How important are words?

One of the things I've learned over the years is how important each word is in a rule, regulation or policy. I notice spelling, case, number, punctuation. Maybe that's why I like editing manuscripts and proof-reading for authors. 

I recall one day at the Sears headquarters in Chicago, when I was discussing a policy with an associate in the Des Moines call center. We were having a conversation that was becoming more and more intense over one sentence in the policy, when I suggested that he fax me the page at which he was looking and I would fax him the page in my copy of the policy. The sentence in question turned out not to be identical. One of them had the word "not" that was not in the other copy. No wonder we couldn't agree!

Now to Richland 2.

In Administrative Rule KI-R the section on “No Trespass” Notices reads,

"District and school administrators, after school or after hours program managers, district security and safety staff, school resource officers or other on-duty, or extra-duty law enforcement officers assigned to work at a school or event may issue a verbal or written “no trespass” notice for the school facility, delay the entry of a person for cause, or ask for the removal any such individual as necessary. On-duty law enforcement officers patrolling a school campus after-hours may also issue a “no trespass” notice to individuals who are not in compliance with a school’s “no trespass” sign or rules, are causing a disturbance, or are not in compliance with a local law while on school property."

I've added the emphasis with yellow highlighting.

Notice the wording "for the school facility". The reference is singular. "Facility" means one building. It does not mean all the properties of the Richland 2 school district. If those who wrote the policy had meant for a trespass notice to apply to ALL buildings, property, etc., the crafters of the section would have used a plural word.

Now, look at the wording in the Trespass Notice letter issued by the District. It reads, "... you are excluded from any and ALL [emphasis in the original] Richland School District Two properties, facilities, campuses and buildings ..."

I am challenging Richland 2 on this point. Marq Claxton exceeded his authority when he broadened the Administrative Rule and banned me from ALL properties. If the District is going to hang its hat on a Board Policy or Administration Rule, they are going to follow it.

I have filed separate and distinct complaints, other than my own grievance, with Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker, and Manning. None responded. When I followed up with Manning on the lack of a response from Holmes to my March 8th complaint, he wrote "You have repeatedly emailed the entire board, members of the executive staff, and Dr. Davis with your complaints. You have received formal correspondence from our board secretary notifying you that a decision has been made related to your grievance."

And right he is. And I shall continue to write and to complain on valid points. They opened the can of worms, when The Core Four failed to investigate the superintendent and his wife, Pamela Davis, for their words and actions on January 25. 

And, on a picky point, that correspondence did not come from the "board secretary". It came from the woman who is Special Assistant to School Board; i.e., secretary to the board, not "board secretary". The (acting) Board Secretary is trustee-elect Amelia McKie, and she isn't even the legal Board Secretary. You have to be a legitimate member of the board in order to be a board officer!