Sunday, April 19, 2020

An Education - the hard way

Over the past week I have helped a Richland County homeowner who took in a homeless couple. Now he can't get them out.

The couple has five kids; 9, 8, 4, 5 months, 3 weeks. His and hers. The homeowner felt sorry for them after they got kicked out of their prior housing (hotel? motel?) and didn't want the seven to have to live in their car.

Here's the Warning: if you take someone into your home, even if they don't pay rent, you become a Landlord and they become your Tenants. As Tenants, they acquire property rights to your house.

To get them out, you will have to evict them. And the courts are closed.

So you are stuck.

Before you make any similar offer, call your lawyer. Understand your rights before you make a decision.

Unfair? It doesn't matter whether you think this is unfair. You'll be stuck as a victim of South Carolina law.

You might ask yourself: "Who makes dumb laws like these?" Call your State Rep or Senator, and ask his or her viewpoint on this law. If you don't like that viewpoint, there is an election coming up.

Vote 'em out.

Teachers' Hours

It's amazing what you can learn from the Richland 2 School District homepage. For example,

"Teacher office hours for assistance with e-learning/remote learning
All Richland Two teachers will have “office hours” Monday-Friday 9–10:30 a.m. and 2:30–4 p.m. During these times, teachers will be available to check and respond to emails. Parents and teachers can also arrange to talk via telephone or video chat during office hours."
https://www.richland2.org/Departments/Communications-Strategic-Partnerships/Flu-and-Coronavirus-Info/Coronavirus-FAQs

Are these the only hours that teaches working?

Are teachers conducting classes by Zoom?

How many hours/week are teachers working?

Remember when they were demanding 15-minute and 30-minute breaks for planning?

Perhaps some teachers will weigh in here and report what their workweek looks like.

Are teachers receiving full pay during the school-closure order by Gov. McMaster.

Just askin'...

Free meals - WHY?

Do you know that Richland 2 School District is providing free meals to all students under 18 while schools are closed?

According to a message on the District's website,

"Children do not have to attend one of these schools to receive free meals. Pick-up at these sites is open to all children under the age of 18 living in Richland Two attendance zones regardless of the families' free/reduced-price meal status."

This is certainly a generous act of the School District, but I wonder when the School Board approved that. I don't recall ever hearing it mentioned at a school board meeting.

Why is the District spending money to feed children whose families have no financial need for such free food?