As the October 12, 2021 board meeting continued to melt down, the real fireworks exploded during the last ten minutes.
At (2:26:45) the meeting moved into Board and Superintendent Comments, and Trustee Agostini was first up. She thanked those who showed up and who spoke. When she offered an apology to me (by name), Holmes started to come unglued again and slammed the gavel down.
As I wrote previously, Trustee McFadden made a reasoned statement. She acknowledged that the night had been "nerve-wracking". She is a calm woman, and I suspect she tries hard to avoid controversy. She said, "We've got to learn how to get along as best as we can." She added, "We need to act like adults..." Her mentioned that her (campaign) slogan was "Collaboration and Cooperation."
(2:29:45) Trustee Scott was next. Right here is where the meeting headed Due South. Had Holmes heard a word that Trustee McFadden said?
I have already written about the last ten minutes of the meeting, but I find myself thinking about it often. In my many years in business, I don't think I have ever witnessed such a preposterous display of attitude, control and dictatorship as I saw by Holmes that night.
Every rule for the actions of a board chair was violated.
Trustee Scott made a motion. Trustee Agostini seconded it. Holmes completely disregarded it. Why? Because it was aimed at her. The motion was for her to step down until she received ethical training in Robert's Rules of Order. Holmes blew a fuse. Holmes declared that Trustee Scott was out of order (for recommending a training class to the board chair).
Listen to Holmes' constant interruptions and over-talking, while Trustee Scott tried to finish her comments. Scott's motion was seconded.
Holmes said, "Going on to ..." and Trustee Scott interrupted and stated there was a motion on the table.
Where was the superintendent? He must know Robert's Rules of Order. Why didn't he step in and correct Holmes? Then Holmes called on Caution-Parker, who began with her own disparaging comments.
At (2:34:36) "Point of Order" could be heard. It was ignored.
At (2:34:56) Holmes said, "At this time I'm going to make my comments and then we are going to make a motion to adjourn." WRONG MOVE, TERESA. A SECONDED MOTION WAS STILL ON THE TABLE, AND A POINT-OF-ORDER WAS OUTSTANDING.
She said, "I have never seen such a situation as this in my life. It is amazing to me that adult people would use a school board meeting for your own personal political agenda. We are here for children. We are here for children. We are not here - we are not here for this. We all realize that this is a motion and a movement that is going around the country - that this could disrupt (unintelligible) and to do things at a meeting that are not appropriate. So at this time, that's all I'm going to say."
WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN? Trustees Scott and Agostini needed to rise to their feet and state again, POINT OF ORDER. They should familiarize themselves with how to remove the board chair from the balance of the meeting. Should that vote fail, which it would probably do, then Agostini, Scott and McFadden should walk out.
And they should walk out of every meeting that descends into chaos like this one did. Then maybe Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker and Manning would get the message that "The Three" will not tolerate the disrespect and disregard that was shown toward parliamentary procedure tonight by Holmes.
Holmes asked the superintendent if he had anything to say and then did not wait for him to answer.
Holmes made her own motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Caution-Parker (of course). No discussion. Vote: 6-1
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