Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Open Letter to James Manning, R2 trustee

The following message was emailed to Richland 2 trustee, James Manning, after he appeared on WIS-TV with a statement about Lashonda McFadden.


Mr. Manning,


You were interviewed on WIS-TV today as a board member. I didn't hear you say that you were speaking for yourself only and not for the board. For you to say that Trustee McFadden should resign was completely wrong!!!

You have witnessed the disrespect shown to Mrs. McFadden by Teresa Holmes for months. As Vice Chair, you could have worked with Teresa to help her learn how to conduct the office of the Board Chair properly, without the chaos that she has generated. You were the one who nominated her last June 29 for Board Chair, in spite of my beseeching the board to nominate and elect only a board member who was fully qualified to serve as an officer. I believe you knew then that Teresa had never taken the oath-of-office, after she first became eligible to do so on December 4, 2018.

Mrs. McFadden is an elected board member. It's not up to you to express an opinion about her continuing in office. She will, and she should. You owe Mrs. McFadden an apology.

You know how hard Teresa is to work with. Teresa baited Lashonda and, unfortunately, Lashonda fell for it. Teresa has often disrespected Lashonda by constantly interrupting her and talking over her during board meetings. Teresa, as acting chair (never legally having taken the oath-of-office) knew exactly what she was doing by engaging in the confrontation. By her own words, Teresa was egging Lashonda on. Teresa could have stopped it at any time by calling for order; instead, she chose to participate, as is evidenced clearly on the recording.

A general rule of law is that you cannot pick a fight and then cry about being a victim.

Where was your comment when Cheryl Caution-Parker uttered a profanity toward a community member at R2i2 last October? You were silent then; right?

Regarding the sessions with Liz Guthridge, which board members are you talking about who want high conflict? You are not referring to Trustees Agostini, Scott and McFadden. So it must be the others, including yourself.

Please raise the issues of violations of Board Policy BEC by Teresa and by the person who recorded the incident. The law is clear. Teresa doesn't get to decide whether the law about confidentiality can be waived.

Gus Philpott

Lauren: Please provide of copy of this to Nick Neville, Dawndy Mercer Plank and Judi Gaston.

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