The agenda for the May 12th Regular Meeting of the School Board has been published on the District's website. Go to www.Richland2.org
Click on EXPLORE
Click on School Board
Click on AGENDA
Click on the calendar icon under Meetings
NOTE: the new starting times
Click on View the Agenda
The Regular meeting will be called to order this week at 4:30PM.
The Board will immediately go into Executive Session.
The Board will re-convene in open session at 5:00PM.
This represents a 1½-hour advance in the meeting times.
The Board will not meet in public on May 12, although it could. It will meet on the Zoom video-conference platform. The agenda contains NO link to that Zoom meeting. (See below for the link.)
Now, why is the meeting so early?
At the April 28 Regular Meeting the Board blindly followed the Board Chair and the superintendent off the cliff, after the Chair and the superintendent placed an item on the agenda for a first-reading vote that would give authority to the Chair and superintendent to change the time of a Regular Meeting during a "state of emergency".
If you want to try to understand the reasoning that was given in response to questions and comments by two Board members, I invite you to watch/listen to the April 28 board meeting. The explanation made no sense at all to me. The other four board members, who normally roll over for anything the superintendent wants, just sat there like bumps on a log.
When it was time to vote, the vote was, unsurprisingly, 5-2.
The Zoom meeting may be available at www.richland2.org/livestream
Merely announcing "Zoom" on the agenda is insufficient notice to the public when to find and view the public meeting. You'd think by now the District would have figured out how to comply with South Carolina FOIA and Open Meetings requirements regarding public meetings!
On the agenda for a first-reading vote is a move that will result in Joseph Keels Elementary School's becoming a Magnet School. In the past, proposed actions have been submitted for a first reading and then followed with a vote on the proposal at a second board meeting, often two weeks later. The Chair and the superintendent have started a trend now to jam votes into the first reading, before trustees have time and resources to study and consider a matter.
On this issue, the vote should be postponed; if it isn't postponed, then the vote should be "No", so that the trustees have adequate time to do their due diligences. They are, after all, fiduciaries of the School District and are expected to make responsible decisions.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Traffic on Hard Scrabble Rd.
The choice of Rice Creek Elementary School for the three-day COVID-19 Testing Site was poorly thought-out. Drive by and figure out how fire, rescue or law-enforcement could possible get through.
Sound off. Tell the School District what you think about the choice. The Administration made the choice. Did the board even know about it?
Tell Mia McLeod and Ivory Thigpen what you think.
Tell Sheriff Lott and the Fire Chief what you think.
Demand better. And hope your house doesn't catch fire while Hard Scrabble Road is effectively shut down.
Sound off. Tell the School District what you think about the choice. The Administration made the choice. Did the board even know about it?
Tell Mia McLeod and Ivory Thigpen what you think.
Tell Sheriff Lott and the Fire Chief what you think.
Demand better. And hope your house doesn't catch fire while Hard Scrabble Road is effectively shut down.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Board member's barking dog
Which board member owns a dog that barked during the 4/28/2020 board meeting?
Either the board member should mute her Zoom participation or the moderator should mute all except the Chair.
The video of the meeting was altered from what actually happened on April 28, 2020. When it was time for the pledge of allegiance, most of the board members stood and recited it. Trustee Elkins-Johnson did not.
When the video of the meeting was published, a U.S. Flag was shown in motion. That did not happen during the meeting! It should not have been inserted into the video that was published.
On the agenda was a Homeschool Application, with approval of it sought on first reading. Waiver of the two-readings rule was not apparently sought from the board, and they just let it slide right on through. Mrs. Agostini moved for approval of "the homeschool application presented to us tonight on April 28, 2020."
The draft of the application should have been attached to the agenda and made available to the public and to the board members before the meeting. Mrs. Agostini's motion makes it clear that the Administration did not inform the members of the board about the content of the application before the meeting.
I don't know why the board members stand for this type of control by the Administration of the District. Other board members have repeatedly asked the superintendent to give them adequate notice of proposals. That is not always happening, and they don't demand his compliance.
Who works for whom?
Either the board member should mute her Zoom participation or the moderator should mute all except the Chair.
The video of the meeting was altered from what actually happened on April 28, 2020. When it was time for the pledge of allegiance, most of the board members stood and recited it. Trustee Elkins-Johnson did not.
When the video of the meeting was published, a U.S. Flag was shown in motion. That did not happen during the meeting! It should not have been inserted into the video that was published.
On the agenda was a Homeschool Application, with approval of it sought on first reading. Waiver of the two-readings rule was not apparently sought from the board, and they just let it slide right on through. Mrs. Agostini moved for approval of "the homeschool application presented to us tonight on April 28, 2020."
The draft of the application should have been attached to the agenda and made available to the public and to the board members before the meeting. Mrs. Agostini's motion makes it clear that the Administration did not inform the members of the board about the content of the application before the meeting.
I don't know why the board members stand for this type of control by the Administration of the District. Other board members have repeatedly asked the superintendent to give them adequate notice of proposals. That is not always happening, and they don't demand his compliance.
Who works for whom?
Does video of 4/28/2020 Meeting Exist?
This morning a FOIA Request was sent to Richland 2 School District for a copy of the video-recording of the April 28, 2020 Regular Meeting of the School Board.
Why did I send a FOIA Request?
The superintendent has not responded to Monday's email about the video.
The Board Chair has not responded to an email sent late yesterday afternoon about this video.
It either exists or it doesn't.
If it doesn't, there should be no delay in saying so and explaining why.
If it does exist, it should have been posted already. Videos are normally posted on YouTube and on the District's website by the Thursday following the Tuesday meeting.
Why is it different this time?
EDIT: The 4/28/2020 video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKOpcXiolLI&feature=youtu.be
Why did I send a FOIA Request?
The superintendent has not responded to Monday's email about the video.
The Board Chair has not responded to an email sent late yesterday afternoon about this video.
It either exists or it doesn't.
If it doesn't, there should be no delay in saying so and explaining why.
If it does exist, it should have been posted already. Videos are normally posted on YouTube and on the District's website by the Thursday following the Tuesday meeting.
Why is it different this time?
EDIT: The 4/28/2020 video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKOpcXiolLI&feature=youtu.be
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
COVID-19 Testing May 6-8
You can tell it's election season right around the bend.
The first email I received about the three days of free COVID-19 testing at Rice Creek Elementary came from State Sen. Mia McLeod. The second came from State Rep. Ivory Thigpen.
I may be the only person in the Richland 2 School District who wonders WHY this is being done at Rice Creek Elementary.
Schools are closed right? Presumably, the buildings have been deep-cleaned and sanitized.
Now Rice Creek Elementary will be the site of COVID-19 testing. Is this outside, drive-through only? Or will possible carriers of the virus be admitted into the school building? The announcement reads Drive-Thru and Walk-Up.
I don't recall hearing any mention at a school board meeting, when the Administration requested approval from the Board to permit this use of the building, especially since it is related to the pandemic about which many are worried.
The current school board has turned far too much discretionary authority over to the Administration.
Was this use of Rice Creek Elementary discussed at the April 28, 2020 Regular Meering?
If it was, the public will not know it, because the Zoom recording of the meeting has not been published by the District on YouTube or on the District's website.
Monday morning I emailed Supt. Davis to ask when it would be posted. As of now, he has not replied. Did the District botch the recording? If it didn't, is there a reason it is being withheld?
Remember all the hoopla surrounding the announcement that Zoom technology was going to be used and how the public would be able to watch a recording of the meeting?.While it was possible to watch it if you tuned in during the time for the meeting, it should be posted afterwards for those who didn't or who couldn't.
Maybe I'll hear from the Supt. or the Board Chair or someone else on Wednesday. Or maybe it will be posted on Wednesday.
NOTE: Will the doors of the school remained locked? Will no one be allowed to enter the school - for any reason, including bathroom use?
The first email I received about the three days of free COVID-19 testing at Rice Creek Elementary came from State Sen. Mia McLeod. The second came from State Rep. Ivory Thigpen.
I may be the only person in the Richland 2 School District who wonders WHY this is being done at Rice Creek Elementary.
Schools are closed right? Presumably, the buildings have been deep-cleaned and sanitized.
Now Rice Creek Elementary will be the site of COVID-19 testing. Is this outside, drive-through only? Or will possible carriers of the virus be admitted into the school building? The announcement reads Drive-Thru and Walk-Up.
I don't recall hearing any mention at a school board meeting, when the Administration requested approval from the Board to permit this use of the building, especially since it is related to the pandemic about which many are worried.
The current school board has turned far too much discretionary authority over to the Administration.
Was this use of Rice Creek Elementary discussed at the April 28, 2020 Regular Meering?
If it was, the public will not know it, because the Zoom recording of the meeting has not been published by the District on YouTube or on the District's website.
Monday morning I emailed Supt. Davis to ask when it would be posted. As of now, he has not replied. Did the District botch the recording? If it didn't, is there a reason it is being withheld?
Remember all the hoopla surrounding the announcement that Zoom technology was going to be used and how the public would be able to watch a recording of the meeting?.While it was possible to watch it if you tuned in during the time for the meeting, it should be posted afterwards for those who didn't or who couldn't.
Maybe I'll hear from the Supt. or the Board Chair or someone else on Wednesday. Or maybe it will be posted on Wednesday.
NOTE: Will the doors of the school remained locked? Will no one be allowed to enter the school - for any reason, including bathroom use?
Monday, May 4, 2020
McKie Still Owes $51,750
According to the South Carolina Ethics Commission today, Trustee-elect Amelia McKie of the Richland 2 School Board still owes $51,750. (The term "Trustee-elect" is used, because McKie has never taken the oath of office legally and is, in my opinion, an illegitimate member of rhe board.)
Her debt was created by repeated failures to file required forms with the Ethics Commission over a period of four years.
The Commission held a hearing in 2018 and assessed fines. When she didn't pay the fines, penalties were added. When she didn't make any payments, the Ethics Commission filed a Judgment in Richland County Common Pleas Court in July 2019.
And still she hasn't paid.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue is responsible for collecting debts to the State. The DOR cites privacy rules in its refusal to disclose any collection action being taken.
According to the 4/3/2020 Debtors' List on the Ethics Commission's website, it is owed a total of $2,717,461.32. The largest debt is $212,746.60, and the date of the oldest debt is 2001.
How much longer will the Richland 2 School Board tolerate the presence of a person on the board who thumbs her nose at an Ethics Commission debt? If McKie assigned her whole $900/month school board income to this debt, she wouldn't even get it paid off before the end of her term in November 2022.
Her debt was created by repeated failures to file required forms with the Ethics Commission over a period of four years.
The Commission held a hearing in 2018 and assessed fines. When she didn't pay the fines, penalties were added. When she didn't make any payments, the Ethics Commission filed a Judgment in Richland County Common Pleas Court in July 2019.
And still she hasn't paid.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue is responsible for collecting debts to the State. The DOR cites privacy rules in its refusal to disclose any collection action being taken.
According to the 4/3/2020 Debtors' List on the Ethics Commission's website, it is owed a total of $2,717,461.32. The largest debt is $212,746.60, and the date of the oldest debt is 2001.
How much longer will the Richland 2 School Board tolerate the presence of a person on the board who thumbs her nose at an Ethics Commission debt? If McKie assigned her whole $900/month school board income to this debt, she wouldn't even get it paid off before the end of her term in November 2022.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Head in the game?
While waiting for the Richland 2 School District to post the video-recording of the April 28, 2020 Regular Meeting on YouTube.com, I listened again to the recording of the April 21, 2020 Special-Called Board Meeting.
How important is it for board members to listen and to pay attention? Even when they are sitting comfortably at home and participating in a Zoom meeting?
Go to the April 21, 2020 meeting here.
You'll notice what happens right at the beginning of the meeting. Board Chair James Manning calls for a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting. There is silence for THIRTEEN (13) seconds!!!
Because it is a Zoom meeting the viewer can see all the board members. They just sit there. WHY?
Finally, after 13 seconds, Trustee-elect McKie speaks and makes a motion to convene the meeting.
Never before has there been a motion to convene the meeting. At this point the Board Chair repeats his request for a motion to approve the agenda, and McKie makes that motion. This is what I mean by "having your head in the game."
First of all, why did it take 13 seconds to respond to the Chair's request. And then why was the wrong motion made?
For some reason unknown to the public, the District has not yet posted the April 28, 2020 Regular Meeting. Usually meeting videos have been posted within two days of the meeting. The District has not yet posted any explanation for the delay.
How important is it for board members to listen and to pay attention? Even when they are sitting comfortably at home and participating in a Zoom meeting?
Go to the April 21, 2020 meeting here.
You'll notice what happens right at the beginning of the meeting. Board Chair James Manning calls for a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting. There is silence for THIRTEEN (13) seconds!!!
Because it is a Zoom meeting the viewer can see all the board members. They just sit there. WHY?
Finally, after 13 seconds, Trustee-elect McKie speaks and makes a motion to convene the meeting.
Never before has there been a motion to convene the meeting. At this point the Board Chair repeats his request for a motion to approve the agenda, and McKie makes that motion. This is what I mean by "having your head in the game."
First of all, why did it take 13 seconds to respond to the Chair's request. And then why was the wrong motion made?
For some reason unknown to the public, the District has not yet posted the April 28, 2020 Regular Meeting. Usually meeting videos have been posted within two days of the meeting. The District has not yet posted any explanation for the delay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)