Thursday, June 18, 2015

Joplin R-8 board hires high-powered KC law firm to respond to writ of mandamus

After a one hour, 10 minute closed session that was not listed on the agenda, Joplin R-8 Board of Education President Jeff Koch announced that attorney Shellie Guin of the high-powered Kansas City law firm of Guin Mundorf would handle the board's response to the writ of mandamus filed by a lawyer representing three Joplin residents who are asking the judge to install Jim Kimbrough on the board.

The Guin Mundorf firm has worked for the district before including handling bargaining with teachers, while Guin served in the prosecutor role during my 10-hour hearing before the board on May 23, 2013.

She is described in this way on her firm's website:

Shellie L. Guin has over 19 years of experience practicing in the areas of education law, labor and employment law, insurance defense and litigation. Shellie provides general advice and counsel to public school district clients concerning a variety of areas, including personnel matters, contract negotiations, student/parent issues, purchasing and vendor issues, board policy and liability, compliance issues, special education and general liability issues. Shellie also advises school districts on employment matters such as personnel management, termination, wage and hour issues, discrimination claims, employee leave and contracts. She has successfully defended school districts against a variety of claims in both state and federal court. Shellie is an accomplished speaker with extensive experience conducting training and seminars on a wide variety of education law topics, such as student discipline and civil rights issues, purchasing and vendor issues, construction and bidding matters, regulatory compliance at both the state and federal level, employee evaluation and termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, Sunshine Law issues, Section 504, ADA, IDEA and FERPA.
(Photo- In the background, you can see a meeting of the minds between blogger and frequent Joplin Globe guest columnist Anson Burlingame and Globe reporter Emily Younker, also known in this instance as a captive audience.)

Tonight's meeting was the first to include the three members the Jasper County Commission appointed to the board- Gary Nodler, Sallie Beard, and Ron Gatz. If Judge Joe Hensley issues the writ that Joplin residents Joshua Bard, Jon Buck, and Jamie Johnson are asking for and Kimbrough is installed, it would mean that Nodler, Beard, and Gatz would no longer be board members since that would mean that Kimbrough was appointed to the board May 26 and the County Commission should never have become involved since there were never three openings.

While answering questions from the media after the meeting (the accompanying video), Koch said that the order by the judge said the response must be filed by Monday and that the judge indicated he would make a ruling on Tuesday.

The board will hold its regular meeting Tuesday with a closed session beginning at 6 p.m., with the open session to follow at 7 p.m.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good interview Jeff Koch! You have a tough job. Please know there are many people who appreciate your service.

Anonymous said...

Lol...this is great, the attorney that helped the district rid itself of your sorry ass is once again representing the district in this never ending comedy. This lawsuit is so foolish. The law is in place for a reason. Follow it and make changes in the April election. I was hoping for positive change out of all of this but Koch has really disappointed. He has displayed no leadership ability whatsoever. The while Kimbrough thing is out of control. His image is so tarnished that he should simply back out and run again in April. Otherwise it will just be the source of more controversy since he WAS NOT elected by the people. Pull your heads out of your ass and start working together like you said you would! There is a board in place now. Start now!!!

Anonymous said...

6:15 You are right. The three appointed by the Jasper County Commission are much better because they were voted by the people. Opps, they were not voted by the people either. I guess you would rather the board operate with four members than follow the State Law.

A judge will tell us all who is on the board on Tuesday. I just hope that whomever loses the argument will not appeal and drag this out any more. Just get it right!!

Anonymous said...

You're hilarious! They are trying to follow the law. Not the B.S that has been pushed upon us! The 3 picked by commission are/were not elected they can run in April!

Anonymous said...

Good hope they get rid of the new 3 put in by the good ol boy club.

We love you back Mr. B! said...

Did Randy hurt your feelings? You come off a little bitter.

Anonymous said...

The board should resign.. A special election should be called. Let the people of R 8 elect a new complete board of education and be done with all of this child's play.

Anonymous said...

Last time I checked Koch, Fort, Martucci and even Banwart WERE ELECTED by the people. Why should they resign? The only people who were not elected and technically are not real board members are the three people the Commission is trying to shove down peoples throats to have "their" stoogies control things. Get real and let the people who were truly elected do their jobs, they did not create this mess (well, Banwart did) but the others did not, they are just pawns in this chess game that someone else seems to be playing and diverting attention from the real issues. Who is really controlling the puppet strings?

Anonymous said...

Banwart should resign for acting like a tool.

Her deposition in this matter might be interesting but I am sure the litigation will never get that far.

Anonymous said...

Was the vote to hire an out of town attorney and spend additional money unanimous ?

Anonymous said...

12:40--There are no depositions in an extraordinary remedy action. You're the tool.