Failed McKinley Elementary principal could have been acting superintendent

Joplin R-8 Executive Director of Elementary Education Jennifer Doshier, whose disastrous tenure as McKinley Elementary principal ended with the departure of nearly the entire faculty, would have been named acting superintendent if Jason Cravens had turned down the offer.

Minutes from Tuesday night's closed session show that Cravens was selected by a 6-1 margin, with Jennifer Martucci casting the only dissenting vote.

The next vote was on whether to offer the job to Doshier if Cravens decided not to take it. That vote was 4-3 with Lynda Banwart and the three Jasper County Commission appointees, Gary Nodler, Sallie Beard, and Ron Gatz, voting for Doshier. Jeff Koch, Debbie Fort, and Martucci voted against her.

The idea that Doshier, who was promoted to upper administration with a hefty pay increase after the McKinley Massacre, was the second choice for such a key role gives an idea of how much departing Superintendent C. J. Huff surrounded himself with unqualified people.

If Cravens and Doshier had turned down the job, would we be seeing Curriculum Director Sarah Stevens as acting superintendent?

In other actions, the board set Cravens' salary, providing him with an additional 10 percent of his base salary until the time an interim superintendent is hired.

Two teachers, Donald Carey and Keisha Young, were hired, though board documents do not specify what or where they will teach.

One administrator, Brenda Olds, was hired.

Resignations were accepted for seven people, though their positions were not specified in the board documentation- Bethany Bolton, Chelsie Brooks, Amy Carr, George Cowin, Courtney Dinwiddie, Edward Miller, and Amanda Welsh.