Do you have Joy in your email?

We interrupt the post I’ve been writing about Janet Barresi’s reckless scheme to fund the FBA to make a couple of snarky comments about her persecution of Tulsa-area school districts. While I was researching legal issues and responses to her plan, I came across this in the Tulsa World:

Several Tulsa-area school districts have received Open Records requests from state Superintendent Janet Barresi’s re-election campaign for any communications between employees and Republican rival, Joy Hofmeister.

“I’m tempted to ignore it like they’ve ignored all my correspondence the last four years,” Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow said. “But we’ll reply. We always do.”

Tulsa Public Schools, along with Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa and Union, received a request dated May 8. The campaign asks that districts provide the records by May 23.

In fact, the request specifies any communication — written or electronic — that even contains the name “Joy Hofmeister” between March 1 and April 1, school officials say.

She has previously made similar requests of Jenks Public Schools, of course.

In late April, Barresi’s new campaign manager, Robyn Matthews, and Oklahoma City political strategist Neva Hill came to Jenks to scour the more than 7,000 pages of emails and other communications. They ultimately got copies of 692 pages and paid the district $1,410 for time and materials expended by Jenks school employees in compiling the request.

There’s something specific they’re looking for, but I’m not sure what it is. The dates of this particular witch hunt are very limited.

I think Barresi’s campaign is missing the point. It’s one thing to try to discover what the schools are saying about her opponent; I’m more interested in what they’re saying about the state superintendent. Maybe their ears are burning. Perhaps it’s best if they don’t know.

@okeducation Maybe we all need to add the words "with joy" to every school email. @joy4ok

— Rob Miller (@jmsprincipal) May 15, 2014