OK, folks. Here we go...
The Richland 2 School Board is tampering with Board Policy JICI - Weapons in School.
There will be a first reading on the proposed revision at the Special Called Board Meeting on December 3, 2019. Note that the Agenda does not allow Public Participation. Then board is likely to vote on the revision at its Regular Meeting on December 10, where Public Participation is allowed. By that time they will likely have their minds made up.
How is JICI being changed? Read it on the December 3 Agenda and click on the attachment for that item (Item 4.23).
At a previous meeting Trustee James Shadd made a reference to Federal law about knives in schools, which limits blade length to 2".
This is being incorporated in District Policy. If your kid forgets to leave his pocket knife at home, he risks a felony charge, not just a "leave it in the office until after school" lecture. A pocket knife is a tool. It's only a weapon if it is used as such. But the worry warts on the school board have decided that a knife with a blade more than two inches poses "a severe threat of serious harm or injury to students and staff". Baloney!
More ominous is the proposed deletion of the language in the existing policy that applies to weapons in cars parked on school grounds. South Carolina law allows a holder of a concealed carry license/permit to store his firearm securely in his vehicle. The Administration is proposing to strike that State authority from the Board Policy JICI. Why is Richland 2 considering abridging the right to be subject only to State law?
What the State giveth, the School Board taketh away. Oh, really?
The first time a student (or employee) finds himself in hot water for storing his firearm in his car on school grounds will probably generate an expensive lawsuit for Richland 2.
Does JICI apply only to students in possession of a vehicle, such as driving himself/herself to school? Or does JICI apply to employees, teachers, administrators, parents and visitors?
JICI does not need to refer to "felony offense, punishable by a fine fo $1,000 or imprisonment for five years, or both..." That's state law.
The only "offense" Richland 2 can be concerned about is a violation of Board Policy.
Friday, November 29, 2019
December 3 Agenda Published
The Agenda for the December 3, 2019 Special Called Board Meeting is now available on the District's website. The meeting will start at 5:30PM at Jackson Creek Elementary School. Thanks to the Richland 2 staff member who worked Wednesday night or Thursday to post the Agenda, after the website was restored to use.
There is no Executive Session on the Agenda.
There is no Public Participation on the Agenda.
On the Agenda is the Approval for the rezoning of Jacob's Creek and Forest Creek communities.
What does this mean to you, if you are a parent of a student at Catawba Trail Elementary School who does not want your child to change schools?
It means that you had better get busy this week-end and contact your school board members by phone, email and in person.
Most of them are going to do what the Administration is asking. Some may not. If you don't do anything, then don't complain afterwards.
I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't have a child at Catawba Trail. I don't have any child or grandchild in a Richland 2 school.
Was the timetable too short for a major decision? Do the parents of the approximately-240 students who will be affected all know what's going on? Were all the options explored? Are you satisfied with the communication from and with Richland 2?
The only reason to show up Tuesday night is to monitor the action by the school board and to hold them accountable. At some point you might want to ask the board to explain why
I predict this vote on Tuesday night: 6-0-0-1 (For, Against, Abstain, Absent)
Two of those six are not legal board members. If only four legal board members are present, then the board does not have a quorum and cannot vote. But vote they will, and that means the vote will be invalid. But they will call it a valid vote and, when the day of reckoning arrives, the board will have to go all the way back to November 13, 2018 and correct all the decisions that were affected by the votes of the two illegitimate "members".
There is no Executive Session on the Agenda.
There is no Public Participation on the Agenda.
On the Agenda is the Approval for the rezoning of Jacob's Creek and Forest Creek communities.
What does this mean to you, if you are a parent of a student at Catawba Trail Elementary School who does not want your child to change schools?
It means that you had better get busy this week-end and contact your school board members by phone, email and in person.
Most of them are going to do what the Administration is asking. Some may not. If you don't do anything, then don't complain afterwards.
I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't have a child at Catawba Trail. I don't have any child or grandchild in a Richland 2 school.
Was the timetable too short for a major decision? Do the parents of the approximately-240 students who will be affected all know what's going on? Were all the options explored? Are you satisfied with the communication from and with Richland 2?
The only reason to show up Tuesday night is to monitor the action by the school board and to hold them accountable. At some point you might want to ask the board to explain why
- it made the decision at a Special Called meeting, not at a Regular meeting
- it scheduled the decision at a school far from your neighborhood
- it did not include Public Participation
I predict this vote on Tuesday night: 6-0-0-1 (For, Against, Abstain, Absent)
Two of those six are not legal board members. If only four legal board members are present, then the board does not have a quorum and cannot vote. But vote they will, and that means the vote will be invalid. But they will call it a valid vote and, when the day of reckoning arrives, the board will have to go all the way back to November 13, 2018 and correct all the decisions that were affected by the votes of the two illegitimate "members".
Resistance (At All Costs). Seriously?
Are Richland 2 students being educated in the conservative or liberal tradition? Or are they being indoctrinated?
Are they being taught to explore the several sides to issues? Or are they being spoon-fed a point-of-view and expected to believe it? Are discussion and debate ("argument") encouraged? Do they understand that to "argue" a point-of-view doesn't mean to ball up their fists, shout curses, threaten, display weapons?
I happen to believe that the vast majority of today's teachers and administrators are left-leaning in their political views and that they do not park their views at the curb on school days. And it has been that way for years, which is why the younger generations do not fear Socialism.
Look at the current reaction of the school board to a discussion of weapons. Look what happens when "gun" or "firearm" is mentioned. By the way, guns are not the focus of this book.
I encourage you to read Resistance (At All Costs) - How Trump Haters Are Breaking America, by Kimberley Strassel. You can buy it or you can borrow it through the Richland Library system. The library was very responsive to my request to acquire the book and ordered it without delay.
Author Strassel is on the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal. She summarizes very well the atmosphere that exists during the presidency of Donald Trump.
Rather than make up your mind about what you think she says, read her book. Understand what "the Resistance" is doing to America. Take a stand. Is this the future you want for yourself, your children, your grandchildren?
Are they being taught to explore the several sides to issues? Or are they being spoon-fed a point-of-view and expected to believe it? Are discussion and debate ("argument") encouraged? Do they understand that to "argue" a point-of-view doesn't mean to ball up their fists, shout curses, threaten, display weapons?
I happen to believe that the vast majority of today's teachers and administrators are left-leaning in their political views and that they do not park their views at the curb on school days. And it has been that way for years, which is why the younger generations do not fear Socialism.
Look at the current reaction of the school board to a discussion of weapons. Look what happens when "gun" or "firearm" is mentioned. By the way, guns are not the focus of this book.
I encourage you to read Resistance (At All Costs) - How Trump Haters Are Breaking America, by Kimberley Strassel. You can buy it or you can borrow it through the Richland Library system. The library was very responsive to my request to acquire the book and ordered it without delay.
Author Strassel is on the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal. She summarizes very well the atmosphere that exists during the presidency of Donald Trump.
Rather than make up your mind about what you think she says, read her book. Understand what "the Resistance" is doing to America. Take a stand. Is this the future you want for yourself, your children, your grandchildren?
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
District's website back, but no 12/3 Agenda
The District's website came back to life sometime today. It was still down this morning, but now it can be viewed.
The first thing I looked for was the Agenda for the Special Called Board Meeting on December 3.
Although the District legally has until Monday, December 2, 5:00PM to post it online and at the District office, board meetings should be announced more than 24 hours in advance.
With the glitch in the website, it may be that someone will go in on Friday and post the Agenda.
If you are interested in the re-zoning issue affecting Catawba Trail Elementary students, you'll want to read the agenda and attend the Tuesday night meeting.
There probably won't be a Public Participation segment. If you want to influence the board members, call them (all of them) or email them before Tuesday. Names, phone numbers and email addresses are on the District's website. Find them on www.Richland2.org
Click on EXPLORE
Click on School Board
Click on MEMBERS
The first thing I looked for was the Agenda for the Special Called Board Meeting on December 3.
Although the District legally has until Monday, December 2, 5:00PM to post it online and at the District office, board meetings should be announced more than 24 hours in advance.
With the glitch in the website, it may be that someone will go in on Friday and post the Agenda.
If you are interested in the re-zoning issue affecting Catawba Trail Elementary students, you'll want to read the agenda and attend the Tuesday night meeting.
There probably won't be a Public Participation segment. If you want to influence the board members, call them (all of them) or email them before Tuesday. Names, phone numbers and email addresses are on the District's website. Find them on www.Richland2.org
Click on EXPLORE
Click on School Board
Click on MEMBERS
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
District website is down
The website for Richland 2 School District has been down all morning.
Many organizations will splash a message to alert viewers that they know their website is down. Not being an I.T. person, I don't know exactly how that works. But it's a super service to inform viewers that the problem is known and is being worked on.
Many organizations will splash a message to alert viewers that they know their website is down. Not being an I.T. person, I don't know exactly how that works. But it's a super service to inform viewers that the problem is known and is being worked on.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Bookman Road Elementary community meeting
Tonight's meeting at Bookman Road Elementary was well-done.
Attendance by parents was light. There were approximately eight parents there and about 15-20 District 2 staffers. Approximately 18 parents attended the first community meeting on this issue.
The District's Director of Planning, Will Simon, presented the reasoning for the re-districting that will result in about 240 students changing elementary schools. From an operations standpoint, it makes sense.
One school, Bookman, has been losing enrollment. The other, Catawba Trail, has been increasing.
The next step is the School Board's Special Called Meeting on December 3. This is when the Board will vote. Normally, votes are not taken at Special Called Meetings; this will be an exception.
And, normally, there is no Public Participation at Special Called Meetings. There is no reason why there cannot be. The Board could put Public Participation on the agenda. Will the Board Chair include it when the Agenda is set, which might be as early as tomorrow (Nov. 20)?
The location for the December 3rd meeting is geographically inconvenient. It's an attendance killer. My suspicious nature tells me there is a reason that the Board picked Jackson Creek Elementary for the voting meeting.
Watch the District's website for the agenda for the December 3 meeting. Hopefully, the District will post it before everyone leaves for the Thanksgiving holiday (Wed., Thurs., Fri.). The agenda must be posted before the end of the day on Monday, in order to meet the statutory FOIA rules.
Parents, if you still have concerns, call and email your School Board members. All of them. Names, email addresses and phone numbers are on the District's website.
The District received only four comments after the November 8 Report was prepared. That was many fewer than I would have guessed.
Attendance by parents was light. There were approximately eight parents there and about 15-20 District 2 staffers. Approximately 18 parents attended the first community meeting on this issue.
The District's Director of Planning, Will Simon, presented the reasoning for the re-districting that will result in about 240 students changing elementary schools. From an operations standpoint, it makes sense.
One school, Bookman, has been losing enrollment. The other, Catawba Trail, has been increasing.
The next step is the School Board's Special Called Meeting on December 3. This is when the Board will vote. Normally, votes are not taken at Special Called Meetings; this will be an exception.
And, normally, there is no Public Participation at Special Called Meetings. There is no reason why there cannot be. The Board could put Public Participation on the agenda. Will the Board Chair include it when the Agenda is set, which might be as early as tomorrow (Nov. 20)?
The location for the December 3rd meeting is geographically inconvenient. It's an attendance killer. My suspicious nature tells me there is a reason that the Board picked Jackson Creek Elementary for the voting meeting.
Watch the District's website for the agenda for the December 3 meeting. Hopefully, the District will post it before everyone leaves for the Thanksgiving holiday (Wed., Thurs., Fri.). The agenda must be posted before the end of the day on Monday, in order to meet the statutory FOIA rules.
Parents, if you still have concerns, call and email your School Board members. All of them. Names, email addresses and phone numbers are on the District's website.
The District received only four comments after the November 8 Report was prepared. That was many fewer than I would have guessed.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Richland 2 Re-Zoning Meeting - Nov. 25,
The make-up meeting for parents concerned about the re-districting will be held tomorrow evening, Monday, November 25, 2019 at 6:00PM at Bookman Road Elementary School.
Parents were invited to provide feedback on a form on the District's website. Visit this District webpage for more information. To find it directly, go the www.Richland2.org. Click on Explore; click on News.
Richland 2 is proposing to re-zone Jacobs Creek and Forest Creek subdivisions from Catawba Trail Elementary to Bookman Road Elementary.
The proposal will be up for a vote at the Special Board Meeting scheduled for December 3, 2019, starting at 5:30PM. BE SURE TO CHECK THE AGENDA FOR THE LOCATION OF THIS SPECIAL-CALLED BOARD MEETING. IT MAY NOT BE AT R2i2.
Is it a "done deal"?
YOU can influence your board members by contacting them by phone and by e-mail and, most importantly, by showing up in person. Watch for the Agenda for the December 3rd Special Called Meeting. It should be online (on the District's website) this Wednesday, November 27 (the day before Thanksgiving), although the Board might postpone publishing it until the last minute (5:29PM on Monday, December 2, 2019, which will be 24 hours before the starting time of the meeting).
Read parent feedback via the above link to the District webpage.
Although the webpage informs parents that they can read feedback received as of November 20, the report published is dated November 8. My guess is that Richland 2 received an earful of complaints from parents and did not update its November 8 Report.
Page 1 of the Report indicates the District received only 80 responses from the Jacobs Creek Community. Seriously? And 91% of the respondents were against the proposed re-zoning (or unsure).
Read some of the parent comments.
If you have an interest in this re-zoning, be at the meeting tomorrow night.
Parents were invited to provide feedback on a form on the District's website. Visit this District webpage for more information. To find it directly, go the www.Richland2.org. Click on Explore; click on News.
Richland 2 is proposing to re-zone Jacobs Creek and Forest Creek subdivisions from Catawba Trail Elementary to Bookman Road Elementary.
The proposal will be up for a vote at the Special Board Meeting scheduled for December 3, 2019, starting at 5:30PM. BE SURE TO CHECK THE AGENDA FOR THE LOCATION OF THIS SPECIAL-CALLED BOARD MEETING. IT MAY NOT BE AT R2i2.
Is it a "done deal"?
YOU can influence your board members by contacting them by phone and by e-mail and, most importantly, by showing up in person. Watch for the Agenda for the December 3rd Special Called Meeting. It should be online (on the District's website) this Wednesday, November 27 (the day before Thanksgiving), although the Board might postpone publishing it until the last minute (5:29PM on Monday, December 2, 2019, which will be 24 hours before the starting time of the meeting).
Read parent feedback via the above link to the District webpage.
Although the webpage informs parents that they can read feedback received as of November 20, the report published is dated November 8. My guess is that Richland 2 received an earful of complaints from parents and did not update its November 8 Report.
Page 1 of the Report indicates the District received only 80 responses from the Jacobs Creek Community. Seriously? And 91% of the respondents were against the proposed re-zoning (or unsure).
Read some of the parent comments.
If you have an interest in this re-zoning, be at the meeting tomorrow night.
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