More Witnesses Wanted. Please call

Were you at the January 25th board meeting?

I'm looking for more witnesses who were there at the time I introduced myself to "that woman" in the front row. You know, the one who turned out to be Mrs. Davis.

When I spoke with her, all I said was, "Hello, my name is Gus Philpott."

What she shouted was, "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! DON'T TALK TO ME! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

If you saw this interchange or know anyone who did, please let me know. Thanks.

gusphilpott@gmail.com

847.971.7083

Is this what she saw, when she looked at me? I even asked this question that night, before I left. Not to her, of course.

Holmes, step down

Below is an open letter to the Richland 2 school board, asking Teresa Holmes to step down as Board Chair.

Members of the Board and trustees-elect Holmes and McKie,

Trustee Agostini's suggestion that the Board learn how to handle the removal of items from the Consent Agenda was exactly correct. The supt. knows. Manning should know. McKie as Board Secretary (sort of) should know.

Teresa's statement that things were done properly was exactly WRONG.

Result? You (Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker, Manning) failed in your fiduciary duty and approved Minutes with major errors. Why would the Board Secretary McKie let you approve Minutes that are not accurate?

The Minutes are supposed to reflect correctly what happened at the previous meeting. How many of you didn't even read the Minutes? If you had, you would have seen that the recording secretary left the "boilerplate", as I called it last month, in the draft Minutes. These Minutes, and the Minutes of the December 14th meeting, should be corrected at the next meeting.

Mrs. Agostini said, "I move ..."

Teresa asked Lindsay if she was making a motion. Please explain to Teresa that "I move ..." and "I make a motion" mean that the Trustee is making a motion. And after all the disorder, ask Teresa not to ask then "Is there a motion?" That makes her look totally incompetent.

If Teresa had been listening to Mrs. Agostini, she would have heard, "I move ..."

I urge you to elect a competent Board Chair for the remainder of the term to June 30, 2022. You're running a billion-dollar business with a $300,000,000+ annual budget. Teresa should step down for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that she is not even a legitimate board member. When she previously (and illegitimately) served as Vice Chair, she should have mastered Robert's Rules of Order and learned how to conduct board meetings.

Gus Philpott

Please share this blog

I am humbled by the rapid increase in readership of this blog. Thanks to each and every reader.

As you know, this blog is not monetized. I write it out of concern for what is happening in Richland School District Two.

Here's how you can "pay" me. Please share this blog with 1-2 other people (or more). Anywhere in the country. If they aren't here in Columbia, S.C., perhaps some of the ideas will help them where they are. My "pay" is the pleasure of seeing the counter rise rapidly. Today, the counter reads 34088.

To share an article, just click on one of the boxes in the string of five little boxes at the end of this article. Enter your friend's (or enemy's) email address.

I never see to whom it sent. I don't keep any records like that. I don't even think a record exists. Well, at least not where I can see it. The more, the merrier. 

And please comment on articles. I understand the hesitation. You may fear retaliation or retribution. I get it. 

I don't even remember if I have to "moderate" comments. I will approve any comment that is not profane or defamatory (anonymously) of others. If you wish to defame someone and I recognize the sender's email, go right ahead. It's your bank acoount, not mine.

Shut down by NextDoor.com

Yesterday (1/30/2022) afternoon NextDoor.com abruptly suspended my account, without notice or warning.

There were two active threads running. I had started one before the January 25th school board meeting, and I had started the second one earlier on Sunday morning.

There were many comments on both.

At 3:40PM Terrence Cummngs posted on NextDoor

Terrence Cummings, Summer Pines LEAD

Gus, just close this post. You can see that others now are not silent about your obsession with the Board.

 

Although I had blocked Terrence sometime back, I received an email of his post. I certainly did not intend to close the post, just because of Terrence's opinion. Is it possible that he had had something to do with the suspension of my account, since he is a neighborhood "Lead"?

This petty "cancel culture" nonsense is continuing to drive a wedge between people in the United States and worldwide. 

I've been in Twitter Jail since June 2020 because of a tweet to Michael Smerconish one Saturday morning. His show about looting on the West Coast, and I tweeted, "Looters should be shot."

I guess I'll have to serve a life sentence in Twitter Jail, because I refuse to retract that statement. It's even truer today.

After much searching, I found a page through Google for the NextDoor Help Center and sent the following message to them. My account was suspended once before. When I complained, it was restored and posts were re-published.

"Please explain, specifically, why my NextDoor account was abruptly suspended on 1/30/2022 without warning or advance notice. I had two active threads running about the chaos with our local school board, Richland School District Two (or Richland 2 School District (or Board)). Please provide your direct email address and phone number, so that I may resolve this as quickly as possible, restore my account and have the two threads restored without loss of content. Thank you."

R2 Board Winter Retreat 2/4/2022

The Richland 2 school board is scheduled to hold a Winter Retreat (fancy word for "workshop") on Friday, February 4, 2022 at R2i2.

Details are non-existent on the District's website. At least, so far. Details will have to be published on the District's website no later than Thursday, February 3rd, 8:00AM.

It may have been originally planned as a Robert's Rules of Order training. We all know the board needs that.

Now it's possible that a portion of the day will be used to address the chaos on the board that only last Friday Teresa Holmes told the world through WIS-TV doesn't exist. Teresa said there is no chaos. She said there are just three chaotic members (meaning Agostini, Scott and McFadden). Holmes was wrong; Agostini, Scott and McFadden are the three cool heads on the board, who are continually stymied by the majority vote of The Core Four. 

Years ago in Denver I heard this line: "They don't. do anything wrong. They don't do anything - and that's what wrong." That applies to thie board. The "They" are the Core Four, who rule (because they are the majority).

While it's a nice line, it does not describe the leadership of this board. Who is the leadership? Better, who could be the leadership? The three officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary

The Chair creates much of the chaos, because she is either ignorant of, or chooses to disregard, common courtesy and Robert's Rules of Order. 

The Vice-Chair contributes to the chaos, because he fails to coach the chair in a way that she learns to conduct meetings properly. There is no evidence that he is telling her what she is doing wrong.

The Secretary, because she allows errors in the Minutes to be approved without corrections and because she clams up, instead of confronting the chair on major errors in protocol during meetings.

Nobody disagrees with Teresa. She continually says everyone is entitled to his own opinion. What she means is, either you agree with her or your opinion is wrong.

The trainer or consultant, whoever he (or she) is, has his work cut out for him on Friday. Will he use integrity* on Friday? Or will he be "nice" (and hope to get hired again).

Will the trainer use Radical Honesty? If you haven't read this book by Brad Blanton, I suggest it. He is "hard core" about telling the truth. You always tell the truth. 

The problem with that philosophy and this board, is that they don't want to hear the truth. If they did, the chaos would have ended months ago and Friday's Retreat would have a different topic.

* Integrity - "to tell the truth, with compassion, from a point of view of personal responsibility." (A definition from a personal growth workshop in Denver in 1983)

District Violates FOIA Response Deadline

On January 3, 2022 I filed a FOIA Request with Richland 2 school district for information about the "gag order" that the superintendent threw at Trustee Lashonda McFadden. McFadden had spoken out at a board meeting about being prohibited from speaking with the superintendent.

What kind of absurd control is that by a school superintendent to try to stifle a school board member???

South Carolina Code of Laws is very clear about the timeline during which a public body, such as a school district, has to respond.

§30-4-30. 30-4-30 (C) Each public body, upon written request for records made under this chapter, shall within ten days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) of the receipt of the request, notify the person making the request of its determination and the reasons for it; (C) Each public body, upon written request for records made under this chapter, shall within ten days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) of the receipt of the request, notify the person making the request of its determination and the reasons for it; 

Ten business days from January 3rd was January 18th.

On January 24 I emailed the District a follow-up and received a reply the same day that the goal was to have it to me by the end of the week.

Of course, that department's workload blew up on Tuesday night.

No doubt the lawyers are figuring out how to avoid giving me the details of just what the communications with Lashonda have been and the communications between the superintendent and the other board members have been about the attempt, if any, to block Lashonda from communicating with the superintendent outside of board meetings.

The Board Winter Retreat is back on the District's calendar (homepage) for February 4. I had thought the Retreat was planned around Robert's Rules of Order and the introduction of a Parliamentarian, who would presumably keep future board meetings from running off the rails. I have since learned that the Retreat may be more for the purpose of trying to eliminate (or, at least, reduce) the chaos, disharmony and conflict between board members.

The Retreat on Friday is a public meeting. The public can attend. I urge you to show up. Take your recorders and cameras. More information to follow on time and location. I am planning to attend, since the District has failed to follow up with any written Trespass Notice.

Teresa Holmes whined to WIS-TV on January 28th that there is no chaos on the board. There are only three chaotic members on the board. Seriously? Has just her body been at board meetings, but not her brain? (Don't answer that.)

Holmes and Manning - Serious Mistakes

On Friday afternoon, January 28, 2022, Board Chair (sort of) Teresa Holmes and Vice-Chair James Manning were wrong to use R2i2 property for their interviews with WIS-TV. By doing so, it led the community and the viewers to believe that they were speaking for the District. They weren't.

They were not authorized by the board to speak about what had happened earlier that week at the January 25th board meeting. For them to do so, the board, as a whole, should have discussed the events and arrived at a decision (by vote) about what should be said and what should not be said.

The board obviously had not done so.

Teresa is quick to say that everyone is entitled to his own opinion. What she means is, everyone is entitled to his own opinion "even if it's wrong" (i.e., different than hers).

Listen very carefully to the words used by each in the WIS-TV interviews.

In a email to the board members on January 29th I wrote, in part, "Trustee Manning made a serious error in his remarks to WIS-TV on Friday afternoon, when he mentioned the part of my previous email (below) about returning to Richland 2 properties, without referring to the failure of the District to provide me with written Notice"

I had emailed Richland 2's security director on January 27, saying in part, "Since I have not received a written Trespass Notice, I shall assume that your verbal Trespass Notice on January 25, 2022 has expired, and I shall feel free to visit any Richland 2 property at any time."

James Manning was the first to respond (two hours later) with "... I made no mistake in my comments. No citizen has the right to put students or staff at risk. ... Your email says you “shall feel free to visit any Richland 2 property at any time”.  This type of statement , in my opinion, threatens student and staff safety. No one can show up in a classroom, on a school playground with children, etc. without following district protocols. You have once again shown that you feel you are above the law and that you do not understand legal and appropriate boundaries."

Of course, Manning made a mistake. He neglected to include my statement about the failure of the District to provide me with a written Trespass Notice. Without that, a verbal warning is just like a verbal warning on a traffic stop. Richland 2 cannot prohibit my use of public property forever with a verbal warning. 

I have requested Supt. Davis to provide me with a written retraction of Claxton's verbal Trespass Notice (warning).

For Manning to intimate that my statement "threatens student and staff safety" is more serious than his earlier error. Keep digging, James.

Illegal Board Meeting on 1/25/2022 (Board Dinner)?

Did the Richland 2 School Board engage in an illegal board meeting on January 25th, before the two bruhahas that happened in the board room?

Now I understand why I was having difficulty determining how closely related in time were my contact with the woman who turned out to be the superintendent's wife, Pamela Davis, and the confrontation involving Pamela Davis with the 14-year-old student and then with Gary Ginn and the superintendent.

Based on information I received soon after the incidents, I believed that the confrontation created by Pamela Davis involving the student had occurred after the executive session. In fact, I have that information in writing.

Something said either in the media or at the board meeting mentioned a board appreciation dinner. When I heard that, I first believed that the dinner had occurred during the executive session which is normally held between 5:30-6:30PM.

When the board re-convened after the executive session, James Manning clarified the ending time of the executive session as 6:50PM. 

Something, somewhere, was said that the executive session was "contentious". I'll have to find that remark.

I noted a hesitation in Manning's comments that night (on the Livestream recording). I recall thinking that he was being careful, even evasive, how to word his comment.

Now I know why.

Did the Board hold an illegal meeting before 5:30PM? Is that when the board appreciation dinner was? If four board members gather in one place, that's a quorum. That's an official meeting. That meeting needs to be announced to the public at least 24 hours before it begins. There needs to be an agenda and Minutes. 

Even if it's "just" a dinner. Or attending a party (like the gathering at the Fort Jackson Commanding Officer's home last fall). The public is due Notice of a gathering of four or more board members. There is too much opportunity for discussing of business. The public is not there to witness it and to be certain that no official business is discussed.

It is critical that a public body (school board) appear every appearance of impropriety. Well, that's what some people think. How does the Richland 2 Board think?

I raised this issue previously with Richland 2, and the PR Department said the District does not have to give Notice of social gatherings. I wish I thought they were right. I don't.

When I was attending City Council meetings in Woodstock, Ill. before I moved to South Carolina, I never thought they would be such good training for understanding the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. I attended a training for Appointed and Elected Officials that was conducted by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. I was not an official and held my questions until the end of the meeting. After the meeting the women from the AG's office told me that my questions were better than any than had been asked by the offcials. 

No Charges by RCSD???

How does a 14-year-old feel threatened at a Richland 2 school board meeting and no charges are filed?

Read the news article on WACH FOX 57, dated January 29, 2022, by Syndi Edwards. The 14-year-old told the reporter that Mrs. Davis said to him, "...you’re an effing child..."

How can the Richland County Sheriff's Department and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor shut their eyes and not file charges against Pamela Davis?

How can the Richland 2 school board not conduct a Special Meeting to uncover EXACTLY who said what, and when it was said?

It's called COVER-UP and White Wash.

And read this article on WACH FOX 57 by Maegan Carter on January 29, 2022. This article containes Richland 2's recitation of the incident. 

I worked at the Sears, Roebuck and Co. headquarters in the late 1990s and had an opportunity to observe first-hand how big business responds to a public incident. Before a statement is ever released to the public, certain officers and the lawyers spend a lot of time crafting the statement to be exactly the way they want it. And obviously to dispel any responsibility for what had happened.

The Richland 2 version in Maegan Carter's article shows just that same type of creative wordsmithing, designed to avoid all blame and to acknowledge no responsibility. 

S.188 Another Good Bill = Ethics Fines

At the Januiary 25, 2022 board meeting I was planning to introduce a Resolution to the school board.

Too bad I got kicked out. But there will be another day. S.188 is languishing in the S.C.Senate, where it has been stuck in the Judiciary Committee for a year. It would prohibit a person from filing for office, if s/he owed money to the S.C. Ethics Commission (or the House or the Senate Ethics Commissions).

Bye, bye, Amelia McKie, if this Bill passes both chambers and is quickly approved by the Governor.

RESOLUTION

The Board of Trustees of the Richland School District Two, being informed of a Bill in the South Carolina Senate, S 188, hereby  submits this Resolution to the Senate and its members.

 

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the People of the State of South Carolina to have only responsible elected officials in public office;

WHEREAS, the list of debtors of the South Carolina Ethics Commission contacts the names of many public officials and candidates for office;

WHEREAS, many on the list are not paying their fines, penalties and fees to the South Carolina Ethics Commission;

WHEREAS, the South Carolina Department of Revenue is not an effective collection agent on behalf of the South Carolina Ethics Commission;

WHEREAS, the debtor’s list dated December 10, 2021, contains the names of approximately 300 debtors owing $2,638,357.04, not counting ethics debts of South Carolina Representatives and Senators.

WHEREAS, this bill, when passed, may entice debtors on the list to enter into payment arrangements to settle their debts before they next file a Statement of Candidacy for any public office.

 

NOW BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Richland School District Two finds that S. 188 is in the best interests of the People of the State of South Carolina and the residents of Richland School District Two and urges the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate to pass S.188 as quickly as possible.

Signed this _________ day of _____________, 2022, in Richland County, South Carolina,  by

 

__________________________________   _________________________________________ 

Trustee                                                                        Trustee

 __________________________________   _________________________________________ 

Trustee                                                                        Trustee

 __________________________________   _________________________________________ 

Trustee                                                                        Trustee

 __________________________________

Chair

No Trespass Notice from Richland 2

Richland 2 school board trustee James Manning made several comments to WIS-TV on-air on Friday on Friday afternoon, January 28.

Among them (1:57) he said "Philpott has talked about staking out board member's homes and taking pictures." His statement is a lie.

What I did discuss with others was trying to learn whether James Manning was living outside the boundaries of Richland 2 School District. Manning and his wife began living separately some time back (two years?), and there was a rumor he was living at their lake house on Lake Murray. If so, then he was not residng in Richland 2, and Board Policy would require him to resign from the board.

There was some conversation about learning whether he drove to his home at 6627 Longbrook Road (29206) after board meetings or whether he left from there in the mornings for work. The address is listed in the public records of the South Carolina Ethics Commission. On January 5, 2022 he filed a  Campaign Disclosure Report (CDR), indicating that he lived at the 6627 Longbrook Road address.

If he didn't live at that address when he filed his Report, then he committed an ethics violation and would be subject to a fine, if a complaint were filed. Would the Ethics Commission fine him $100 for each CDR and Statement of Economic Interests Report filed from that address after he moved out?

Manning telephoned me on January 6, 2022 and told me that he lives in the District at an address across from Dent Middle School. The street number that he gave me for his address does not exist, and I suspect he may have provided his apartment number, rather than the street number for his address. I didn't bother to call him back.

However, the issue may not be dead. When he moved out at the time his wife and he separated, did he at any time reside outside the District? Did he go to the lake house in Lexington County? What would he say under oath? What would she say? When did he lease the apartment near Dent MS? Then he should have resigned from the School Board. "Reside" means live at, sleep, hang your clothes, etc. Would his resignation have to be retroactive? Would he have to repay $800/month for all those months?

Property ownership alone is not sufficient for the residency requirement for the board. One must reside in the District. Perhaps a little deeper investigation is now warranted.

Manning is right that I said I shall go on Richland 2 property at any time. The District has, as of 4:15PM today, 1/29/2022, failed to provide me with a written Trespass Notice. It could have been delivered to me on Wednesday, January 26. Had it been mailed to me that day, it would have been delivered on January 27 or even on January 28. Today in January 29. No Notice.

Was security director Marq Claxton just blowing hot air on Tuesday night? Is his department so disorgaized that they cannot even mail out a form letter?  Did Claxton and his boss think it through and decide they should not issue a Trespass Notice to me? In any event, the Trespass Notice will be found invalid, because Claxton had no grounds to issue it. 

Any cop knows you gather information before you run off half-cocked and start writing tickets (or issuing Trespass Notices), especially when you didn't witness an incident. Claxton was a NYPD cop for years. Maybe things are done differently in New York City.

I emailed Claxton on 1/27/2022 at 8:19PM and copied the superintendent and the full board (including Manning) with this message:

"Mr. Claxton,

"Since I have not received a written Trespass Notice, I shall assume that your verbal Trespass Notice on January 25, 2022 has expired, and I shall feel free to visit any Richland 2 property at any time. I am planning to attend the February 4th board workshop, which was posted on the District's homepage recently (but is not posted there now) and the February 8 Regular Board meeting. ..."

Claxton did not reply.

Should Manning really be more careful to tell the whole truth and not spin his version?

Holmes - no special-called board meeting

Trustees Agostini, Scott and McFadden want to hold a special-called board meeting to discuss placing Baron Davis and Pamela Davis on leave while the mess from last Tuesday night is sorted out.

That's actually a very good idea. Hours will be needed just to figure out who said what, and when it was said.

You certainly can't tell the true story from the District's Update or earlier information, or from the reports in the media.

What did Teresa Holmes say today on WIS-TV?? No special-called meeting, because Sheriff Lott said no charges would be filed.

OK, so no criminal charges will be filed by law-enforcement. What about Poard Policies that were violated by the superintendent and his wife and the disorderly conduct in the board room that the Sheriff and the Solicitor decided not to prosecute?

Board Policy BE reads, "Special Meetings The chairman of the board or a majority of members of the board may call a special meeting of the full board."

So here's the way it works. Teresa Holmes could call a special meeting. She won't because she's such a good buddy of the superintendent. 

A majority of members of the board could call a special meeting of the full board.

Here's how that could work. Agostini, Scott and McFadden want a special meeting.

At least one of Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker and Manning would have to join them.

The truth that every one of the four should join the other three in calling for a special meeting.

The truth is that not even one of the other four will join them. What are they afraid of?

And even if one or more did and a special meeting did get called, when it came time for voting on putting the superintendent or his wife on leave, the vote would be 3-4. That's Agostini, Scott and McFadden in favor; Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker, Manning against. Motion fails.

Did Pamela Davis commit disorderly conduct in the meeting? Should she be suspended? By shouting long and loudly enough to attract security officers? Any other teacher in the system would have been fired the next day.

Should the superintendent be fired? That would cost the District $366,000. Maybe they should just tell him to give up his side-hustles and his own consulting business and devoted his entire time to Richland 2. Oh, and ditch the Premier 100 Men-of-Color Program.

Then his feelings would be hurt and he'd quit. Hopefully, his severance doesn't pay out if he quits. But who knows what the Core Four gave him in his contract.

If he got fired today, he'd start a new job on Monday, at higher pay. No doubt that he has job offers right now. Any severance should immediately terminate upon re-employment at same or higher pay!

McKie could be removed from Board soon

There is a .Bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives that could mean the removal of Amerlia McKie from the Richland 2 School Board very quickly 

S 203 was approved in the House 71-36 on Thursday, Jan. 27. It will probably get the third reading early in the coming week (Tuesday?) and go to the Governor for signature. The new law becomes effective upon approval by Gov. McMaster.

Here's the Bill, after I removed the wording that is to be taken out.

Section    59-19-60.        Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, school trustees who willfully commit or engage in an act of malfeasance, misfeasance, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office or is deemed incompetent or incapacitated must be subject to removal by the Governor upon any of the foregoing causes being made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor. Before removing any such officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity on reasonable notice to be heard. Vacancies occurring in the membership of any board of trustees for any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided for full-term appointments."

Here's what it means.

If Gov. McMaster decides that Amelia McKie's $57,100 debt to the S.C. Ethics Commission falls into one of the above qualifying categories for removal, then she's history.

If Gov. McMaster decides that Amelia McKie has been usurping public office since November 13, 2018, because she did not follow State law (Section 8-13-1110(A)) by filing her Statement of Economic Interests before taking the oath-of-office, and that that failure to file before taking the oath falls into one of the qualifying categories, then McKie will be history.

And so could Holmes be removed.

Teresa Holmes on Facebook

Very early this morning Teresa Holmes posted this comment on her personal Facebook page, "DrTeresa Holmes".

"It's time for the bullies who only represent themselves, a small fraction of this district and throw tantrums like undisciplined children to be brought to light.

"Those of us who are for ALL children need to stand up and say enough is enough. Please, come to the meetings to show support to those who are actually doing the work.

"For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear please take the time to fully watch the interviews below and share on your social media to spread the truth."

In her post she included links to the WIS-TV interviews with Manning and her.

When a teacher says to a student, "You can't talk to me", right after that teacher has a meltdown (is that a tantrum?) at a school board meeting and heard the student refer to her behavior as "childish" (as reported in the media), is that the act of a bully? Is it a bully who refers to a student as "a piece of sh*t" or calls him a "f*cking child"? Who is Teresa talking about?

There is no love lost between Teresa and me. You should see some of the emails she has sent me.

She is an illegitimate member of the school board. She has never taken the oath-of-office legally. Filing the Statement of Economic Interests before taking the oath-of-office Her error is not a "technicality"; it's the LAW.

ARTICLE 11

Disclosure of Economic Interests

SECTION 8-13-1110. Persons required to file statement of economic interests.

(A) No public official, regardless of compensation, and no public member or public employee as designated in subsection (B) may take the oath of office or enter upon his official responsibilities unless he has filed a statement of economic interests ...

Teresa accused me falsely of harassing her in March 2019 and filed a report against me at the Richland County Sheriff's Department. RCSD determined that no crime had been committed. She should have been prosecuted for False Reporting to Police and billed for their time, but she wasn't.

She blocked me from her Facebook page, but guess what? 

Teresa breached Board Policy on January 28 when, on live WIS-TV, she referred to Trustees Agostini, Scott and McFadden as those causing chaos at board meetings. Board Policy BC - Board Member Conduct.

Accept Teresa's suggestion. Come to board meetings. Watch past board meetings on livestream.com/richland2

Then decide for yourself. Who is causing the chaos? Who are the bullies?

Holmes says it was political.

Did you catch Teresa Holmes on WIS-TV today? Did you listen to what she said?

"It's all political."

What could be political about my introducing myself to a woman I don't know? I'm not running for office. Obviously, Teresa already has the November election on her mind. What could possibly be "political" about a non-partisan election?

And then she said, "It's all about the election." 

Seriously? I introduce myself to a stranger and that's about an election? 

And "They want the people to think that this board is in chaos." Well, this Board is in chaos. All you have to do is go to a meeting. If you have a doubt now, you won't have one after one meeting.

And the icing on the cake? "This board has three chaotic members." Well, now there's a true statement for you.

But Holmes meant the "other" three. By "three chaotic members" she meant Lindsay Agostini, Monica Scott and Lashonda McFadden. Could that be slander? Mean-spirited? Disparaging?

Those three are the cool heads on the board who are trying to get the District's business done with integrity and responsibility. 

Holmes herself is one of the board members (keeping in mind that she is not even a legitimate board member) who creates parliamentary chaos. Holmes cannot understand Secondary Motions, loses her place during motions and discussions, and argues with board members who try to exercise their parliamentary rights to speak.

Several meetings ago one board member called a Point-of-Order and continued to do, trying to get Holmes to stop talking and recognize her. Robert's Rules of Order is very clear about what happens in a meeting when a Point-of-Order is called. What did Holmes finallly say? "I AM the Point-of-Order at this time."

How's that for leadership.

As for Manning's comment on WIS-TV. "Philpott is always questioning the Board." Well, why not, James? Am I - are we - just supposed to sit here and watch the board keep doing dumb things? Dumb things, you ask? You want a list? Will you do something with a list? I mean, besides toss it in the nearest wastebasket.

The best thing that voters could do on November 9, 2022 is kick Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker and Manning into retirement.

Actually, the Governor might take care McKie sooner. Stay turned.

Mrs. Davis speaks ---

Was anyone listening?

WIS-TV's Judi Gaston carried a report on tonight's news with a few comments from Pamela Davis, a Blythesood High School teacher, who became upset at the January 25th board meeting when I attempted to introduce myself to her.

Now keep this mind. I was not introducing myself to Mrs. Davis. I had no idea who the woman was. The woman was a black woman who had taken a seat behind me, as I stood talking with two men and one male student in the second row of audience seating.

You don't want to miss that interview. Notice how calm she is. Notice how careful she was with her words. Was it all practiced? Did she prepare for the interview with a coach? Or with one or more lawyers? If so, who paid for them? Were they lawyers on Richland Two's payroll?

The Judi Gaston part of the news was not understandable by anyone who knew what happened.

Mrs. Davis made it clear to me that she did not want to talk, I'll say!! What could be clearer than shouting, "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! DON'T TALK TO ME! GET AWAY FROM .ME!"   That's pretty clear, right?

And so I didn't talk to her. I backed away. Then she skipped ahead to what she says she said to the 14-year-old student. "You are a child. You don't need to talk to me."

Media are reporting what else she said, and it's not fit to be printed here. 

Judi Gaston said that Mrs. Davis was "very uncomfortable with the two men because one of them had sent threatening emails to her husband." Mrs. Davis said: "I felt threatened. I felt targeted."

Maybe that's why she sat down exactly where she did.

I was just waiting for her to add that she felt like a victim and that she felt oppressed. Straight CRT nonsense.

If I were asked today if I knew that woman on TV, I would say, "Absolutely not. I've never seen her before." If I were asked, is that the woman you said Hello to on Tuesday night, I'd say, "Absolutely not."

I received numerous phone calls today about her appearance on TV. I won't say who called. I won't even repeat what they said. It wasn't favorable.

And then there were the quickee interviews with Teresa Holmes and James Manning.

They deserve a different page.

Some good news; some bad news

WIS-TV announced tonight that no charges will be filed after the bruhaha at the January 25th board meeting.

The good news? Philpott and Ginn won't be charged.

The bad news: Pamela Davis and Baron Davis won't be charged.

WIS-TV covered the story at 5 and at 6. Following the 6:00PM News I emailed the reporter with these corrections to her 6:15PM website posting. You can view the website posting here. You can read my statement that I gave to RCSD Tuesday night and the District's "Update" today. 

Reporter Lauren Adams had asked if the three emails furnished by Richland 2 were from me. Here are the corrections I sent her.

None of those emails was from me.

I wonder if you might be open to editing your 6:15PM story.

- "The argument" did not involve "the superintendent, his wife, and three people"

- I did not "try to talk to the superintendent's wife". As provided in my statement below to RCSD, I did not know who she was. I'm a friendly guy, and I said, "Hello, I'm Gus Philpott." With only those words from me, she blew up.

-- A lot happened between her initial reaction and "that person (Gus) was escorted out and told not to return"

- There wasn't an "argument". She was yelling for people not to talk to her, and no one trying to talk to her.

- No argument escalated while I was there; I was seated three chairs away,  with a security officer standing by me, and the superintendent never came over. I don't even think the supt. was in the room. The board meeting had not yet started. He must have been involved in the second incident.

--"After that, the two members of the public were asked to leave and placed on trespass notice."  That would mean three people got booted. I was already gone by the time Mrs. Davis resumed shouting and told Ethan Lopez that he was "a piece of shit". (pardon my repeating the profanity that I was told she said)  It was after that that the Supt. came over (I've been told) and the second man was booted.

- It was about ten minutes after I said "Hello, I'm Gus Philpott" that a security officer finally told me that the woman was Mrs. Davis.

- The statement posted by Richland 2 today is not honest.

Thanks, Lauren. This whole thing is not that complicated, except Richland Two is not telling the truth.

Later I received an text from a person in Columbia. He wrote: "If those 3 emails that the district just talked about on wis are threatening then we REALLY have a problem!! They are really trying to find straws. No smoking gun there!!"

I hope there is someone on the planet who can explain to me why Mrs. Davis wasn't put on Trespass Notice and why the Superintendent wasn't asked to leave the meeting.

Trespass Notice - Expired?

Tonight I sent the following email to the security director, the board, the superintendent and a few other staff members.

Marq Claxton, Security Director, Richland 2

Mr. Claxton,

Since I have not received a written Trespass Notice, I shall assume that your verbal Trespass Notice on January 25, 2022 has expired, and I shall feel free to visit any Richland 2 property at any time. I am planning to attend the February 4th board workshop, which was posted on the District's homepage recently (but is not posted there now) and the February 8 Regular Board meeting. 

Should Mrs. Davis approach me and attempt to engage in discussion or confrontation, I shall immediately seek protection from a RCSD deputy without speaking to her.

Thank you for telling me your name, when I asked in the hallway outside the meeting room. Your two security officers, who walked with me to the front door, refused to identify themselves. One officer did tell me his name was "Officer", but I did not think that was his true name.

Most sincerely,

Gus Philpott

Richland 2 sez: (be sure to read this)

Richland 2's Libby Roof sent this out via the Smore channel. Somebody help me sit down. I'm getting dizzy from the spin. Watch for a future article, correcting the errors in the Richland 2 statement.

Richland School District Two disputes any statement that Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis was the aggressor or instigator in an incident that occurred prior to the school board meeting on January 25, 2022.

 

The two adults involved, who were escorted from the room and notified that they were being put on trespass notice, have a history of outbursts, disruptive and adversarial behavior at and following school board meetings. One individual also has a documented history of sending emails of a threatening nature to Dr. Davis.

 

Prior to the beginning of the meeting on Tuesday, one of the individuals approached Mrs. Davis. She firmly declined to engage in conversation. He refused to respect her boundary and continued trying to engage her. Security personnel intervened and directed the individual to a seat. A short time later, the individual continued to try to engage Mrs. Davis. At this time the second individual joined the conversation. Security personnel intervened. The individual who first engaged Mrs. Davis refused several commands by security to take a seat and insisted on continuing to speak with Mrs. Davis. This resulted in the first individual being escorted from the room and informed he would be placed on trespass notice.

 

Once Dr. Davis became aware that his wife had been harassed, and with the past inappropriate behavior of these individuals in mind, he became concerned for the safety of Mrs. Davis and others in the room. As he checked on her, he observed that she was visibly shaken. Dr. Davis then asked the second individual if he had questions to direct them to him. The individual took a step forward and responded loudly. Security personnel were nearby because of the earlier interaction, and they created a barrier between Dr. Davis and the second individual. At no time did Dr. Davis make any physical or verbal threats toward the individual. Following this, the second individual was escorted from the room and informed he would be put on trespass notice.

 

Unfortunately, this incident has become a distraction and overshadows the accomplishments of Richland Two teachers and students. Dr. Davis and district leaders recognize and appreciate how diligently teachers, administrators and school staff are working during these unprecedented times and ask that for the community’s continued support of the teaching and learning taking place at Richland Two schools.

 

Richland Two parents and community members have a right and are encouraged to be active partners, to ask questions and to express their concerns. The district facilitates numerous opportunities for input via surveys, committees, advisory groups, the district website, ombudsman, social media platforms and public participation at school board meetings. However, these conversations must be conducted respectfully and through the appropriate channels. Further, employees nor their families should be subject to emails, comments and encounters of a threatening nature when individuals disagree with a district policy or direction.

Blogger Stalks Sheriff - Seriously?

This week I was reminded of an incident in 2010 (or was it 2009?) in Woodstock, Ill.

I had been writing a blog and writing many articles about the sheriff's department and several local police departments. www.WoodstockAdvocate.com

The sheriff was desperate to discover the leaks, because I was getting first-hand news about inside problems.

On a Monday morning, the local daily newspaper's headline was something like "BLOGGER STALKS SHERIFF".

What in the world had happened?

The previous Thursday I had pulled into the parking lot of a large grocery story to make a phone call. I often make calls while driving, but I needed to look up the number. I parked way out at the end of an aisle; there were no cars near me for at least 15 spaces.

While I was talking, I became aware of a large white vehicle pulling in alongside me. I looked over and it was a big Chevy Tahoe. The front passenger-side window was down. Guess who it was? The Sheriff. I waved. Did he wave back? Not at all. He sat there and glared at me for about 30 seconds and then drove away.

I thought, "No way am I going to let him get away with that!", and I dialed Woodstock P.D. and requested an officer. A few minutes later a squad car pulled up.

I told the officer what had happened and added, "I refuse to be intimidated. He could have shot me with a throw-away pistol and driven off. Then all you'd have is a body in a red VW Beetle and an unsolved crime. I told the officer I wanted to make a report, but I was not requesting any action. In other words, don't go and arrest the Sheriff today. Just file the report.

The cop said he would write it up at the station and started to leave. I stopped him and asked for the Report Number. Again he said he'd write it up at the station (which meant it was never going to happen). I asked again for the Report Number. Again he started to leave. And again I asked, more demanding that time, for the Report Number.

Finally, he obtained a Report Number over the radio from the dispatcher, which meant he was going to have to write it up. Somebody at the department must have tipped a reporter, who called the sheriff, who apparently said I was stalking him.

Amazing, eh? Probably the first ever that a stalker has been sitting, parked in a grocery store parking lot, making a phone call, and the stalkee pulled up, stopped for 30 seconds and drove away.

A year later, I heard just how lucky I had really been that day.

The morale of the story. If you have any doubt that a cop is actually going to write up a report, demand the Report Number.

Lights, Camera, Action

OK, folks, here's the new rule for attending board meetings.

Have your cell phone in your hands throughout the meeting. Learn how to begin recording quickly. Be familiar with the sequence of steps so that, in an instant, you can aim your phone, hit Record, and preserve what happens.

I was caught flat-footed Tuesday night. I admit it. But never again. I have already completed this morning's practice with my phone. With four taps, I can be recording. No scrolling. No hunting. No delay,

Your phone might even have a voice-actuated Unlock feature. Or voice-actuated Record function.

You can believe that I wish I had recorded Pamela Davis' outburst.

I wasn't there to personally witness Pamela's verbal display of bad manners toward the 14-year-old student or Baron Davis' rush that worried Gary Ginn so much that he filed a complaint with RCSD. 

And what about when Baron Davis was asked to have his wife leave the meeting room? What was his response to that?

Who is in control? Is the Board in control, or does the board (the majority, in the form of The Core Four) kowtow to Baron?

If you want to, bring your video camera or still camera with telephoto lens. Snap away throughout the meeting.

Public Participation at 1/25/2022 Board Meeting

Be sure to watch the Public Participation segment of the January 25th board meeting.

Go to livestream.com/richland2 and select the January 25th meeting. Then fast-forward to the 1:55.46 mark.

Each speaker gets three minutes. There is a timer right in front of the speaker and also projected on the screen, so that Holmes can be ready to smack down her gavel, should a speaker attempt to utter a word past the 3:00:00 mark.

At 1:55:46 Holmes begins her lecture about what speakers can and cannot do. I don't know who wrote that for her; maybe her $45,000/year secretary that Baron Davis arranged. Holmes didn't even understand what she was reading. More about that, but first the speakers

2:00:49 Kimberly Mingo. When she mentioned that her child attended Lake Carolina Upper, Holmes pounced. The mom is addressing the board about how the school is prohibiting her 5th Grade child from using a medically-prescribed nebulize, and Holmes is worried about the name of the school. How stupid!

2:04:11 Jonathan (last name unintelligible by Holmes)  About the damaging effects of the masks

2:07:30 Melissa McFadden

2:13:45 Crytsal Masincupp

2:17:10 Ethan Lopez

Ethan is a student at Ridge View High School. Notice his composure. This is after Baron Davis rushed Garry Ginn and after Pamela Davis cursed at him. He didn't even get rattled when Holmes rudely interrupted after Ethan spoke the forbidden words, "Dr. Davis".

When Holmes read the rules for speaking, she didn't even realize she was addressing the portion of Board Policy BEDH that covers "Agenda Items". That policy provision is never used, because this board never allows speakers to sign up, in advance of the meering, to address a specific Agenda Item at the time it is discussed. So she rattled on and on about a provision that doesn't apply.

Holmes also said that the Board doesn't have to allow Public Participation. In other words, you boys and girls had better mind your Ps & Qs, or we won't let you speak at meetings. What gall the board chair displayed with such a comment! And notice how often she used the "royal We".

Maybe we should all bow down to the King and Queen before we begin our comments and definitely again at the end, after we have received their grace and benevolence and been "allowed" to speak.

Speaker, state your name clearly at the beginning of your remarks. 

What is RCSD's role at school board meetings

The RCSD deputies did a fine job Tuesday night at the disruptive meeting, when Mrs. Pamela Davis was emotionally out-of-control.. 

Throughout their entire interaction with me, the deputies were completely professional, courteous and appropriate. They observed only. And that's their role. They are not there as additional security for Richland 2. 

They are probably there under a Special-Duty Agreement between the Sheriff's Department and the Richland 2 School District. If the Agreement is anything like the same-named Agreement with the Summit homeowners' association, deputies are not at R2i2 to enforce the rules and procedures of Richland 2 School District.

Deputies are there to enforce the laws of the County and of the State. 

That's why I was escorted off the property by R2 security officers, not by a deputy. 

I laugh at the "escort" part of that sentence. The R2 security officers were over their heads and didn't have a clue what to do. After I picked up my materials from the chair in the meeting room, two of them were standing there. I asked, "Are you going to escort me off the property?"

Who was in control then? I was. 

When I walked out of the room, they followed. Some "escort", right? Baron Davis ought to hire me to run his security department, not whoever didn't train the security officers! They followed me across the second floor hallway and onto the escalator. As we rode down to the first floor, I asked them for their names. When we got to first floor, I stopped to write down their names.

One of them stood there, dumb (speechless). The other said, "Officer." Seriously? Did his mommy name him "Officer" at birth, forseeing his future employment? Both refused their names. Maybe they weren't trained to remember their names? Maybe they were new. They were not security officers I had seen before.

If Baron Davis and Teresa Holmes are concerned about safety and security at school board meetings, they need look no further than Baron Davis and Pamela Davis. THEY are the ones who should have been ejected and placed on Trespass Notice.

Did RCSD deputies witness Pamela being disruptive toward me and conducting herself in a disorderly manner? Perhaps they were out of the meeting room. Did they observe her cursing at the 14-year-old? Did they observe Baron rushing towared Gary Ginn? Those were crimes.

Who caused the problems Tuesday night?

Who was it who caused the problem at the school board meeting on January 25th?

Well, I guess I must take the blame and the responsibility. I confess. I did it. I started it.

What horrible thing did I do, just before the board meeting convened at 5:30PM?

Ready for it? 

I noticed a black woman (color will be important; wait for it - future article) sitting alone in the front row of chairs. I made the horrendous, grievous error of attempting to be friendly. I stepped in front of her, so as not to surprise her by speaking from behind her, and I said those terrible words, "Hello, I'm Gus Philpott."

Little did I know that those four words would strike such terror and fear in her heart. You'd have thought the Devil was on her doorstep.

She abruptly and rigidly turned away from me, and then turned back, shouting, "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. DON'T TALK TO ME. GET AWAY FROM ME!"

It was almost like, "Satan, get thee behind me!"

I did step away and get behind her (well, not directly behind her), but she turned around and kept shouting, creating great disruption, upset and disorder right in front of two other men and a 14-year-old student from Ridge View High School.

R2 security officers came over and one of them pointed me to a chair about 15 feet away, telling me to calm down and be seated.

Calm down? I was calm. That woman, whose name I did not know, was the one creating the disorder.

They must have know that she was Pamela Davis, wife of Supt. Baron Davis. I didn't know that, and I didn't learn that for about ten more minutes.

My thanks to Gary Ginn (who was later ejected from the meeting). What evil deed did he commit? According to reports, he intervened between Pamela Davis and the 14-year-old studnet, at whom Pamela was cursing.

What's wrong with this picture? Pamela is cursing a minor in a school board meeting on school property, and Ginn get ejected from the meeting?

Why do I thank Gary? When the R2 security guard was asking me to have a seat (and calm down (although I was calm and always had been)), Gary came over and told me to just sit down. Sit down. I'm appreciative of Gary for doing that. Thank you, Gary.

Who continued to cause a problem and who added to the disorder and disruption?

I've read some of the police reports and media reports. The answer is: Pamela Davis and Baron Davis. 

But I wasn't there to see it, because R2 Security Director Marq Claxton had put me on Trespass Notice and ordered me out of the building and off school property.

For what? I'll be calling Claxton today to find out.

Months of Threats? Baloney

Supt. Baron Davis told the Post and Courier about "months of threatening messages to board members and him.

Has he been drinking the same Kool-Aid as the National School Boards Association?

I'd like to see his stack of threatening messages. Has he reported each and every one to the Richland County Sheriff's Department? to SLED? to the FBI? Well???

See today's article, which follows disruptive actions by both Supt. Davis and his wife Pamela Davis, a teacher at Blythewood High School, at the January 25th school board meeting.

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/richland-two-board-member-wants-superintendent-placed-on-leave-after-confrontation/article_6cc22606-7ef6-11ec-9318-7bb2c58b6730.html

He told the reporter that he was concerned about the safety of his wife and other school officials.

Why did Mrs. Davis shift into violent, angry, shouting mode, when I introduced myself to her last night? Has Baron been taking too much work home?

She had a hair-trigger anger-control mechanism, or maybe none at all. And that's how she was in public, with plenty of school security officers and sheriff's deputies all over the place.

At each school meeting I have thanked the deputies and security officers for being there to protect the public from the school board. Now I'll also thank them for protecting us from the superintendent and his wife.

I didn't know about Trustee Scott's request to put both Davises on leave during an investigation. That should happen. It won't happen, because The Core Four (Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker and Manning) will vote against it. Agostini, Scott and McFadden will vote in favor, but the vote to discipline will be 3-4 and fail.

Teresa Holmes, herself an illegitimate member of the Richland 2 school board, flat out lied to the Post and Courier, when  "Holmes told The Post and Courier that the people at the center of the disruption before the meeting have been part of a coordinated effort similar to other areas of the country to disrupt board members and oust those they feel disagree with them politically."

Just last night Holmes spoke about slander and libel. I'm sure my attorney will be interested in her comment. I can state unequivocally that I am not, and never have been, part of any such coordinated effort. 

The people who caused the disruptions last night were Baron Davis and Pamela Davis. Baron earns $244,000 from Richland 2, and Pamela Davis earns $78,000+. Disgusting, isn't it? And Baron draws additional money from his side-hustles; at least three of them.

Baron Davis played with race card with the Post and Courier reporter. 

People don't dislike him because he's black. Just like people don't dislike Holmes and McKie, because they are black. It's not the "black" part that people don't like. It's "who" they are, all three, that people don't like. I wouldn't like them if they were white, brown, red, yellow or green or any other color. 

Richland 2 "Trepass Notices" - how many?

How many residents of the Richland School District Two have been issued Trespass Notices by the school district?

I know of two. 

But there must be more. Read this great article in FitsNews 

https://www.fitsnews.com/2022/01/26/south-carolina-superintendent-brawls-with-parents-at-school-board-meeting/

Start asking around. Let me know. Ask parents and community members who received Trespass Notices to contact me at gusphilpott@gmail.com or just post a comment below.

The Trespass Letter I saw a couple of months ago provided no End-Date or Appeal Process. That doesn't mean there isn't either.

Should the District, in its "infinite wisdom", actually issue one to me, it will find I shall react with every legal means available to me. 

A friend today asked me what would satisfy me.

First, let me say what will not satisfy me. If I get a call from Baron Davis or Pamela Davis, and he or she says, "Nothing personal, pal", that's not going to cut it.

A sincere written apology?

Rescission of  the expected Trespass Notice?

That'll be a start. But then it's going to cost the School District "a little something" for the defamation that occurred last night, when Security Director Marq Claxton threatened me with the Trespass Letter. 

Chair's flop on Procedure; Holmes wrong AGAIN

(Sort of) Board Chair Holmes blew parliamentary procedures AGAIN on the Consent Agenda.

Result? The official Minutes of the January 11, 2022 meeting have been approved WITH MAJOR ERRORS.  But does the board, including the Board Secretary, care???

At the January 25th board meeting, when the Consent Agenda was to be approved, McKie made the motion and Caution-Parker seconded.

Trustee Agostini moved to remove the Minutes of the past meeting from the Consent Agenda. 

What did Holmes say? She asked if Trustee Agostini was making a Motion. HELLO??? DUH......

How many meetings will it take to train Holmes in parliamentary procedures??? When someone says, "I move...", she is making a motion. Somebody, please explain that to Teresa. The supt. should explain it to her. Manning, the Vice-Chair, could/should explain it. McKie, the Board Secretary (sort of) could explain it. Maybe.

I've written before that, as soon as Agostini begins speaking. Holmes stops listening. That's part of the problem. She doesn't want to hear anything Agostini says.

At the last meeting the superintendent confirmed no Second was necessary.

Then Holmes embarrassed herself by asking if Agostini had a reason for wanting the item removed.

THAT IS THE WRONG QUESTION, and she has no right or duty ot ask it. 

Holmes should have called for Discussion, explaining that no second was required. Then, during discussion, Agostini would have explained. The only thing that Agostini needed to say was that there were serious errors in the Minutes. And the Board then should have approved her secondary motion. That item would then be off the Consent Agenda and handled separately, after the remaining Consent Agenda was approved.

Agostini withdrew her motion, suggesting that the board should learn how to handle a Board member's request to remove an item from the Consent Agenda.

Holmes said it was addressed properly.

THE FACT IS THAT IT WAS NOT !!!

And then Holmes asked for a Motion on the Consent Agenda. Holmes cannot even keep track of what's happening. Why not???

If you ever want to know whether Holmes has been wrong about something, ask her. I'm sure she'll tell you she has never been wrong!

We aren't deplorables. We are Disruptors.

Now we know who we are. According to James Manning, we are "Disruptors". 

Listen to the board comments after the COGNIA report on the District. They started about  8:15PM, and I'll find the timer-marker after the recording is posted. This is in the livestream.com/richland2 for January 25, 2022.

Manning clearly doesn't like anyone who disagrees with him (or the Core Four).

EDITED 1/26/22

I received a long email about COGNIA last night from a Richland 2 professional. I didn't watch the full COGNIA report online, but I'll do that. I remember having a negative reaction to the portion that I did watch, especially Supt. Davis' glee about COGNIA's report that Richland 2 wasn't doing enough in the equity area.

Seriously?

Overnight I thought more about Manning's use of the word "disruptors". Mrs. Davis' outburst certainly was more disruptive in a board room than anything i have seen since my first meeting in February 2018, two weeks after the Parkland, Fla. shootings.

I'm still confounded by her outburst. When I first greeted her (I didn't know who she was) with a friendly, "Hello, I'm Gus Philpott", she instantly turned aside, to her left, unwilling to even look at me. Then she shouted, "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. DON'T TALK TO ME. GET AWAY FROM ME."

You'd have thought I was the devil incarnate. Maybe she saw a red suit, horns and a pitchfork. 

TRESPASS!!!! Philpott kicked out of 1/25/2022 board meeting!

So much for positive race relations at Richland 2!!!

Shortly before the beginning of the executive session, and before the board members took their seats, I was speaking with two men and one male student. I noticed a black woman seated in the first row. I'm a nice guy, not racially biased, and I stepped over in front of her and said, "Hello, I'm Gus Philpott."

WW III started. She said, very loudly, "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! DON'T TALK TO ME! GET AWAY FROM ME!" 

I immediately stepped back. I was shocked. Who would respond to a polite Hello like that?

PAUSE

I have to write up a statement for the Sheriff's Dept.

An R2 security officer told me it was Mrs. Davis who yelled at me.

Security Chief Marq Claxton put me on Trespass and ordered me off school property.

Stand by for News. (You remember Paul Harvey; right?)

CONTINUED

Page 2 (Thanks, Paul Harvey)

I have filed a report with the Richland County Sheriff's Department about tonight's reaction by Mrs. Davis. 

I'm not going to put all the details here - yet.

In the meantime I seem to have joined the Trespass Club, which means I cannot be on any Richland 2 property. I'll get the "infamous" letter in a few days.

I expect Baron Davis to stand up for me and against his wife. An apology won't be enough, but it would be a start. Sure hope that doesn't cause him another health event. Could she yell like that at him?

What IS Critical Race Theory?

If you really want to know what Critical Race Theory (CRT) is, this one-hour, fifty-minute video is one to watch.

https://rumble.com/vt13zi-opposing-views-is-critical-race-theory-solving-anything-james-lindsay-and-v.html

"Critical Race Theory is calling everything 'racist' - until you control it." This is the opening comment by James Lindsay. He explains his background at the beginning of the interview.

I'm only 21 minutes into the interview. I urge you to watch it.

It's too bad he wasn't at a recent Richland 2 School Board meeting, when Helen Grant couldn't answer Trustee Lindsay Agostini's question about what CRT is. Grant mentioned Delgado, too; only she pronounced his name "Degaldo". If you don't know what CRT is, how can you talk about the differences between CRT and culturally-relevant teaching (pedagogy).

Be prepared to listen "fast". Lindsay could give a 2-hour talk in 20 minutes!

Meeting Announcements - longer, longer, longer

Remembder, back in the good, ol' days when board meetings were announced with "The next board meeting will be (     (date)_   )?

Now, it's 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2022

 

 RICHLAND TWO BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MEET TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Richland School District Two Board of Trustees will hold a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.

The board meeting will be called to order at 5:30 p.m. and the board will immediately adjourn into executive session. Public session will resume at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the R2i2 Conference Center located at 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, 29229. At the board meeting, visitors will be required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Click the following link to view the agenda for the January 25 Board Meeting: http://go.boarddocs.com/sc/rsd2/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C2WNES5AC3BE

Public Participation is on the agenda for the January 25 meeting. Comments may be received from any Richland Two student, parent/legal guardian, resident, property owner, business owner, or Richland County elected official. All persons who wish to comment during Public Participation will fill out the appropriate form and sign-up sheet at the meeting before the public session of the meeting begins.

In order to allow for social distancing due to COVID-19, a safe distance between the public and the board, and to ensure adequate access for emergency personnel, capacity for the members of the public who wish to attend the meeting in-person is limited to 50. In case that capacity is reached and to provide members of the public the ability to watch the board meeting from the safety of their home, the meeting will also be streamed live at www.richland2.org/livestream.

As the lobby closes to the public at 5 p.m., citizens attending the board meeting will not be allowed to linger in the lobby. Citizens attending the board meeting will be directed to the meeting space upon arriving at R2i2.

The public will not be allowed to protest or loiter in front of the main entrance. This is for safety reasons to allow emergency access into the building and for others who have other business to enter the building.

In an effort to effectively maintain a safe environment, any person attending the meeting who is out of order, loud, disruptive, making inappropriate comments, and/or a safety concern will be asked to be seated or leave by a security officer. If the person does not comply, a Richland County Sheriff Deputy will escort them off the property.

No signage or other objects will be allowed into the facility that could either be a distraction or used as a weapon.

UPCOMING BOARD MEETING: Board Winter Retreat on February 4, 2022

Don't miss the implied threats, if you look at the wrong person cross-eyed. Don't use your public property R2i2 property). Don't complain about infringement on your Constitutional Rights. 

Don't protest or linger; where's the line between that and "peaceable assembly"? Don't they realize that the public is smart enough to get out of the way, if the paramedics, police or fire show up?

Who determines whether someone is "out of order, loud, disreptive, making inappropriate comments"? Who is going to eject Teresa Holmes next time she pulls any (or all) of those prohibited stunts - IN a board meeting?

Who decides whether a sign or "object" could be a distraction or used as a weapon? Is my tape recorder or phone a "weapon"? A distraction? In whose judgment???

The Board Winter Retreat will include a Robert's Rules of Order (RONR) training. That ought to be "interesting". It's a board meeting and open to the public. Want to hear what they hear about RONR? How often will the trainer say, "You can't do what you've been doing!"