Earlier this year I commented on the usefulness of Robert's Rules of Order for running board meetings.
There was nary a peep from District 2 about it.
Then this past week-end I happened across Board Policy BE Board Meetings. Even though meetings are frequently long (and any outsider or consultant could tell them why), Policy BE is short.
It includes Parliamentary Procedure". Imagine that!
"The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order will govern all matters not covered by the rules of the board." Last revised 8/8/17.
Should the School Board utilize a professional parliamentarian? Could this help shorten meetings from four hours or from the two hours 40 minutes of the October 29, 2019 meeting?
What do you think the Board should do to shorten meetings? Please comment below.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Saturday, November 9, 2019
State of the District Meeting
Do you know about this public meeting?
Register for this free event on www.EventBrite.com. Search for "Richland 2". Registrations are accepted through November 13, even though the notice says November 7.
Just a few questions for Richland 2:
Why is this held on a Thursday morning, when most parents will be working or at home with kids? Sure, it's convenient for staff, but ...
Why isn't this event given prominent display on the District's website? Shouldn't it be on the homepage or at least listed in the events when you scroll to the bottom of the homepage? Or on the District's Calendar?
Will any members of the school board attend? They will have to be careful of the "rules" in order to avoid the breakfast becoming a "public meeting", subject to posting and Open Meeting rules under South Carolina FOIA rules. As of this morning, it is not listed an an upcoming public meeting.
Is the "Columbia Chamber" the Columbia Chamber of Commerce? This event is not listed on the Chamber of Commerce website, although a Small Business Northeast Connection Roundtable is scheduled on the Chamber's website at R2i2 on November 19.
Does Richland 2 consult with the public?
Title 59 Education, Chapter 19 School Trustees, Article 1 School Trustees requires school trustees (Richland 2's Board of Trustees is supposed to contain seven legally-seated trustees) to consult with the public.
According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, it's not optional; it's mandatory. The operative word in the Section is "shall".
The Section reads, in part,
SECTION 59-19-90. General powers and duties of school trustees.
The board of trustees shall also:
(4) Call meetings of electors for consultation. Call meetings of the qualified electors of the district for consultation in regard to the school interests thereof, at which meetings the chairman or other member of the board shall preside, if present;
The board of trustees shall call meetings ... for consultation.
Unfortunately, the legislators were sloppy in crafting this Section. There is no reference to frequency of such meetings. Or maybe they weren't sloppy' maybe they were just crafty. Did they realize they left the teeth of that Section? Of course, they did. Everything they do is carefully constructed to include, or exclude, certain words, meanings, requirements, directions.
When was the last meeting? When is the next meeting? Does the board actually "consult" with electors (voters)? Or does it do all of the talking and none of the listening?
Look at the wiggle room in the statute. There is room for none of the school trustees to attend. Amazing! who is to preside? "the chairman or other member of the board shall preside, if present." So who presides if no one from the board shows up? And how can the board consult with the public, if none of the board shows up???
According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, it's not optional; it's mandatory. The operative word in the Section is "shall".
The Section reads, in part,
SECTION 59-19-90. General powers and duties of school trustees.
The board of trustees shall also:
(4) Call meetings of electors for consultation. Call meetings of the qualified electors of the district for consultation in regard to the school interests thereof, at which meetings the chairman or other member of the board shall preside, if present;
The board of trustees shall call meetings ... for consultation.
Unfortunately, the legislators were sloppy in crafting this Section. There is no reference to frequency of such meetings. Or maybe they weren't sloppy' maybe they were just crafty. Did they realize they left the teeth of that Section? Of course, they did. Everything they do is carefully constructed to include, or exclude, certain words, meanings, requirements, directions.
When was the last meeting? When is the next meeting? Does the board actually "consult" with electors (voters)? Or does it do all of the talking and none of the listening?
Look at the wiggle room in the statute. There is room for none of the school trustees to attend. Amazing! who is to preside? "the chairman or other member of the board shall preside, if present." So who presides if no one from the board shows up? And how can the board consult with the public, if none of the board shows up???
What happened one year ago? 11/9/2018
On November 6, 2018 Amelia McKie was re-elected to the Richland 2 School Board, and Teresa Homes was elected to the School Board.
What happened on November 9, 2018?
On November 9 the Richland County Elections Commission certified the November 6th School Board election.
What did this mean?
This meant that McKie and Holmes were "qualified" to serve on the School Board. But only "qualified". Not yet "eligible" to serve.
How were they to become "eligible"?
To become eligible, they would have to file Statements of Economic Interests with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. After doing so, they would then be "eligible" to take the oath of office.
BUT they did it backwards. They took the oath of office on November 13, and they didn't file their Statements of Economic Interests until December 4, 2018.
This meant that the oath of office, taken on November 13, had and has no legal force or effect. In other words, they did not become legal members of the School Board when they took the oath of office.
And because they have not taken the oath of office since December 4, 2018, they have NEVER become legal members of the Board.
What does that mean? Come back here on November 13, 2019.
What happened on November 9, 2018?
On November 9 the Richland County Elections Commission certified the November 6th School Board election.
What did this mean?
This meant that McKie and Holmes were "qualified" to serve on the School Board. But only "qualified". Not yet "eligible" to serve.
How were they to become "eligible"?
To become eligible, they would have to file Statements of Economic Interests with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. After doing so, they would then be "eligible" to take the oath of office.
BUT they did it backwards. They took the oath of office on November 13, and they didn't file their Statements of Economic Interests until December 4, 2018.
This meant that the oath of office, taken on November 13, had and has no legal force or effect. In other words, they did not become legal members of the School Board when they took the oath of office.
And because they have not taken the oath of office since December 4, 2018, they have NEVER become legal members of the Board.
What does that mean? Come back here on November 13, 2019.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Teachers - are you subject to Misconduct?
Notice to Richland 2 Teachers:
When the School Board approved the revision of Board Policy GBEB Staff Conduct on October 29, 2019, did you become subject to risk of a Misconduct charge?
At the October 29, 2019 School Board meeting, that seemed to be the case. But the wording in GBEB got changed somewhere between the end of the Board Meeting and publication of the revised Policy.
Read the revised Policy and the now-unemphasized line "possessing weapons on school property (unless otherwise authorized by law)".
The Policy now reads differently than approved by the School Board at its October 29, 2019 Regular Meeting. On that night the Board approved this language: "possessing weapons on district [sic] property (See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)"
On October 29 the Board removed "(unless otherwise authorized by law)" and did not accept the previously-proposed addition of "and the superintendent". It added "(See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)" At 1:05:34 on the YouTube recording of the October 29, 2019 School Board meeting Trustee-elect Amelia McKie was allowed to re-state her motion - "I move to approve Policy GBEB Staff Conduct as presented." Note that it was "presented" as removing "(unless otherwise authorized by law) and the superintendent" and including the "See policy JICI..." language.
But the relevant line in Board Policy GBEB, as it now reads on the District's website, states that (Misconduct includes) "possessing weapons on school property (unless otherwise authorized by law)"
In JICI a weapon is, generally, any item that could be used as a weapon.
How did "(See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)" get dropped from the version published now under Board Policies on the District's website? JICI never should have been part of the revision of GBEB, because JICI applies to students, not to staff or other employees. But the Board approved inserting it.
It can't just be dropped somewhere between the end of the Board meeting and the publication of the revision on the website.
Did the School Board understand the implications of dropping "(unless otherwise authorized by law)" from the Policy on October 29? Who added it back in? And who changed the word "district" (in the version before the Board) to "school" (in the published Policy), modifying property?
Would it have been a good idea for the School Board to request advice on wording from the gun community? Terminology in firearms laws is confusing. One of the problems, as I see it, is that the majority on the Board appears to be left-leaning and anti-gun. This is why involving the community is important.
[Edited 11/10/19: It may be that the staff just hasn't gotten around yet to publishing the revised Policy GBEB, because the revision date of 10/29/19 does not appear in the Policy that can be viewed online.]
When the School Board approved the revision of Board Policy GBEB Staff Conduct on October 29, 2019, did you become subject to risk of a Misconduct charge?
At the October 29, 2019 School Board meeting, that seemed to be the case. But the wording in GBEB got changed somewhere between the end of the Board Meeting and publication of the revised Policy.
Read the revised Policy and the now-unemphasized line "possessing weapons on school property (unless otherwise authorized by law)".
The Policy now reads differently than approved by the School Board at its October 29, 2019 Regular Meeting. On that night the Board approved this language: "possessing weapons on district [sic] property (See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)"
On October 29 the Board removed "(unless otherwise authorized by law)" and did not accept the previously-proposed addition of "and the superintendent". It added "(See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)" At 1:05:34 on the YouTube recording of the October 29, 2019 School Board meeting Trustee-elect Amelia McKie was allowed to re-state her motion - "I move to approve Policy GBEB Staff Conduct as presented." Note that it was "presented" as removing "(unless otherwise authorized by law) and the superintendent" and including the "See policy JICI..." language.
But the relevant line in Board Policy GBEB, as it now reads on the District's website, states that (Misconduct includes) "possessing weapons on school property (unless otherwise authorized by law)"
In JICI a weapon is, generally, any item that could be used as a weapon.
How did "(See policy JICI for items categorized as weapons.)" get dropped from the version published now under Board Policies on the District's website? JICI never should have been part of the revision of GBEB, because JICI applies to students, not to staff or other employees. But the Board approved inserting it.
It can't just be dropped somewhere between the end of the Board meeting and the publication of the revision on the website.
Did the School Board understand the implications of dropping "(unless otherwise authorized by law)" from the Policy on October 29? Who added it back in? And who changed the word "district" (in the version before the Board) to "school" (in the published Policy), modifying property?
Would it have been a good idea for the School Board to request advice on wording from the gun community? Terminology in firearms laws is confusing. One of the problems, as I see it, is that the majority on the Board appears to be left-leaning and anti-gun. This is why involving the community is important.
[Edited 11/10/19: It may be that the staff just hasn't gotten around yet to publishing the revised Policy GBEB, because the revision date of 10/29/19 does not appear in the Policy that can be viewed online.]
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
What happened one year ago? 11/6/2018
On November 6, 2018 Amelia McKie was re-elected to the Richland 2 School Board, and Teresa Holmes was elected to the Board.
South Carolina Code of Laws Section 59-19-315 reads:
"Commencement of trustee's term of office.
"The term of office of every elected trustee of a school district must commence one week following the certification of his election."
Keyword: must
When was the November 6, 2018 election certified?
According to the Richland County Board of Elections office, the November 6, 2018 election was certified on November 9, 2018.
When is one week following the certification of that election? November 16, 2018.
However, Richland 2 conducted a school board meeting on November 13, three days before the election.
McKie and Holmes took the oath of office on November 13, 2018 and sat that evening on the Board.
Come back here on November 13 for more about serious problems that started on November 13.
South Carolina Code of Laws Section 59-19-315 reads:
"Commencement of trustee's term of office.
"The term of office of every elected trustee of a school district must commence one week following the certification of his election."
Keyword: must
When was the November 6, 2018 election certified?
According to the Richland County Board of Elections office, the November 6, 2018 election was certified on November 9, 2018.
When is one week following the certification of that election? November 16, 2018.
However, Richland 2 conducted a school board meeting on November 13, three days before the election.
McKie and Holmes took the oath of office on November 13, 2018 and sat that evening on the Board.
Come back here on November 13 for more about serious problems that started on November 13.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Use of Force Against Disruptive Students
At the last two Richland 2 School Board meetings a member of the public has mentioned two incidents when a School Resource Officer (SRO) used force against a student.
One was the October 2015 incident at Spring Valley High School. A student, Shakara (last name?), a minor, had been disruptive, and an assistant principal and the SRO were summoned to the classroom. Niya Kenny leaped to her feet and began recording with her cell phone, also uttering a disparaging phrase about Deputy Ben Fields, the SRO. After Shakara refused to follow the SRO's directions, he removed her from her desk.
The press went crazy locally and nationally and repeatedly broadcast and published Kenny's video. No media ever published an earlier video that, I've been told, showed Shakara slapping Dep. Fields three times. That's called battery on a peace officer, for those of you unfamiliar with criminal law. Kenny's "Glamour Shots" photo was used in the media, rather than her booking photo at the jail in Columbia. The photo was taken by a McClatchy Company photographer from California in Columbia to cover the floods, and it was taken in The State's interview room. What other arrested person gets that kind of treatment?
Fields lost his job and is suing to get it back.
The mistake made at Spring Valley High School was that the policy in place was not followed. When the teacher summoned the assistant principal, the AP should have instructed the teacher to take all the other students and leave the classroom. That would have removed Shakara's audience. At that point, the AP should have been able to "reason" with her. If that didn't work, the AP should have called the SRO. As soon as it become a criminal matter and not a school disciplinary matter, then the SRO does whatever is necessary. Richland 2 policy was not followed; NASRO policy was not followed.
A more recent incident involved three students at Richland Northeast High School who were beating and kicking a student on the ground. The SRO used his taser. The media didn't even name both adult students. If the public knew the circumstances and the size of one of those "children", they would understand why the SRO used his taser after kid refused to end his assault on the kid on the ground.
An SRO will use such degree of force as is necessary to stop an assault and battery. A taser is a low-level, less-than-lethal weapon. If a student refuses to follow an SRO's order to stop an assault or battery, then the SRO will attempt to restrain his physically. If that doesn't work, a taser will be used. If that doesn't work, then additional force will be used..The kid on the ground being beaten must be protected.
"Kids" come today in all sizes, shapes, weights. Many of them are "of generous size". Specific information should be gained before judgments are made.
One was the October 2015 incident at Spring Valley High School. A student, Shakara (last name?), a minor, had been disruptive, and an assistant principal and the SRO were summoned to the classroom. Niya Kenny leaped to her feet and began recording with her cell phone, also uttering a disparaging phrase about Deputy Ben Fields, the SRO. After Shakara refused to follow the SRO's directions, he removed her from her desk.
The press went crazy locally and nationally and repeatedly broadcast and published Kenny's video. No media ever published an earlier video that, I've been told, showed Shakara slapping Dep. Fields three times. That's called battery on a peace officer, for those of you unfamiliar with criminal law. Kenny's "Glamour Shots" photo was used in the media, rather than her booking photo at the jail in Columbia. The photo was taken by a McClatchy Company photographer from California in Columbia to cover the floods, and it was taken in The State's interview room. What other arrested person gets that kind of treatment?
Fields lost his job and is suing to get it back.
The mistake made at Spring Valley High School was that the policy in place was not followed. When the teacher summoned the assistant principal, the AP should have instructed the teacher to take all the other students and leave the classroom. That would have removed Shakara's audience. At that point, the AP should have been able to "reason" with her. If that didn't work, the AP should have called the SRO. As soon as it become a criminal matter and not a school disciplinary matter, then the SRO does whatever is necessary. Richland 2 policy was not followed; NASRO policy was not followed.
A more recent incident involved three students at Richland Northeast High School who were beating and kicking a student on the ground. The SRO used his taser. The media didn't even name both adult students. If the public knew the circumstances and the size of one of those "children", they would understand why the SRO used his taser after kid refused to end his assault on the kid on the ground.
An SRO will use such degree of force as is necessary to stop an assault and battery. A taser is a low-level, less-than-lethal weapon. If a student refuses to follow an SRO's order to stop an assault or battery, then the SRO will attempt to restrain his physically. If that doesn't work, a taser will be used. If that doesn't work, then additional force will be used..The kid on the ground being beaten must be protected.
"Kids" come today in all sizes, shapes, weights. Many of them are "of generous size". Specific information should be gained before judgments are made.
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