Joplin R-8 Board split 4-2 on accepting high school principal's resignation

A split vote in accepting the resignation of Joplin High School Principal Shane Hopper appears to confirm information provided by district sources to the Turner Report that the first-year administrator had come under fire for numerous issues involving his management style.

Minutes from the February 26 Joplin R-8 Board of Education closed meeting shows the board split 4-2 on accepting Hopper's resignation with board members Sharrock Dermott, Debbie Fort, Deborah Gould and Jennifer Martucci voting "yes" and Derek Gander and Brent Jordan casting "no" votes.

Lori Musser was absent.

Hopper submitted his resignation letter one day before the vote was scheduled to take place on whether to offer him a contract for a second year. In the letter, Hopper wrote, "I am headed back for some personal and professional opportunities in the St. Louis area next year."








Other action taken during the closed session:

-Ron Lankford was offered another contract to serve as assistant superintendent of business services under the critical shortage regulation.

-The following administrators' contracts renewed:

District Administrators: Sandra Cantwell, Stephen Gilbreth, Matthew Hiatt, Sarah Mwangi, Kerry Sachetta, and Jacob Williams.

Building Administrators: Teresa Adams, Gregory Boyd, Christopher Bozarth, Jason Cravens, Joshua Depoe, Kaci Dorton, Joshua Flora, Paul Gipson, Matthew Harding, Kirk Harryman, Bret Ingle, Shally Lundien, Chris Mitchell, Julie Munn Brenda Olds, Kasey Pliler, Steven Reed, Jason Riddle, David Rockers, Karen Secrist, Jennifer Sitzes, Melinda St. Clair, Nathan Stewart, Heather Surbrugg, Jason Vieselmeyer, Jason Weaver, Jill White, and Penny Williams.

-Other employee actions included:

Certified Employments: Matthew Riechman-Bennett and Levi Reed.

Certified Retirement: Richard Banks 

Certified Resignations: Donald Atkinson, Amy Boore, Christopher Enslow, Brooke Iseli, Dawn Mertens, DeAun Reeve, and Michael Wassenaar.

Classified Employment: Shelby Bauer, Cassandra Bernath, David Blethen, Lisa Bromley, Shawn Fowler, Courtney Gall, Deborah Harryman, Dayzah Kelly, Katia Martin, Olivia Robinson, Michelle Steverson, Ashlyn Washburn, Brenda Williams, and Kelly Woodford.

Substitutes: Jason Bogue, Chelsea Nimmo, Gerald Black, Kurt Hopson, Kimala Milner, Abigail Bass, Timothy McMillan, Ola Saleh, Jocelyn Wheeler, Olivia Smith, Kaitlin Barnett, Sindy Ward Monzon, Amanda Trevino, Samantha Woodrum, and Kayleigh Tharp. 

Classified Separations: Tammy Winnett, Lacey Oliver, Caleb Frakes, Bailey Comer, Dawn Craig, Mackenzie Layne, Sureree Legore, Jamie O'Donnell, Susan Ratliff, Ashley Sharp, and Charles Stussy.

Certified Separations: Courtney Adrian, Jennifer Barker, Blair Dance and Michelle Espinosa.