First, I would like to congratulate the taxpayers of Joplin on our wonderful new middle schools that we as taxpayers funded.
I have watched the construction of these buildings, and it makes me proud of our school system regardless of the lack of foresight that occurred when one of the buildings was built outside of the city limits, and outside of the jurisdiction of the Joplin Police Department.
Even with the incompetence that has been displayed during these construction projects, I feel that my tax money is being well spent. On the other hand, I see the Joplin School District officials waste a tremendous amount of my hard-earned tax dollars on things such as glossy brochures that benefit the children in no way. The school district is also discussing adding a public relations position that will cost the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money each year.
To my knowledge, it has always been the duty of the superintendent to handle the public relations affairs. Why in the world would the Joplin School District all of a sudden need a public relations director? How would this enhance my child’s education in any way? Is this an attempt by the school district officials to try to spin the facts of what is really happening within the school district?
I have also noticed that our school district has recently added a position that pays $80,000 a year. This position is for an assistant to one of the assistant superintendents. Why does an assistant need an assistant when the superintendent already has three assistants? Why not combine the role of public relations with the role of the assistant’s assistant if the superintendent does not feel that he can handle the job of public relations, as superintendents in the past have? The top officials in our school system have their priorities misaligned. They need to focus on what actually benefits our children instead of their pet projects and wants. The Joplin School District belongs to the taxpayers, and your and my tax dollars are being wasted for reasons that do not benefit our children in any way.
Allan Walker
Joplin
