"Squad" member attacks Agostini

During yesterday's Richland 2 School Board meeting, Trustee-elect Teresa Holmes felt it necessary to launch an attack on Trustee Lindsay Agostini.

Board Chair James Shadd should have interrupted her, but he didn't.

The attack occurred at about 1 hour 4 minutes into the meeting. Mrs. Agostini had asked a question during the discussion of proposed board policy BEDGA, which allows the superintendent to veto a request from a board member for information.

While the superintendent is fully capable of defending himself (if word-count is put on the scale), Holmes ran to his rescue. She said emphatically that the job of the board is to direct the superintendent and, if the board doesn't approve of what he does, it can fire him. What she didn't say is that the superintendent is safe in his position, because four of the trustees line up right behind him.

Holmes, like McKie, either has not read or fails to understand Board Policy BBA - Board Powers and Duties. That Policy illustrates 11 functions of the Richland 2 School Board, not just the hiring and firing of a superintendent.

Worse than that was Holmes' insulting manner toward Mrs. Agostini. Listen to her for yourself. It's right on the video, which will be published today or tomorrow. She wound up with what she hoped would be the grand-slam homer of the night, saying she found the previous remarks (by Trustee Agostini) "offensive".

It's a wonder that Holmes didn't rush away from her computer and run into her "safe space" at home. Where would that be? The bathroom? The dog house? The wine cellar?

Read Board Policy BC - Board Member Conduct.

One item there reads, "Work harmoniously with other board members without trying either to dominate the board or neglect one's share of the work."

Holmes' comment yesterday was definitely NOT an example of attempting to "work harmoniously".

Another item is "Vote and act in the board meetings impartially for the good of the district."

Holmes' sounding-off as she did was clearly a violation of the "act ... impartially".

And another item: "Represent the board and district to the public in such a way that promotes both interest and support."

Holmes gets an "F: on that!

Why didn't the Board Chair cut Holmes off?

Holmes forgets that she is not even a legitimate member of the Richland 2 School Board. She has never legally taken the oath of office.