of Online U. Okay, frau. Johnson is clearly The Hound. Does that make Fort the Lady Knight? Sorry, while physical stature qualifies Landis to be Tyrion, his mental stature is far too lacking. He is much more like Geoffery's fool (Thanks Lord Balish). So many have lost their heads and have been the victms of deceit and ruthless gamesmanship. The subjects (children and taxpayers) have paid a heavy price for the machinations of a power hungry few. The parallels, plots and characters, go on.

Anonymous said...

Really...I know you are but what am I.

Anonymous said...

When Jim Kimbrough got elected we heard that when he gets on the board things will change…..and then the votes were 98% 7-0. Once Debbie Fort gets on the board things will change. She gets elected…..98 % of the votes 7-0. Gripe and complain all you want. Make fun of people who don’t agree with this blog…but count the votes of the ones you elected in the past to “make change”. Jim Coburn, Rhonda Randall, Jim Kimbrough, Debbie Fort, etc…..

Anonymous said...

It is shameful and they all need to apologize to the students for their childishness!

Anonymous said...

I have often thought that, but what scares me the most is he will go after our kids.

Anonymous said...

It seems odd that the employee (superintendent) decides both the date and time that his superiors meet, Perhaps this is the norm, but here we see where this power might be manipulated and abused.