The following letter is being emailed to the five legal trustees of the Richland 2 school board and the two trustees-elect who are usurping public office by acting like board members. A copy is being sent to the attorney for the District and to an attorney who has previously provided FOIA and Robert's Rules of Order training to the board.
Members of the Board (and trustees-elect Holmes and McKie),
Last night's board meeting opener was memorable, and not in a good way.
When Mrs. Agostini asked for her Nay vote to be counted in the vote to approve going into executive session, Holmes replied, "I don't need to ask. I'm conducting this meeting, Ms. Agostini, and I'll conduct it how I see fit."
Wow! If this portends the manner in which future meetings will be conducted, I urge you to purchase your own copy of Robert's Rules of Order and to hire Attorney Helen McFadden to return and conduct a thorough training in the correct way to run a meeting, including Open Meetings and FOIA. The District should hire an independent parliamentarian (not an employee, who would be subject to termination for going against the chair or the superintendent). I urge you to confer with your personal legal counsel to determine the extent of personal liability you have, should you not object to abuse of procedures.
The "Holmes Way", the "I'm the Queen and I say so", is not the right way to run a meeting. Please review Board policy about respecting one another.
Robert's Rules of Order §4:35, reads, in part: "The chair must always call for the negative vote, no matter how nearly unanimous the affirmative vote may appear ...if any member objects, the chair must call for the negative vote."
Board Policy BC Board Member Conduct states, in part, "Work harmoniously with other board members without trying either to dominate the board or neglect one's share of the work." Did Holmes violate that policy last night? What are the consequences for violating a board policy?
Holmes owes Mrs. Agostini an honest, sincere and public apology.
Later Holmes was incorrect when she advised parents with questions about masks to contact the Ombudsman or a board member. The correct answer is to contact District Administration.
Is there even still an ombudsman? I emailed her on July 10, 2021 and have not received an acknowledgement or reply.
Holmes is not even a legitimate member of the board, and she was not eligible to be nominated to the position of board Chair. McKie is similarly not a legitimate board member or legitimate board Secretary. Teresa Holmes and Amelia McKie have never taken the oath of office (legally). The oath that was administered on November 13, 2018, has no meaning whatsoever, because neither was eligible to take the oath on that date. And they have not taken the oath legally since becoming eligible on December 4, 2018.
The District filed fraudulent, notarized oath of office documents with the South Carolina Secretary of State. Holmes and McKie are usurping public office, and Holmes and McKie should be prevented from taking seats at the board. The five legal members of the board can act.
As a resident in Richland 2, I ask each of you to step forward and insist on a correction to this most serious problem.
Sincerely,
Gus Philpott
www.Richland2.info
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