Agenda posted for Tuesday Joplin R-8 Board of Education meeting

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Memorial Education Center. The meeting will be preceded by a closed session at 6 p.m. to discuss legal action, real estate, personnel issues, and preparation for negotiations with employee groups.

The agenda for the regular session is printed below:

A. Call to Order

1. Roll Call

B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Approval of Agenda - Action

D. Reports

1. Board President's Report

a. Celebrations - Info. (Jeff Koch)

b. BOE Policy Committee Update - Info. (L. Banwart & J. Martucci)

c. BOE Data Analysis Committee Update - Info. (J. Koch, S. Dermott & L. Musser)

d. BOE Finance, Salary, and Benefits Committee - Info. (Dr. Fort & J. Martucci)

e. BOE Safety Committee - Info. (Dr. Fort & C. Sloan)

2. Superintendent's Data Report

a. School Board Recognition - Info. (Dr. Ridder)

b. Health and Dental Care Insurance Reports - Info. (Paul Barr)

c. Financial Statements - Info. (Paul Barr)

d. New Superintendent Orientation - Info. (Dr. Ridder)

E. Public Comments Regarding Agenda Items 

F. Consent Agenda - Action

1. Minutes - Action (Pat Waldo)

2. Personnel Recommendations - Action (Dr. Lankford)

3. Policy Update Second Reading - Action (Dr. Ridder)

a. Policy JGGA: Seclusion, Isolation and Restraint

4. Local Tax Effort (LTE) Billbacks - Action (Sandra Cantwell)

5. Joplin Early Childhood (JEC) Architect Contract Amendment for Reimbursable Expenses - Action (Dr. Sachetta)

G. Regular Agenda

1. Accounts Payable - Action (Paul Barr)

2. Policy Update First Reading - Action (Dr. Ridder)

a. Policy BCA: Board Organizational Meeting - Action

b. Policy BCB: Board Officers - Action

c. Policy BCCA: MSBA Delegate and Alternate - Action

d. Policy BDDH: Public Participation at Board Meetings - Action

e. Policy EBAB: Hazardous Materials - Action

f. Policy EBAC: Integrated Pest Management - Action

g. Policy JHCB: Immunization of Students - Action

h. JHG: Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse/Neglect - Action

3. FTC - Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grant for Diesel Mechanics Program - Action (Dr. Ridder )

4. Elementary Chromebooks - Action (Dr. Sachetta)

5. Plus/Delta - Info. (Dr. Ridder)

a. Plus: What did we do well

b. Delta: Opportunities for Improvement

H. Adjourn

• 
  

Judge restores Mercy McCune-Brooks administrator's driving privileges

Citing errors made by a Joplin police officer during a traffic stop, Judge Charles Curless restored the driving privileges of Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital Administrator Scott Watson.

Watson, who is a former Newton County prosecuting attorney, had his driving privileges suspended after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated 1:15 a.m. July 2 at the 9 mile marker on eastbound I-44.

In his ruling, Curless noted several errors committed by the police officer during the stop, which was recorded on video.

The horizontal gaze nystagmus test given to the petitioner was not conducted in accordance with NHTSA guidelines in that the petitioner was facing oncoming traffic on Interstate 44 at night, therefor subjecting the petitioner to optokinetic nystagmus, which renders the test void and unreliable.

Petitioner was marked on the Alcohol Influence Report as failed on the walk-and-turn test in part for raising his hands above six inches for balance, when in fact the review of the video shows that petitioner did not raise his hands as indicated.

Petitioner was not asked about his physical limitations or disabilities until after the walk-and-turn and one-leg-stand tests were administered. Petitioner's physical limitations render those tests unreliable under NHTSA guidelines.

The PBT administered to petitioner was given without sufficient time lapse to allow for the dissipation of residual mouth alcohol, rendering the PBT results void.

Based on the previously outlined deficiencies in the Standard Field Sobriety Tests and PBT, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that petitioner was operating the vehicle in an intoxicated condition.

Watson told the Carthage Press the stop occurred after he and his wife left Turtleheads after a family karaoke night after midnight. Watson said he had two drinks between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

From the Press article:

Watson said he submitted to four field sobriety tests, which the officer said he failed. He said the officer put him in handcuffs in the back of the patrol car before asking if he would take the Breathalyzer test, which he refused.

"People say, why didn't you take the test?" Watson said. "Here's the answer, I knew from the first examination that this was an officer who, I'm not going to say was not trained, but he'd already made at least two significant errors. Not only that, I'm already in handcuffs. If I would have taken the test and blown a .02, is he going to unarrest me? No, I don't think so."

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office did not file DWI charges against Watson after the arrest.

Also from the Press article:

Watson said the incident was a learning experience, and he was heartened to see how his friends and co-workers stuck by him.

"Do I wish it had never happened?" he said. "Yeah. But I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. It's not against the law to stay out until 12:15 a.m. I had the full support of my employer and they've been good to me. On the other hand, I don't have any animus whatsoever toward the officer. Everybody makes mistakes, I make mistakes every day, so when a guy makes a mistake, you have to cut him a break. It is what it is."

Springfield Trump protesters hope to spark change

Lake St. Louis Republican explains support for bill allowing Uber to operate in Missouri

In the accompanying video, Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, explains why his colleagues should support SB 185 which would allow companies like Uber to operate in Missouri.

Hundreds march in Kansas City to protest Trump inauguration

Initial court appearance scheduled for Joplin man on federal weapons charge

A 9:30 a.m. February 16 initial court appearance has been scheduled in U. S. District Court for Springfield for Beau Rickman, 39, Joplin, who was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on a weapons charge.

The charge against Rickman stemmed from a December 30 traffic stop by Joplin police officer Adam Brannin.

The background on the Rickman case can be found at this link.

U. S. Attorney: Joplin man should be held without bond on child pornography charge

A federal prosecutor is asking that a Joplin man be held without bond while awaiting trial on child pornography charges.

In a detention motion filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Assistant U. S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller noted that Casey Caudle, 33, "downloaded and distributed multiple images and videos of child pornography through his e-mail and the KIK application."

She noted that his history includes three felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance on January 25, 2016, in Jasper County Circuit Court, October 16, 2016 in Jasper County Circuit Court, and October 26, 2015 in Newton County Circuit Court.

A federal grand jury indicted Caudle November 2 for receiving child pornography between August 19, 2015 and June 22, 2016.

Rolla Republican: Right to work is the will of the people; you voted for us

(From Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla)

In a historic vote today, Thursday January 19, 2017, the Missouri House passed Right to Work with 100 Aye and 59 No votes. I spoke in support of the bill today when it came to the floor to be third read. I stated that I was proud to be able to vote to free our hardworking citizens from the mandate to join a union in our state as a condition of employment. I also expressed my gratitude to the voters of Missouri who went to the polls and actually made this vote possible.

I know that there are many (certainly not a majority) of people in the state who will be disappointed about this new direction for our state. To those individuals I said that I hoped that union members would take some comfort in knowing that the unions will now have to work harder to provide improved services and benefits to the membership since union members will no longer be a captive audience.

In voting for Right to Work, I do not believe that I was expressing any disapproval of the function of unions, but rather just protecting our citizens from being forced to join an organization as a condition of employment. If a union is serving a good purpose, and the members are happy with it, they will continue to support the union and pay their dues, but if a worker does not see the value in membership, he or she will now be free to use the money that previously had to go to the union for some other purpose.

The opposition today during debate referred to those who choose not to join a union as "free riders", while the bill sponsor referred to those same individuals are "captive riders". If a union chooses only to represent union members, they are certainly free to do so, though they seldom choose that option.

I also stated in my brief remarks (brevity and succinctness can be powerful in their own right); I stated that I perceived an upbeat and optimistic mood in our state and our country, as opposed to the general mood over the last several years.

In my opinion that is due in a large measure to the fact that citizens see that the will of the people is being recognized and enacted and new provisions such as Right to Work are becoming reality.

You, the people of the state of Missouri did this at the ballot box, and those you elected, like me, are doing what you sent us here to do.

I also noted that the galleries and hallways were not congested with opponents of Right to Work this year, since those groups realize that the people have spoken and this bill is destined to become the law in Missouri. A historic landmark, and now on to the Senate and then the Governor's desk.

Cleaver: It is time for President Trump to apologize to President Obama for birther movement

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

At noon on Friday, January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. According to polling data, President Trump will become the least liked incoming President in modern times. With thundering internal fuss, I went to the west front of the U.S. Capitol to witness the uniquely American transition of power. In doing so, I will disappoint friends, supporters and even some family members. They, like me, believe that President Trump is benumbed to the hurtful things he has said. Nevertheless, I attended the inauguration. Although it is antithetical to my biblical training, I do, in fact, feel weary in my well doing. My apology Paul.

Many of my congressional colleagues, including one inimitable John Robert Lewis, for a variety of sound reasons, chose not to attend the ceremonial induction of Mr. Trump into the single most powerful position on Earth. Rather than focusing his twilight tweets on Mr. Lewis, my suggestion is that President Trump work on reconciliation with those whom he has so regrettably alienated.

The most symbolic but impactful and far reaching action President Trump can take, would be to express regret over his years of headlining the baseless, but bothersome, birther movement. Communicating a sincere mea culpa, contrary to popular belief, is not an act of timidity, but rather a sign of toughness. True strength comes from a willingness to display humility.

For certain, an unwatered down apology is one of the most uncomfortable things required of those who chose to live in polite society. Apologies are even more difficult when it is required of people in power. Yet, a heartfelt apology falling from the lips of the man who has been voted to lead the free world is exactly what the nation needs to begin the re-stitching of a torn relationship between President Trump and many in this country whom he has offended. An apology would begin to heal that hurt. An apology from President Trump would not serve as just a nice political move. It would put on display humility. It would be a way of demonstrating respect for former President Barack Obama who was wronged by the “birther movement”.

Perhaps, more importantly, an apology from the Head of State may denuclearize the toxic atmosphere created when President Trump and others launched a bold and unsavory attempt to delegitimize the nation’s first African American President. An apology will not fix everything that has been broken over the past few years, but if done wholeheartedly, it can humanize President Trump in ways that we can only imagine.

President Trump, if I am wrongheadedly pushing you to apologize, do it anyway. As you have said to Black America, “What do you have to lose?”

Emery: Education savings accounts, charter schools, virtual schools are advances in liberty

(From Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar)

Missouri’s new governor’s State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature was delivered on Tuesday of this week. One difference from the typical address to the Legislature was the absence of a budget proposal. The budget is expected later than is tradition. One reason is the challenge of learning the budget process while dealing with countless appointments, an emergency ice storm and demands on the governor’s time that increase daily. This year’s budget offers uncommon challenges and opportunities – reflections of the lagging-behind condition of Missouri’s economy.

I have high expectations that Governor Eric Greitens’ leadership and a significant shift in state policies will produce new levels of prosperity. But while we are waiting, what some characterize as a fiscal crisis is being viewed by a group of fiscally conservative legislators as a divinely timed opportunity. We cannot spend what we do not have, and both of the House and Senate can choose to see this year’s state budget as a prime opportunity to carefully spend each dollar by rooting out waste and focusing on the biggest bang for the buck. We must also begin a new pattern of forecasting and appropriating that supports such a philosophy.

The absence of budget numbers did not prevent our new governor from challenging the threats to liberty on several fronts. Those fronts included calling for advancements in worker freedom – he promised to work for Right to Work as well as project labor agreement and prevailing wage reforms. Bills have been advancing quickly through both the House and the Senate.

The governor’s plans for education include new liberties for parents, students, and teachers. Those freedoms will come in the form of parental options. The governor’s reforms, if enacted, will free families from the chains of zip codes and tight family budgets so parents can choose the learning environment that best suits their son’s or daughter’s needs. Education Savings Accounts, Charter Schools, and Virtual education will all contribute to this advance in liberty. The governor also seemed to be calling for increased salaries for the most effective teachers and for the shift of funding to the classrooms rather than overhead and administration.

Another proposal that represents a major advance in liberty was Gov. Greitens’ commitment to eliminate unnecessary and ineffective regulations on businesses and individuals. Akin to regulatory reform was his call for major “tort reform.” Missouri has the costly reputation of being the worst judicial environment in the union for business. Attorneys take extraordinary legal steps to ensure their lawsuits are heard in Missouri where excessive awards are the norm, and our courts have become a magnet for every imaginable personal injury lawsuit.

I hope you are as encouraged as I am about Missouri’s new direction. We have a new administration that seems resolute in their commitment to empower you, the people, rather than government officials and bureaucrats – who seem to take the oath of office seriously and wants to protect your liberty, not tell you what to do. You can read the full text of the governor’s address to the legislature here: www.governor.mo.gov/news/speeches/2017-state-state-address.