Federal investigators have served a subpoena on the West Plains, Missouri, R-7 School District, the district where the former St Joseph superintendent worked before coming to St Joe.

Dr. John Mulford, the Superintendent in West Plains, says the FBI asked for “a relatively small amount” of personnel records.

Because it involves personnel, he was advised by the district’s lawyer not to elaborate on who was targeted. He did say that the subpoena does not focus on his district or any current employee in West Plains. He conrims that the subpoena involves former members of the administration in West Plains.

Dr. Mulford says the district intends to cooperate fully with the investigation.

“The investigators gave us a six-week deadline, but we expect to turn over all the records requested by next week some time,” he said.

Dr. Fred Czerwonka was the superintendent in West Plains before coming to St Joseph two years ago. Dr. Czerwonka was fired by the St Joseph School Board in the immediate aftermath of the State Auditor’s report that was critical of the district which received a “poor” rating in the audit report.

Dr. Jake Long came to St Joseph from West Plains as well. Dr. Long was appointed acting superintendent when Dr. Czerwonk was fired. Long is reportedly one of four finalists for the job of superintendent of schools in the Mountain Home, Arkansas school district. Mountain Home is just 30 miles from Caulfield, Missouri, which is Long’s home town. He told reporters that if he leaves the St Joseph School District it will be based on what is best for his family.

In a news release, the West Plains district announced they received the subpoena March 24 from the FBI “…requesting records of former district employee(s) in regard to the ongoing investgation of the St Joseph School District.”

In the news release, West Plains School Board President Jim Thompson said “It is important to note that this investigation is not about our school district. Openness and transparency are priorities for members of the West Plains School Board of Education and our board takes great pride in doing things the right way. Our district will work with the FBI to provide the requested documents.”