Wednesday, June 29, 2016

R-8 Board rejects airfare for P. R. junket

 The Joplin R-8 Board of Education did not approve the bill for airfare for Communications Director Kelli Price and her assistant Whitney Warren to attend the National School Public Relations Association seminar in Chicago July 17-20.

The item was removed from the bill list that had been provided to board members. It was listed under U.S. Bank, indicating that the item had already been paid by credit card.

CFO Paul Barr said "Administration approves removal of prepaid airfare of $656.40 bill list that's for July NSPRA conference."

This was the second month in a row that an item had been removed from the bill list. Last month, it was $218 for former R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff to travel to the Polsinelli law office in Kansas City to prepare for the P1 lawsuit.

Board members noted that Huff was already being paid a $50,000 "consulting" fee for his help in the lawsuits.

The board was told Tuesday night that Huff repaid the money.

Whether that will happen with the airfare for the NSPRA seminar remains to be seen.

Price and Warren were two of the employees who received hefty raises during the final days of the Huff Administration.

Price was given a new title of Communications Director and saw her salary increase from $48,053 to $63,000.

Warren, who was hired as an "events coordinator" became a "communications specialist" and received an increase from $38,475 to $42,000 a year.

More information about the NSPRA seminar, which will include a pre-seminar presentation from Huff and Bright Futures USA Executive Director Kim Vann, can be found at this link.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:10 PM

    Fire these Huff lemmings.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:43 AM

    If they spent this money without getting higher level approval, they've set themselves up for firing.

    Ridder plays a long game, so that's hardly out of the question.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:07 AM

    Since Price got such a big raise, she can pay her own way. If she's going there to be a Huff cheerleader prior to the event, then HE can pay her airline tickets. Enough of milking our tax dollars for such drivel! Thank you, BOE, for sticking to your principles!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:54 AM

    We don't need either one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:07 AM

    They are running a YOOGE PR operation, and using ALL the best buzzwords to git-r-dun!



    Click your heels together three times and say 'It's all for the kids!'



    Department Overview

    At Joplin Schools, we believe quality communication district-wide is critical to the success of our schools, our programs, and the students we serve. Research consistently shows that students do better when parents and the community are involved. A successful communication and community engagement program – one that focuses on listening and sharing - is essential for building trust and creating partnerships with parents and the community. Joplin Schools is committed to open, honest, and ongoing communication with both internal and public audiences using a variety of communication tools. The Communications Department works to facilitate ongoing communication and community partnerships.

    The Communications Department includes the following areas:

    District Communications
    Media Relations
    JETHD TV Station
    Community Engagement Events and Activities
    Joplin Schools Alumni (through the Joplin Schools Foundation)
    Social Media
    Graphic Design Services
    Website Management"


    http://www.joplinschools.org/Domain/76

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous11:19 AM

    On whose credit card was the airfare charged??

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous8:26 PM

    Warren got a $3,000+ raise! What joke. We do not need her position. She needs to go now!

    ReplyDelete