What is the status of the proposed cell phone tower at Kelly Mill Middle School, located at 1141 Kelly Mill Road, Blythewood?
Following are the recent official comments from the Administration and the School Board about that tower:
" "
That's it. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Ничего.
There was a public information meeting on April 24. The meeting room at the Sandhills Library was packed, and almost everyone thought that their attendance, questions and concerns would be considered by the School Board. Near the end the audience was reminded that it was an "information" meeting. In other words, the purpose of the meeting was to give information. One District staffer was present. No school board member attended.
Few understood that their input that night was little more than words that would never be considered.
At the May 14, 2019 School Board meeting Trustee (and former Board Secretary) Lindsay Agostini asked Mrs. McKie to put a cell phone tower update on the Agenda for a future meeting. To hear her request, watch the video-recording of the May 14th meeting on YouTube. Fast-forward to (3:38:03) on the time-counter.
Be sure to watch this segment of the long board meeting. Supt. Davis finished his lengthy oration about the agenda proposed for May 28 at (3:36:41) on the YouTube recording's time-counter. During his recitation McKie was busy fanning herself; it was not hot in the room. Is she well? Then there was a 20-second delay while McKie stared at her tablet and scrolled forward. During that time she kept Mrs. Agostini waiting.
The Agenda for the May 28, 2019 school board meeting has been published on the District 2 website. There is NO cell phone tower update.
If you want to know the status of the planned cell phone tower at Kelly Mill Middle School, send your written request to Supt. Davis at badavis@richland2.org Be specific about what you want to know. You might want to ask:
Does the cell phone tower at Kelly Mill MS require any further approval by the School Board before construction begins?
When will construction begin?
When will construction be complete?
When will the cell tower go into operation?
How many more cell towers can be built on Richland 2 school grounds without further school board approval?
When was the contract executed for the cell phone towers?
And for how many towers?
Do you want the Board to make a public statement (cell phone tower update) at a school board meeting? Email the superintendent and put your request in writing. Refer to Board Policy BEDH as your authority to make your request. Also, email your school board members.
Board Policy BEDH reads, in part,
"Citizens wanting an item to be placed on the agenda for a specific board meeting should direct requests to the superintendent or board chairman. A citizen must submit a written request for an item to be placed on the agenda a minimum of three business days prior to a scheduled meeting of the board. That request will state the name of the individual or group submitting the request, the address, the purpose of the request, and the topic to be addressed."
Friday, May 24, 2019
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Tell or wait?
If you suspect that a Federal crime is about to be committed, do you tell someone? Or do you wait until it happens and then report it?
If you can prevent its happening, is that best? Should you try to keep people from doing something really bad, especially if all they have to do is pause, realize that they are doing something criminal and make a different decision about an action they are about to take?
If one person in a group is wise enough to perceive the problem and avoid it, shouldn't that be a strong clue to the others?
How big a problem is generated by being a Follower, instead of a Leader?
One of the problems at the Richland 2 School Board is that it is being led, rather than doing the leading.
At the last Regular meeting of the school board (May 14) Amelia McKie said at least twice that the "majority of the board" supports the superintendent. And she said it with emphasis on "majority". Who are those four (or more)? Why would she make such a divisive statement?
McKie might just as well have said, "There are some on this board, the minority of the board, who do not support the superintendent."
I would assert that would be an untrue statement, and I'm glad she did not say those words.
What is the Federal crime that is about to be committed? Can you guess? Put your guess in the Comment box below.
If you can prevent its happening, is that best? Should you try to keep people from doing something really bad, especially if all they have to do is pause, realize that they are doing something criminal and make a different decision about an action they are about to take?
If one person in a group is wise enough to perceive the problem and avoid it, shouldn't that be a strong clue to the others?
How big a problem is generated by being a Follower, instead of a Leader?
One of the problems at the Richland 2 School Board is that it is being led, rather than doing the leading.
At the last Regular meeting of the school board (May 14) Amelia McKie said at least twice that the "majority of the board" supports the superintendent. And she said it with emphasis on "majority". Who are those four (or more)? Why would she make such a divisive statement?
McKie might just as well have said, "There are some on this board, the minority of the board, who do not support the superintendent."
I would assert that would be an untrue statement, and I'm glad she did not say those words.
What is the Federal crime that is about to be committed? Can you guess? Put your guess in the Comment box below.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Recording conversations, phone calls
Have you ever wanted to record an IEP* or other meeting with a school official (teacher, department head, principal, administrator)?
Have you taken a tape-recorder or digital recorder to a meeting? Were you ever told you could not record the meeting, such as an IEP?
Can you record the meeting without telling the other person or persons?
The answer is Yes.
South Carolina is a one-party consent state. At least one party must know that the conversation (phone or in-person) is being recorded. If you are recording it, then you are that "one person".
If I am in the meeting with you and am participating (for example, as an advocate for your child in his IEP), then I can record the conversation.
However, if you and a school employee (or any other person) are speaking by telephone and I'm listening in (and they don't know it), then I cannot record the conversation without the permission of at least one person; e.g., you. If I fail to get the consent of at least one person, then I'm committing a felony. And that won't look good on my resume.
Personally, I think it's a good idea to inform all that the meeting (or phone call) is being recorded. If the other person doesn't want to be recorded, he can leave. Or not speak. I don't like being sneaky. I encourage you not to like it, either.
* IEP is Individualized Education Plan
Have you taken a tape-recorder or digital recorder to a meeting? Were you ever told you could not record the meeting, such as an IEP?
Can you record the meeting without telling the other person or persons?
The answer is Yes.
South Carolina is a one-party consent state. At least one party must know that the conversation (phone or in-person) is being recorded. If you are recording it, then you are that "one person".
If I am in the meeting with you and am participating (for example, as an advocate for your child in his IEP), then I can record the conversation.
However, if you and a school employee (or any other person) are speaking by telephone and I'm listening in (and they don't know it), then I cannot record the conversation without the permission of at least one person; e.g., you. If I fail to get the consent of at least one person, then I'm committing a felony. And that won't look good on my resume.
Personally, I think it's a good idea to inform all that the meeting (or phone call) is being recorded. If the other person doesn't want to be recorded, he can leave. Or not speak. I don't like being sneaky. I encourage you not to like it, either.
* IEP is Individualized Education Plan
School Board abdicates responsibility
Should the Richland 2 School Board abdicate responsibility and pass all the bucks along to the superintendent? Absolutely not!
It is the School Board that is elected by the public, and the School Board is responsible to the public. If a member of the public makes a complaint to a school board member, that member of the public is entitled to a response. And the appropriate response might come from the board member.
Board Policies do a good job at attempting to muzzle board members. And, indeed, board members should be cautious about responding. Any one board member cannot speak for the Board or obligate the Board. But that does not mean a board member cannot respond!
It is the School Board that is elected by the public, and the School Board is responsible to the public. If a member of the public makes a complaint to a school board member, that member of the public is entitled to a response. And the appropriate response might come from the board member.
Board Policies do a good job at attempting to muzzle board members. And, indeed, board members should be cautious about responding. Any one board member cannot speak for the Board or obligate the Board. But that does not mean a board member cannot respond!
Board Policy BBAA, Board Member Authority And Responsibilities includes this condition: "Questions, requests, complaints, and other information presented to individual board members outside of a board meeting by members of the public should be referred to the superintendent."
This is absolutely wrong and "should" should be changed without delay.
There would likely be no reason to avoid informing the superintendent of a complaint, but there should NOT be a condition that the board member must refer it to the superintendent.
This condition rips the floor right out from under the authority of the School Board.
The receiving member might refer the complaint to the superintendent with a request to handle and to include the board member on any written response. If the response is telephonic, then a Memo should be sent to the board member.
Lately, the Board has been inundated with Board Policy revisions "brought forward" by the administration. It will take a Motion by a board member and a decision by the Board to direct the superintendent to prepare a revision to BBAA. Which board member(s) will carry the flag on this one?
Comments, anyone?
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
May Day - at what cost?
From the Richland 2 School District website:
RICHLAND TWO BOARD FORGIVES MAY 1
"During the May 14, 2019 board meeting, the Richland Two Board of Trustees voted to forgive the day of school missed on May 1."
How much did May Day cost Richland 2 School District? No one asked that question at the May 14 school board meeting?
Has the school board directed the superintendent to create a contingency plan for the next time the teachers say they are going to strike?
The school board needs to be reminded that it is Management. The teachers are Labor.
Next time the teachers decide to protest, the superintendent and the school board must be ready. They should have been ready the last time.
Unfortunately, the majority on the school board is sympathetic to the whims of the teachers. Many of the board members vocalized support for the teachers and even said they would be attending the protest.
For this reason, voters should be prepared at the next election (November 2020) to replace those board members who stood in favor of the disruption of schools. Thank them, and show them the door.
At the next election bring in board members who have experience at running a business and understand that it is the Board that directs the superintendent. Direct the superintendent to be prepared to grant a small number of requests for personal leave, so that the business of providing education will not be impaired.
RICHLAND TWO BOARD FORGIVES MAY 1
"During the May 14, 2019 board meeting, the Richland Two Board of Trustees voted to forgive the day of school missed on May 1."
How much did May Day cost Richland 2 School District? No one asked that question at the May 14 school board meeting?
Has the school board directed the superintendent to create a contingency plan for the next time the teachers say they are going to strike?
The school board needs to be reminded that it is Management. The teachers are Labor.
Next time the teachers decide to protest, the superintendent and the school board must be ready. They should have been ready the last time.
Unfortunately, the majority on the school board is sympathetic to the whims of the teachers. Many of the board members vocalized support for the teachers and even said they would be attending the protest.
For this reason, voters should be prepared at the next election (November 2020) to replace those board members who stood in favor of the disruption of schools. Thank them, and show them the door.
At the next election bring in board members who have experience at running a business and understand that it is the Board that directs the superintendent. Direct the superintendent to be prepared to grant a small number of requests for personal leave, so that the business of providing education will not be impaired.
Monday, May 20, 2019
May 20 Special Called Board Meeting
There were eight community members, including some Richland 2 employees, at tonight's School Board meeting, which started at 5:30PM.
For a thirty-minute period prior to this meeting, there was a public hearing on the budget. One person spoke.
How did Richland 2 publicize this meeting? Did it?
On the official Meetings webpage of the District, the Special Called Board Meeting was posted. HOWEVER, it did not state the 5:30PM Starting Time. The announcement contained the boiler-plate language. Here is how the webpage read:
Various members of the Board engaged in private conversations during the 5:00-5:30PM budget input session, since no one else spoke. Other board members were observed reading their phones.
Whose job is it to teach the board members how to conduct themselves during public meetings? There should be NO side conversations. Everything said by a board member should be spoken loudly enough to be heard throughout the room and on the YouTube recording. There should be no use of cell phones during meetings; no texting - sent or received; no email usage, because the public cannot know whether the content has to do with the meeting.
Freedom of Information Act rules apply. No secret conversations during board meetings. Whatever an official says at a public meeting is public and should be heard by all. It's called transparency.
For a thirty-minute period prior to this meeting, there was a public hearing on the budget. One person spoke.
How did Richland 2 publicize this meeting? Did it?
On the official Meetings webpage of the District, the Special Called Board Meeting was posted. HOWEVER, it did not state the 5:30PM Starting Time. The announcement contained the boiler-plate language. Here is how the webpage read:
BOARD MEETINGS
Upcoming Meeting:
Tuesday, May 20, 2019
Special Called Meeting
When — The School Board meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Executive session at 5:30 p.m., and public session begins at 6:30 p.m. Special meetings, work sessions and hearings are held when necessary.
On the way out I was approached by a woman who was showing up for the Board meeting. Imagine her disappointment at having made the trip to R2i2, only to find the meeting was over!Various members of the Board engaged in private conversations during the 5:00-5:30PM budget input session, since no one else spoke. Other board members were observed reading their phones.
Whose job is it to teach the board members how to conduct themselves during public meetings? There should be NO side conversations. Everything said by a board member should be spoken loudly enough to be heard throughout the room and on the YouTube recording. There should be no use of cell phones during meetings; no texting - sent or received; no email usage, because the public cannot know whether the content has to do with the meeting.
Freedom of Information Act rules apply. No secret conversations during board meetings. Whatever an official says at a public meeting is public and should be heard by all. It's called transparency.
New Board officers - June election
The time is fast approaching for the Richland 2 School Board to elect its Officers for the 2019-2020 school year. That election will be on June 25, 2019 at the Regular school board meeting. The officers are elected by the board members. Note: there are, at this time, five legal school board members and two legal vacancies.
Current officers are
Chair - Amelia McKie *
Vice Chair - Monica Elkins-Johnson
Secretary - James Shadd
* The legitimacy of the current occupant in the Chair's role has been under fire since January 2019. Amelia McKie owes $51,750 in fines and penalties to the S.C. Ethics Commission, as of 5/20/19. She took the oath of office on November 13, 2018 in violation of S.C. Code of Laws 8-13-1110(A), before she was legally eligible to take the oath. McKie's term of office as a Board Member and as Chair legally ended on November 6, 2018.
The Officers' term-of-office is July 1 to June 30. The next term-of-office for Officers will not be interrupted by an election.
The School Board members and their current terms-of-office are
Lindsay Agostini (2016-2020)
Monica Elkins-Johnson (2016-2020)
James Shadd (2016-2020)
Cheryl Caution-Parker (2018-2022)
Teresa Holmes (2018-2022)
James Manning (2018-2022)
Amelia McKie (2018-2022)
I hope that the Board might consider these Trustees for positions as Officers:
Chair: James Manning
Vice Chair Monica Elkins-Johnson
Secretary Lindsay Agostini
They have the experience and the integrity to do the job right.
Edited 5/25/19
Current officers are
Chair - Amelia McKie *
Vice Chair - Monica Elkins-Johnson
Secretary - James Shadd
* The legitimacy of the current occupant in the Chair's role has been under fire since January 2019. Amelia McKie owes $51,750 in fines and penalties to the S.C. Ethics Commission, as of 5/20/19. She took the oath of office on November 13, 2018 in violation of S.C. Code of Laws 8-13-1110(A), before she was legally eligible to take the oath. McKie's term of office as a Board Member and as Chair legally ended on November 6, 2018.
The Officers' term-of-office is July 1 to June 30. The next term-of-office for Officers will not be interrupted by an election.
The School Board members and their current terms-of-office are
Lindsay Agostini (2016-2020)
Monica Elkins-Johnson (2016-2020)
James Shadd (2016-2020)
Cheryl Caution-Parker (2018-2022)
Teresa Holmes (2018-2022)
James Manning (2018-2022)
Amelia McKie (2018-2022)
I hope that the Board might consider these Trustees for positions as Officers:
Chair: James Manning
Vice Chair Monica Elkins-Johnson
Secretary Lindsay Agostini
They have the experience and the integrity to do the job right.
Edited 5/25/19
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