During the public participation segment of last night's board meeting, I repeated a question that I had been asked by a Richland County Sheriff's Department investigator on March 20, 2019. I had gone to the sheriff's department to read a report filed against me for harassment. The report was filed the previous day by Teresa Holmes.
After I read the report, I pointed out to the sergeant-investigator and his boss the many false statements in the report. (The boss quickly determined that I had done nothing wrong.)
At one point the investigator asked me, in a rather forceful tone, if I wanted Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes "kicked off the board" (his words)..
It felt to me like the investigator was baiting me and expecting a reaction, but he didn't get it.
I paused and calmly told him that I did not; i.e., I did not want them "kicked off the board". I told him that what I wanted was for them to take the oath of office and become legal members of the board.
Keep in mind - this was five months ago. And they still have not taken the oath of office legally.
When I repeated his question at last night's board meeting, it appeared to shock Teresa Holmes. And Mr. Manning, Board Chair, cautioned me not to mention any Board member names in my remarks. I think my response to the investigator's question was lost. I had said "I still do", and I repeated "I still do", meaning that I still do want them to take the oath of office and become legal members of the board.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Last night - a first
Somewhere before the end of the first thirty minutes of last night's school board meeting, Amelia McKie must have excused herself, because I noticed the gap to Lindsay Agostini's left. And, from where I was sitting, it looked like her chair was gone, too, although her nameplate remained on the desk. I didn't notice exactly when she left, but it was shortly after the meeting reached Item 12 on the Agenda. [EDIT. When the YouTube video for this meeting became available, McKie's chair could be seen; it was pushed back and turned sideways behind Holmes' chair, so that it wasn't visible to the right side of the room. She left the meeting at 28:55 on the timer and had apparently pre-arranged her departure. 7/25/19 10:30AM]
It seems to me that there should have been some comment made by the Board Chair to excuse her from the meeting. The meeting began with seven present, plus the superintendent. When McKie left, there were still six. The Minutes of the meeting should reflect her departure and the time.
The question from the public should be, "Where was Amelia McKie?"
To do business, a quorum is required, and a quorum for the Richland 2 School Board is five.
Considering that McKie and Holmes are not official, legal members of the Board, not ever having legally* taken the oath of office, a quorum of five means that Agostini, Manning, Shadd, Caution-Parker and Elkins-Johnson must be there. If all five are not present, business must stop. If McKie or Holmes is not present, it doesn't matter.
So later, when Dr. Elkins-Johnson left the room briefly, a quorum was not present, and the business part of the meeting should have stopped. Without a Parliamentarian to remind them of the rules, how would they know that? The superintendent should know the rules and should prompt the Board Chair, if needed.
* McKie and Holmes took the oath of office on November 13, 2018, but they did so illegally. Each became eligible to take the oath on December 4, 2018 but has never taken it legally. Thus, they are not legal Board members and will not be, until they do take the oath of office.
It seems to me that there should have been some comment made by the Board Chair to excuse her from the meeting. The meeting began with seven present, plus the superintendent. When McKie left, there were still six. The Minutes of the meeting should reflect her departure and the time.
The question from the public should be, "Where was Amelia McKie?"
To do business, a quorum is required, and a quorum for the Richland 2 School Board is five.
Considering that McKie and Holmes are not official, legal members of the Board, not ever having legally* taken the oath of office, a quorum of five means that Agostini, Manning, Shadd, Caution-Parker and Elkins-Johnson must be there. If all five are not present, business must stop. If McKie or Holmes is not present, it doesn't matter.
So later, when Dr. Elkins-Johnson left the room briefly, a quorum was not present, and the business part of the meeting should have stopped. Without a Parliamentarian to remind them of the rules, how would they know that? The superintendent should know the rules and should prompt the Board Chair, if needed.
* McKie and Holmes took the oath of office on November 13, 2018, but they did so illegally. Each became eligible to take the oath on December 4, 2018 but has never taken it legally. Thus, they are not legal Board members and will not be, until they do take the oath of office.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Unusual start to Board Meeting
Tonight's School Board meeting had an unusual start. All board members were in their seats at 6:30PM. Board Chair James Manning began speaking, but there was considerable noise in the room due to conversations in the audience. He did not rap the gavel to gain attention before speaking.
All of whatever he said could not be heard, and then all board members stood and left the room, leaving the superintendent alone at the front of the room. About seven minutes later they all came back and took their seats, and Mr. Manning opened the meeting.
Too bad he didn't speak into his microphone. He said something about the Moment of Inspiration, and next thing I knew people had bowed their heads in silence.
That was certainly inspiring!
And then the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting took off.
All of whatever he said could not be heard, and then all board members stood and left the room, leaving the superintendent alone at the front of the room. About seven minutes later they all came back and took their seats, and Mr. Manning opened the meeting.
Too bad he didn't speak into his microphone. He said something about the Moment of Inspiration, and next thing I knew people had bowed their heads in silence.
That was certainly inspiring!
And then the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting took off.
Teachers: contact Board member re Your Records
At tonight's Richland 2 School Board meeting, there was a long discussion about revisions to Board Policy GBJ, found as Item 12.6, Personnel Records and Files, in the agenda for tonight's meeting.
To read the Policy and proposed revision, click on Item 12.6 in the agenda, and then click on the attachment in the "Agenda Item Details" window that opens.
Dr. Elkins-Johnson raised significant points about whether a Principal or Immediate Supervisor should have access to a teacher's HR records. If you are teacher, you will want to watch the YouTube video, which will be posted on about July 25. The discussion was in progress at about the 59:20 mark on the meeting recording timer.
Dr. Elkins-Johnson was emphatic that a principal and a teacher's immediate supervisor should not have access to a teacher's HR records. Teresa Holmes joined Dr. Elkins in her strong position.
Unfortunately, when the motion was put to a vote, the vote was 2-4 (Failed). Only Elkins-Johnson and Holmes voted in support of limiting inspection of a teacher's HR file.
During the closing comments by Board members and the superintendent, Dr. Elkins requested teachers to let her know how they feel about it.
Email Dr. Elkins at puttingstudentsfirst2012@gmail.com. If you want to telephone her, her phone number is listed on the School Board's webpage.
To read the Policy and proposed revision, click on Item 12.6 in the agenda, and then click on the attachment in the "Agenda Item Details" window that opens.
Dr. Elkins-Johnson raised significant points about whether a Principal or Immediate Supervisor should have access to a teacher's HR records. If you are teacher, you will want to watch the YouTube video, which will be posted on about July 25. The discussion was in progress at about the 59:20 mark on the meeting recording timer.
Dr. Elkins-Johnson was emphatic that a principal and a teacher's immediate supervisor should not have access to a teacher's HR records. Teresa Holmes joined Dr. Elkins in her strong position.
Unfortunately, when the motion was put to a vote, the vote was 2-4 (Failed). Only Elkins-Johnson and Holmes voted in support of limiting inspection of a teacher's HR file.
During the closing comments by Board members and the superintendent, Dr. Elkins requested teachers to let her know how they feel about it.
Email Dr. Elkins at puttingstudentsfirst2012@gmail.com. If you want to telephone her, her phone number is listed on the School Board's webpage.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Where does Amelia McKie live?
A requirement of the Richland 2 School Board is that trustees live within the District.
An easy way to confirm residency is to view the most-recent Campaign Disclosure Report filed with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. The address on the report reveals the confirmation of residency.
EXCEPT when a filer uses a Post Office Box for the address.
Does the trustee live inside the Post Office Box? Not likely. And receiving mail at the United States Post Office with a ZIP Code within the School District boundary is no assurance that the filer actually lives in the District.
The $51.750 Judgment filed on July 10, 2019 against Amelia McKie shows an address in The Summit.
Other legal activity in Richland County Court records shows that address in The Summit. Why would McKie use a P.O. Box, instead of a home address?
An easy way to confirm residency is to view the most-recent Campaign Disclosure Report filed with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. The address on the report reveals the confirmation of residency.
EXCEPT when a filer uses a Post Office Box for the address.
Does the trustee live inside the Post Office Box? Not likely. And receiving mail at the United States Post Office with a ZIP Code within the School District boundary is no assurance that the filer actually lives in the District.
The $51.750 Judgment filed on July 10, 2019 against Amelia McKie shows an address in The Summit.
Other legal activity in Richland County Court records shows that address in The Summit. Why would McKie use a P.O. Box, instead of a home address?
Ignorance and Apathy
Years ago I read a story about a college professor who was addressing a class of senior students. One young man sat in the front row, slouching in his seat and yawning loudly.
The professor addressed him. "Young man, do you know that the two biggest problems of college students today are ignorance and apathy?"
The kid answered, "I didn't know that and I don't care."
What does this story have to do with this blog?
The problems of ignorance and apathy are right here in River City (apologies to Meredith Willson); errr, I mean Richland County. And there aren't new.
In his 600-page tome titled Operation Lost Trust And The Ethics Reform Movement 1989-1999, former Common Cause/SC Executive Director John Crangle wrote:"... the public is often apathetic and ignorant about such scandals." He was referring to major criminal scandals in state governments. (Page 164. ©2017 Published by the Crangle Company, Columbia, S.C.)
Have we got our own "scandal" right here in Richland 2 School District?
Would you care, if we did?
The professor addressed him. "Young man, do you know that the two biggest problems of college students today are ignorance and apathy?"
The kid answered, "I didn't know that and I don't care."
What does this story have to do with this blog?
The problems of ignorance and apathy are right here in River City (apologies to Meredith Willson); errr, I mean Richland County. And there aren't new.
In his 600-page tome titled Operation Lost Trust And The Ethics Reform Movement 1989-1999, former Common Cause/SC Executive Director John Crangle wrote:"... the public is often apathetic and ignorant about such scandals." He was referring to major criminal scandals in state governments. (Page 164. ©2017 Published by the Crangle Company, Columbia, S.C.)
Have we got our own "scandal" right here in Richland 2 School District?
Would you care, if we did?
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Ethics Commission files Judgment against McKie
On July 10, 2019 the South Carolina Ethics Commission filed a $51,750 Judgment in Richland County Common Pleas Court against Amelia McKie. The Case Number is 2019CP4003809.
This Judgment is to collect the $51,750 in fines and fees that she owes the Ethics Commission under Decision & Order No. 2017-023, which was issued on July 3, 2018.
That Decision was based on McKie's failure to file numerous required documents between 2015 and 2018, including Campaign Disclosure Reports and Statements of Economic Interests Reports.
Those reports are required; they are not optional. It would be hard for McKie to say that she didn't know they were required, because she did file at least one report when she was running in 2014 for her first term as a Richland 2 School District trustee.
The 2018 Decision & Order informed McKie that, if she didn't make payments as scheduled with due dates of December 31, 2018, and June 30, 2019, the Judgment would be entered.
And so the Ethics Commission followed through and promptly filed.
McKie can expect further collection attempts to be pursued. Will she pay?
This Judgment is to collect the $51,750 in fines and fees that she owes the Ethics Commission under Decision & Order No. 2017-023, which was issued on July 3, 2018.
That Decision was based on McKie's failure to file numerous required documents between 2015 and 2018, including Campaign Disclosure Reports and Statements of Economic Interests Reports.
Those reports are required; they are not optional. It would be hard for McKie to say that she didn't know they were required, because she did file at least one report when she was running in 2014 for her first term as a Richland 2 School District trustee.
The 2018 Decision & Order informed McKie that, if she didn't make payments as scheduled with due dates of December 31, 2018, and June 30, 2019, the Judgment would be entered.
And so the Ethics Commission followed through and promptly filed.
McKie can expect further collection attempts to be pursued. Will she pay?
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