Joplin R-8 Board of Education President Jeff Koch opened tonight's meeting with an explanation of his attempts to have Jim Kimbrough installed on the board. Tonight is the first meeting with the three board members who were appointed by the Jasper County Commission- Gary Nodler, Sallie Beard, and Ron Gatz. It is also the final meeting for Superintendent C. J. Huff, whose "retirement" is scheduled to take effect at the end of this month.
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And Nodler seems to want to show how important he is right out of the gate.
Who wants to be the HMFIC?
I have never seen employees (cfo or ceo/superintendent) talk to the board of directors in such a manor. I think it's time for the board to remind the employees who is in charge.
I am NOT pleased with the outcome of our judicial system but I am pleased with how Koch handled himself and conducted the board through this whole process (minus the exception of barnfart)
I appreciate the patience and calm demeanor of Mr. Koch. I'm still very wary of Nodler. Nodler's behavior at the beginning of the meeting was unprofessional and rude. Although I understand the frustration with this BOE, I hope Mrs. Martucci will follow Mr. Koch's lead and maintain her temper. You're asking the necessary questions and doing the job you were elected to do. Don't let the unelected members and Banwart undo that. This is the game plan for those four individuals. Throw bombs, disagree as often as possible, drive the 3 elected members to an unbelievable level of frustration and when nothing is accomplished, blame those 3. This tactic has worked for them in the past. Huff's last nasty jab at Dr. Fort was expected - childish but expected. Please go away now, Huff.
opening statement by Koch seemed good. After that not so sure. Been pretty neutral all the way, wondering why he again decided to do something in the minutes that was outside the board and then argue that it wasn't an action item when Nodler called him out on it. Hoping this is not a trend for him....2 times gets a pass a third, then there is a purpose behind it.
Koch is in over his head.
Koch did just fine. He was professional at all times and withstood Nodler's tirade quite well. But to give Nodler credit where it was due, when they confirmed that Koch was correct during the break, Nodler acknowledged that and no hard feelings were exhibited afterward. Give Koch time to straighten out this humongous mess of a district before condemning him. The Board has a long haul ahead, but I am encouraged after there was an attempt by Fort and Martucci to see to it that staff got decent raises and Bloomberg was sent packing. I wish his proponents were too, but all in good time.
I don't understand why we heard over and over "it has only been seven years, just give Huff a little more time to turn it around," and the same people cry " Koch has had a whole week, he is in over his head."
Dumb asses.
One of the most stunning moments in the meeting was when Dr. Fort talked about the percentage of teachers who had taught for fewer than six years (60%) and the number of veteran teachers (12%). We are, as she said, a training ground for other districts. We don't pay enough and the conditions at all grade levels are not conducive to successful teaching and learning. Then, just a short time later during the Bloomberg discussion, Huff declares that if teachers don't want to buy in to this initiative (like the 100 or more initiatives thrown at them over the last seven years), they can just leave and go somewhere else. From the video I can't tell which Board member said it, but one of them pointed out that's how the district gets that 60% number. I wish I knew who it was. That person deserves our thanks. It's hard to develop buy-in when nothing lasts more than a year or two and everything takes us from the classroom where we should be. Wasn't it 65 teachers trained for several days for Core Collaborative and 75 for several days for Visible Learning? Every year brings something new. Who cares any more. It's always new, new, new. Old, old, old worked better.
Buy in.
Experienced out.
Inexperienced in.
Raises out.
Consultants in.
Consultants out.
Sell out.
Buy new seats again, at least the colors match.
Buy out.
Quitters out.
All for the kids.
To 1:31 P.M. Actually at the break they confirmed that Nodler was right and Koch's language would not be included in the record. Just check the minutes and you will see that Koch's language was not there.
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