Three nights ago, Missouri Southern State University professor Marsy Archer received a positive vote from Banwart and Mike Landis, while Board President Jeff Koch, Debbie Fort, and Jennifer Martucci preferred Jim Kimbrough.
Tonight, Archer was offered up as the first choice with Koch, Fort, and Martucci voting yes. Banwart voted no. "I want this to go to the County Commission," she said, despite the fact that two of the commissioners do not even live in the Joplin R-8 School District.
Banwart said the board was dysfunctional and talked about the threats that Randy Steele said had driven him to resign.
Martucci said that leaving the decision in the hands of the County Commission was "not fair" to the voters in the Joplin School District.
Koch asked Board Attorney Norman Rouse if all three finalists could be voted onto the board. Rouse said that could be done, but Banwart was having none of it.
She apologized to Archer and Sharrock Dermott, the other finalist. "I tried to support you," she said.
When Koch said that Banwart was hindering the process, a group from the audience, led by blogger and frequent Joplin Globe guest columnist Anson Burlingame, called Koch a "fraud" and people in the audience accused of Koch of talking "inappropriately," though that was the only thing he had said that had come close to a criticism of Banwart.
Koch apologized to Banwart and the audience and asked if there was anything that could be done to convince her to vote for a board replacement.
Banwart said she was "uncomfortable" with the process.
When Martucci asked if anyone had any conflict of interest with the County Commission; Rouse who serves as the commission's attorney on numerous matters, said he did, and he added that Banwart has a conflict, also, though he did not spell out what the conflict was.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a second vote was taken to accept the resignations of Randy Steele and Mike Landis. Koch and Banwart voted yes, with Martucci and Fort casting "no" votes, meaning at this point the board still has only one vacancy, that of Lane Roberts. An earlier vote during the meeting had ended with the same split.
After the meeting adjourned, Anson Burlingame, in a self-satisfied, triumphant tone, said, "Damage done."
Well, the "bad guys" (as I view them) have already succeeded in driving a wedge between Fort and Martucci, and Koch, who should never have apologized. Nothing will satisfy these sorts of people other than abject surrender, and with the district apparently stiffing more vendors we can ill afford another year of attempting business as usual. There's no way to be both nice and effective with people like this.
ReplyDeleteWhile the board could just ignore the situation with the missing members, Banwart can completely stop all business requiring a board vote, holding the district hostage until the other three throw in the towel and throw it to the county commission; is there any sign she wants to do anything other than that?
I really wonder how these people think it's worth delaying the inevitable for one year (by publicly displaying how corrupt they are they are making an adverse decision by the voters that much more likely). Then again, it's getting really ugly, and a lot of people prefer delaying the day of reckoning even if that makes it much worse when it happens.
If Banwart didn't like the treatment that Steele received....
ReplyDeleteWhat is the matter with these people. It's become more important to people like Landis, Banwart, Steele and, God Help Us, Burlingame in their minds to be right and always right than to move forward for the children of the community. I still don't understand Steele claiming he was threatened. His story changed so many times, I doubt very seriously that he received any "threats". What is so earth shattering about admitting that we need to be more prudent with our spending. What is so wrong with asking questions and making sure you understand a proposal before you vote on it. Worse case scenario we're stuck with 4 BOE members whose only concern is maintaining their perceived power - whether it's the will of the people or not. But it's only for 10 months. Please remember this next election season. Failing that the only other option is to start leaving Joplin.
ReplyDeleteI've dealt with several families who chose surrounding communities over Joplin because our educational system is below par. Not to mention lower taxes.
ReplyDeleteThe CART people were all there in force. This is about keeping their corrupt actions covered up and Huff in power, even from the sidelines. Lynda is finished in this town. If she thinks what happened to Flowers and Sharp was bad, she has just asked for worse. What a bag. This is such an obvious power trip that has nothing to do with education, but with cover ups. Take a look at the stiffing the storm shelter people have received. It's that way all over town.
ReplyDeleteShe is no Christian. They are awful, awful people.
Wow, you just can't make these things up.
ReplyDeleteRandy its time to shine the light on these County commisioners. I would love to know which Commisioners to vote out if they dont put in Archer,Dermott and Kimbrough. The three the board originally wanted. It will be tough to hire a quality Superintendent with the board such a mess.
ReplyDeleteThere is no forgiving Banwart for this damaging action to our children's education. What a sick woman. And if anyone had any questions about Archer, they were answered tonight. Between her little lunch date with the JPAC and CART queen Nancy Good and her husband being as big an ass as Anson Burlingame at the meeting, she's obviously not for our kids, but part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed in Archer. I'm not surprised by Banwart. She's walked roughshod over school district personnel for years. Now she's doing it to the whole public.
I'm truly scared for our district. These people are going to get someone hurt. They are reeking of desperation, and desperate people will stop at nothing. CART is behind this, which means that the county commissioners, who are way too excited to appoint our board members, are linked up in this corrupt mess somehow. We need an investigation, and we need it quickly.
ReplyDeleteI agree
DeleteI wonder if the audit of the city will reveal part of the problem. There is a reason why these people are doing this. They are crooked as hell, and the high and mighty Banwarts are part of it.
ReplyDeleteThe city government and the school board are not connected in any way!
DeleteMonday is the last day that certified personnel can leave the district if they are tenured. We are in this mess up to our necks now, and Lady Banwart is going to be the one who does us in. I guess if we don't get paid we can go hang at her McMansion and hope for some cake crumbs.
ReplyDeleteI was at this meeting. And what struck me was the complete hypocrite Lynda Banwart is -
ReplyDeleteLast month - said she should be BOE president because she can get along with everyone now can't get along with 3 other BOE members.
Endorsed Marsi Archer in the final 3 but now says no
Willing to allow an outside agency decide board members but despises big government.
Says she believes in empowering women but told Deb Fort she deserves her browbeating.
Marsi Archer- I'm so disappointed in you/ your husband. He was one of the loudest, along with Anson Burlinfame and a stacked audience. I thought you were a viable candidate but not any longer . Seems to me you are up to your armpits in the political agenda of the previous board.
Lynda- your stonewalling and ridiculous reasoning are not for the good of the district. It's for the good of you.
Sad this will be your legacy.
Like someone once said.
ReplyDelete"Elections don't matter."
R8 is in both Jasper and Newton Counties. Which commission controls the process and why wouldn't/couldn't/shouldn't the other be involved?
ReplyDeleteDesperate people do desperate things. It must be a terrible situation they are trying to avoid. Surely this is not just dislike of the voters choice? It is an injustice to those the people chose and our schools
ReplyDeleteLinda is tight with Darieus K. Adams Jasper County Western District Commissioner...... There is a smell..
ReplyDelete5:07 Thank you for the truth...not a lot of that going around these days...
ReplyDeleteBanwart is worse than a hypocrite, but she sure is that. At church she's alway on her knees at the altar, praying and praying. It's just for show, like everything else she does. Mike Johnson is the same way. Goes to the altar and then leaves to chase some woman down against her will. They go to the same church and are the same thing. Charlatans. Sinners and abusers of public trust. Purgatory is too good for them.
ReplyDeleteLike, wrapped up tight around Adams or family or financial partners? Please explain, 5:18. We need to know.
ReplyDeleteIs there some way to get emails and communications between the Banwarts and Adams or others on the commission? That is hardly a closed session deal. Adams is as corrupt as the rest of CART and JPAC. They all need taken down. They'll look wonderful in prison orange.
ReplyDeleteBanwart has no shame. Prostituted herself for the rich and powerful tonight. Of course, she is one of them.
Those from MSSU who spoke on behalf of Archer on Tuesday are either as bad as she is or they have been played the fool.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Mr. Sloan. Good job.
There are friendships here, which explain some of the issues and actions. It's sadly not about the kids...this is politics...
ReplyDeleteMaybe if the county commissioners get involved - Banwart can be replaced for her lack of compromise?
ReplyDeleteWhen do people EVER get their first pick outside of an election and turn their nose up at it?
This isn't about friendships. This is way beyond that, but I agree, they are friends as much as thieves can be friends. There is certainly no honor amongst them. This is about money. Lots of money. Who has it, where did it come from, and where did it go. Only money drives this kind of extreme behavior. Money brings power and corruption.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have the state take over and work for them than work for Banwart and the company she keeps. This is scary.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I sign?
DeleteOnce again this smells like Huff is involved. Banwort 's poor decision makes her look small anyone this narrow minded shouldn't be on a board. A campaign will be mounted and send her on her way with the others. What a mess. How unprofessional!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder what they are so scared of if there are four votes not of the former Cj camp, if Cj is already gone. What do they know will be found? Or, is this why Cj isn't leaving town? They will bring him back? He better give back that nice little settlement package, if so. There is something really sick going on here. I wish the FBI or the IRS would step in and find out what they've done. Since they can't pay their bills even with the $74,000,000 that was borrowed on top of the bond (which Banwart headed up) and the insurance and the donations, you know something bad has happened. They can start with the school foundation and Bright Futures and work from there.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! Joplin R8 school district has been crumbling for a long time and now is nearly just rocks and pebbles, but rather than work with others as a team for all concerned, i.e. students & teachers, one woman with an ego the size of Jupiter is throwing lit dynamite into what's left.
ReplyDeleteNow, this ought to help them in their goal of attracting and retaining highly qualified staff. Who wouldn't want to move with their families to Joplin now? This on you, Banwart. You just dragged the entire district down into the mud. Very good. Just so you could make sure Kimbrough didn't make the board so the truth could be smothered a little bit longer. It won't work. There are too many people who know why you are all so scared. The truth will out.
ReplyDeleteLynda Banwart, the Joplin Progress PAC, and CART have all come together to forfeit local control of Joplin Schools. They have no regard for taxpayers. Since they got destroyed in the last election while the teachers voted for collective bargaining and embraced the NEA, they are desperate. They can feel their last breath. Today was their last resort to hold onto a fallacy of self-granted power. Huff was their final icon in a field of fallen heroes…from Speck, Rohr, and going forward. The public now knows them and understands them and will act accordingly for some time in the future.
ReplyDeleteBanwart was worried about what would happen to her and the family business if the Report ever turned its focus on her. I guess we'll find out now. I know it'll be a cold day in hell before I'll have any medical treatments at her little place of business. I'd try to fix it myself with a butter knife first. It's bad enough they moved across the state lines to keep from having to pay taxes (like they can't afford it) while their kids got every advantage in the state-funded school system. I don't have to add to their coffers. What a greedy, hateful, corrupt woman. Not at all the sweet and generous person her supporters tried to paint her as when she was running. Her true colors showed tonight.
ReplyDeleteI'd look into the relationship between Four States Advertising, where Darieus Adams is affiliated & the advertising company used by Ortho 4 States...
ReplyDeleteId look into the relationship between 4 States Advertising, where Darieus Adams is sighted as a contact for information & Ortho 4 States...
ReplyDeleteHer election contributors are causing a conflict of interest.
ReplyDeleteOrtho 4 states has to spend a great deal of money to advertise. Between paralyzingly patients and their excessive infection rates, they have no repeat business and have to sucker in new patients. Freeman cut them off and Mercy is reducing their access. I would love to manage their advertising budget.
ReplyDeleteI know quite a few people that were at the meeting, and everything that you, Mr. Turner, are reporting is nothing but spin, for your own agenda. ALL of the board members need recalled. This juvenile Presidential election crap has no place with a school board. You know as well as I do, that the meeting was a joke and prominent members of the community were heckling your three cronies refusing to do the right thing. This school board is an embarrassment, unfortunately to the entire state and region! But, I'm sure won't post this for your few like-minded sheeple to read.
ReplyDeleteThe former BOE & retired Huff are the embarrassment to Joplin. Voted out by the majority. The president pf the BOE has already be chosen and it's Mr. Koch. Check your facts before you call all Joplin citizens sheep as it appears you are the sheep following your friends to a meeting mindlessly unaware of what's on the agenda. Appointing someone to fill Lane Roberts seat, not thepf president.
DeletePreviously reported by The Turner Report:
ReplyDeleteThursday, April 03, 2014
School Board candidate Banwart spends $13,000+ on television ads
"The $13,400 that Dr. Christopher Banwart gave to his wife Lynda's Joplin R-8 Board of Education candidacy all went toward television advertising, according to her eight-day-before-election report filed March 31 in the Jasper County Clerk's office.
The Banwart campaign spent $13,420.76 with Four-State Advertising, Joplin, for the ads, the report indicates.
During the filing period, Mrs. Banwart received $16,235 in contributions and spent $14,036.10, leaving her with $3,198 in the bank.
Mrs. Banwart's spending also included $184.38 for business cards from Dixie Printing, Joplin, and $409.39 for yard signs from Davis Advertising, Joplin.
Two fundraisers were held on her behalf, according to the report.
Sen. Ron Richard and his wife, Patti, provided Mrs. Banwart with the use of Fourth Street Bowl and finger foods and soft drinks, valued at $125, the report said, for a mixer March 14. Yard signs were distributed and $925 in contributions was received. Fifeen people attended the mixer.
Hosts for the event were listed as Ron and Patti Richard, Darieus and Theresa Adams, and Dan and Teresa Brothers.
Another reception was held March 28 at the home of Steve and Tami Menke, Joplin, with finger foods and soft drinks provided and 16 attending. The event raised $425 with a $50 in-kind contribution attributed to the Menke family. Yard signs were also handed out at this event.
Contributions for Mrs. Banwart included the following:
Keith Adams, Joplin, $200
Dan and Teresa Brothers, Joplin, $200
Darieus Adams for County Commission, Joplin, $250
Charles Sticklen, Joplin, $300
Ron Richard, Joplin, $125
Joplin Progress Committee $723.06
At this point, Mrs. Banwart has received $1,723.06 from the Joplin Progress Committee.
What the hell was Asshat Burlingame even talking about calling Jeff Koch a fraud? Fraudulent about what?
ReplyDelete@8:53
ReplyDeleteYou obviously aren't the brightest bulb in the box. What "presidential election crap" are you referencing? This was about putting members on the Board of Education of Joplin Schools. There was no presidential election here. And, even though there was an attempt to fill the meeting with those in collusion with Banwart, whose voice shakes when she lies, by the way, and it shook in that television interview, there were plenty of people from the moral high side of this situation who can corroborate what Turner is saying. Why doesn't your side ever counter with any evidence? Because you have nothing to work with.
Sincerely,
The Sheeple
P.S. Better a "sheeple" than a "thiefle"
I'm trying to figure out how Banwart "tried to support" Archer and Dermott. All she had to do was say "yes" and they would have been seated. This is in no way about seating them. This is a desperate measure to keep Kimbrough off of the Board so that the members elected by the public can do what the public wants them to do. It isn't about firing CJ Huff now, is it? He is gone. Yet the corrupt members, past and present (yes, Ms. Banwart, your hands are now as dirty as Lady MacBeth's), must still do anything possible to maintain power for their political interests, which have nothing whatsoever to do with educating children. It is way past time to get a federal investigation started into what has become of the District's money, as well as the city's, before someone is hurt or worse.
ReplyDeleteYes, Lynda, your hands are as dirty as Cj's now--"Out, damned spot! Out!"--no matter how often you wash them, the stain remains firmly embedded for all to see.
@9:16
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to think that the city government and the school board, at least the previous one, were not connected in any way, but Mike Woolston has his hands all over this. He has backed Board members to the hilt who do his bidding, as have other members of CART and the Joplin Progress Committee PAC. They have been accomplices with one another at least since the tornado, if not before. The tornado and all of those donations certainly accelerated their plans. Hence Nancy Good being at lunch with Marsy Archer yesterday, and her husband being the latest horse's ass to attach itself to Anson Burlingame. And they are all in each other's campaigns for the Board, as in Dermott being Campbell's treasurer, Good being McGrew's, etc. And, they are all a part of Bright Futures. Collusion. All the way.
We now know we cannot trust Marsy Archer to do what is right. The question is, what is she getting out of an appointment to the Board? We know she is a puppet for CART, but why? Has she been promised something connected to the new medical school? Or is her very vocal, obnoxious and rude husband getting something from this? Time to do a very good vetting of this couple. We should have known, since it was Mike Landis who nominated her. Now you have to wonder about MSSU, and whether or not it was just Bruce Speck. Strange what has come out of that meeting, and thankfully, she was not accepted yet. That was a close one.
ReplyDeleteThis conspiracy of stupidity has awoken the sleeping giant. When evil rises, the good awakens!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSome are difficult to please:
"They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; which say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep." Luke 7:32
Randy, your book may have to be done as a series. It appears a monumental task to keep-up with the participants and their relationships, the actions, impacts and motivations. If anyone was hoping you'd run out of news material ...
ReplyDeleteCan we call a special election? We need more than 300 signatures...Huff insinuated that's at least as many as he could aquire. Wake up Joplin it's time for a stand!
ReplyDelete9:28 AM: Indeed; Randy has for example chosen a cut off for his latest book before the state auditor reports on the city. The story there is almost certainly not finished, but in the meanwhile the book will give us context for understanding the report.
ReplyDeleteHuff's "retirement" was very conveniently timed, allowing him to revise the last chapter with a decisive milestone for the school district. But even before school board membership became a three ring circus, it was clear there will be a book or more worth of material on recovering from Huff's reign of error, the letter from the not paid for 5 months shelter contractor underlining just how bad things might be underneath all the happy talk.
Here is the link for the petition to ask for Lynda Banwart to step down from the Board of Ed. http://email.change.org/mpss/c/wQA/SCE/t.1ng/Q4y5fhxfSSuO3w-oa0yn4A/h5/W9oZwjoGX5ulRlet7FB-2BvOwivV9KPAv-2B5KhrSxgIs0PJ95zE288iMzV85KlWAcXCxS9u78q3UiBQZei3q-2FH9nYQxoU1qlwlmkKgWx-2B-2BS5yOpe1-2F8HifI7tO1K6hI8I-2FSSYQUhuxLqydjnr2WKqmtOqS7Vt19YdyjtWpKfbkUwIh5bQ-2B8zLl9skH8LBcqhvelYd0rVqADSaP5o5-2FFrpWrMq1cfvmdvtD-2BQeCDEEfWH9o-3D
ReplyDeleteWTH is CART that ppl keep saying? What is CART? What does it stand for?
ReplyDeleteKoch knows exactly what he is doing. If you recall, from the beginning he wouldn't change his vote for President until it became him as the nominee for President. Now that he is in that position he thinks he is in charge. He is not. His job is to run the meetings, period. As the anti-Huff 3 are figuring out, it takes 4 votes to do anything.
ReplyDeleteI'm just thankful this blog is administrated by a "former teacher" because if my kids were being taught by such an immoral, unethical and irresponsible person as Mr Turner I'd be horrified. It's wreck-less, sophomoric and borderline liable to continue to try to create drama and conspiracy where there is none. It harms the district and my children's education.
ReplyDeleteHow about some constructive input instead of spearheading a ignorant, gossip filled trash talking blog. How about you run for school-board, volunteer your vast experience to the benefit of the community.
Bless your Little Heart Mr Turner, but your as disingenuous as anyone one the board..
Funny how you sell Ad Space on your Google Blog, I suspect you make more money a month on getting people to see this blog than Mrs Banwart's acquaintance Mr Adams Ad company..
What happens if there's no drama going on in the Jopin school district? people would quit following your blog, and your ad revenues from Google would plummet and you quit making a living off all these people just looking for drama off the backs of my child's education..
You got your way, change is coming, Dr. Huff is moving on to greener pastures with less drama. So why don't you let the people who are elected do their jobs and move on to some other endeavor. Maybe a blog covering the Jasper County Public Water Works and Sewer is more appropriate for a person of your caliber of journalistic integrity!!!
Get a Life!
Blah blah blah.
DeleteWhen asked why supporters and haters of Howard Stern all tuned in,. the answer was the same: to see what he was going to do next.
No one forces you to read this blog. We are all forced to deal with the situations created by those you defend. Get over youself.
You are my hero.
Deleteooh Randy, you've got someone worked up. Good job!
ReplyDelete