Did you forget about this?

 

Remember that $468,400,000 bond issue way back in 2018 (four years ago) when you approved the End of the Rainbow for Richland 2?

I don't remember how much voters approved for the Performing Arts Center, to be built adjacent to the Taj Mahal (R2i2) on Fashion Drive, but here it comes.

Does this District, with 60% of the students living below the Poverty Line and enjoying the free meals and reduced-price meals, really need a Performing Arts Center?

The District with almost 50% of students getting an F on U.S. History tests... 

It's probably too late to halt or delay that project. Is this an example of uninformed voters just saying "Yes" to whatever was put in front of them? 64.9% of the voters approved the PAC, depending on whether it was approved in Question One or Question Two on the ballot.

Recording secretary botches Minutes. Did Board fire Davis?

On September 13, 2022 the Richland 2 school board evaluated Supt. Davis' performance. They (The Core Four) didn't give him a glowing report, but they did give him a "Meets Expectations" decision and extended his contract for one year.

Take a look at this embarrassing Motion in the Minutes, made by Teresa Holmes and seconded by Amelia McKie:

Mr. Chairmain after reviewing Dr. Davis's report on the Distiricts progress, and considering the Board members comments regarding Dr. Davis's performance I move that we conclude as a Board that Dr. Davis receive an overall meets expectation evaluation for the 2021-2022 school year. I further move that as a result of Dr. Davis's overall meets expectation evaluation that Dr. Davis' employment contract with the District be extended one year. through June 30, 2026. I move that we conclude as a board Dr. Davis Dr. Davis's employment contract

No one has ever taught the board members how to make Motions or taught the recording secretary how to word them. The above motion is verbatim; i.e., as written and entered in the Agenda for the September 13th board meeting. 

Here's that Motion with the errors highlighted:

Mr. Chairmain after reviewing Dr. Davis's report on the Distiricts progress, and considering the Board members comments regarding Dr. Davis's performance I move that we conclude as a Board that Dr. Davis receive an overall meets expectation evaluation for the 2021-2022 school year. I further move that as a result of Dr. Davis's overall meets expectation evaluation that Dr. Davis' employment contract with the District be extended one year. through June 30, 2026. I move that we conclude as a board Dr. Davis Dr. Davis's employment contract

Now, what does this mean - "I move that we conclude as a board Dr. Davis Dr. Davis's employment contract"

Did Teresa Holmes move to conclude (terminate? end? discontinue? cancel?) Supt. Davis' contract?  If so, Supt. Davis is out the door. The Core Four approved that.

How should that motion have been worded?

Motion: to award Supt. Davis an annual evaluation of "Meets Expectations" and to extend his contract to June 30, 2026.

Actually, Teresa never said the words, "I move that we conclude as a board Dr. Davis Dr. Davis's employment contract".

BUT the words are included in the Motion on which the board voted. 

Four board members approved that original motion with all its misspellings and other errors. Inexcusable!!!

Wouldn't it be nice to know what Trustees Agostini, Scott and McFadden had to say about Supt. Davis' performance in Executive Session 2?

How smart are Richland 2 students?

Take a look at this brief summary of some results for Richland 2 students, published in The State newspaper on September 21, 2022.

"Here’s what percentage of students scored an F [emphasis added] in the four core courses on the exam in Richland and Lexington counties. To view results for other county school districts or even individual schools in the state, click here.

"Richland 2 

Algebra: 32.73% 

Biology: 46.06% 

English 2: 14.19% 

U.S. History: 49.74%"

Source: www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article266063151.html#storylink=cpy

Almost 50% of Richland 2 students scored an F in U.S. History. Think about that. 

What gets covered in U.S. History? The founding of this country? The American Revolution? The Declaration of Independence? The Constitution? The Civil War? WW I? WW III? The 1960s? 

Is Richland 2 preparing students for the future???

Supt. Davis had his performance evaluated by the School Board recently. The result? "Meets expectations"  

The Core Four Manning, Holmes, Cauiton-Parker, McKie) gave him that one. Trustees Agostini, Scott, and McFadden were unsuccessful, when they tried to removed the one-year contract extension.

O.K. what expectations?