Bus Ride Times - Seriously?

 OK, parents, pay attention.

From The State newspaper this morning (8/10/2020):

"Richland 2 spokeswoman Libby Roof said the district has conducted trial runs of its fall bus routes, and decided drivers would have to pick up students in segments, transporting one group to school and then picking up another."

“ 'Students may have last year boarded the bus at 7:30 a.m. and gotten home by 3:30 p.m.,' said Richland 2 spokeswoman Ishmael Abdus-Saboor. 'This year they may get on the same bus at 6:45 a.m. and get home at 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m.' ”

Do you want your kid boarding a bus at 6:45AM and getting back home at 5:00PM?

If you think there is ANY possibility of that for your child, you'll better pick up the phone now and call Richland 2. Hope someone answers. Leave no stone unturned.

The superintendent is away until August 17, so forget contacting him. No reason is given in his out-of-office email auto-response. I'd say it's very poor timing for vacation or even a business trip. There is too much happening right now, as schools prepare to open.

Find out who is responsible for your child's bus transportation. Save that name, phone number and email address. And get the name of that person's supervisor and on up the food chain.

Achtung, Herr Citizen!!!

On Tuesday, August 11, 2020 the Richland 2 School District will be asked to suspend Board Policy KI - Visitors.

You can read the existing policy here.

Are you a "citizen" of the District? Or, are you a resident of the District? Who in the world ever chose the word "citizen" for that policy?

Now, Parents ...  if the District suspends this policy, will you be able to enter the school? 

Is it really necessary to suspend this policy, or could the District just establish guidelines under which a parent could enter the school during the pandemic scare?

Comment on the suspension of this policy by using this form on the District's website (scroll down). The online form must be submitted by 1:00PM on the day of the meeting.

And communicate (email or telephone) directly with your school board member, who will be asked to vote on August 11.

School Board Election - file now

The period for filing to run for the Richland 2 School Board is open now. A candidate has until 12:00PM on August 17, 2020 to file papers to run for election to the School Board.

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Every voter should have a choice. So, choose the best candidate.

___ Callie Mae

___ Gus Philpott

Register your vote in the Comment section below.

Is there some mistake?

Didn't both Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes recently say at board meetings that the only thing the board does is hire (or fire) the superintendent?

This information below appears on the District's webpage where the agenda for a board meeting is found. Will someone please inform McKie and Holmes? The role of a board member is much more than just hiring or firing the superintendent.

One of these days, soon perhaps, the school board may have seven legal members. All that McKie and Holmes must do to become legal members of the board is take the oath of office. They filed their Statements of Economic Interests (late) on December 4, 2018. On that date they became eligible to take the oath of office.

Unfortunately, they have not taken the oath of office legally, and so they are not yet legitimate members of the board. When will the Board correct this?

In Richland School District Two, seven board members are responsible for a general operating budget of about $245 million, roughly 3,700 employees, more than 27,500 students (including pre-kindergarten) and 40 schools and centers.

Richland District Two board members are elected for four-year terms and have responsibilities that include:

*Securing money for operational needs and authorizing major expenditures
*Determining budget priorities and building needs
*Setting educational standards and goals
*Reviewing and evaluating all phases of the district’s instructional program
*Formulating and enforcing policies

School District - new employee?

Named "Covid-19"? Seriously?

On July 27, 2020 I mailed a letter to Board Chair James Shadd, to be delivered to the Richland 2 District Office at its mailing address of 124 Risdon Way (29223). Because of its importance, I mailed it Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.

It was finally delivered on July 31, and the green delivery card arrived in my mailbox on August 1.

Imagine my surprise when I saw that "Covid-19" had signed for the letter!

What's the problem?

First, I'm pretty sure there is no employee or contract worker named "Covid-19".

Secondly, if this matter goes to court and I have to prove that the letter was received at the Richland 2 District Office, how do I subpoena "Covid-19" to testify that the letter was received? 

Is that like R2D2? Will a robot show up in court?

I wonder whether an employee was allowed to (or, worse, directed to) sign that way.

A request will now be made to Richland 2 to identify the person who signed for the letter, just in case this matter does end up in court.

Taking a knee?

When the school year starts in Richland 2, does the day start with the Pledge of Allegiance? Is the National Anthem played?

Obviously, I've not been in a school at the beginning of the day for years. So what's the day like now? 

Wait, I was in Spring Valley High School about three years ago for an IEP, when the school was trying, for the fourth time, to expel a student. And then soon after, when the school tried again to expel him.

At the second hearing (the fifth attempt), the R2 director of special ed told the hearing group that they couldn't do what they were trying to do. Why had they kept trying? Because the student and his parents did not have a Special Ed advocate with them. But that's another story.

Board Policy IMB School Ceremonies and Observations states "State law requires that all students say the pledge of allegiance at a specific tmie during each school day. Each school will designate this time." 

So, if that is the state law, why does the policy go on to say that "any person" who doesn't wish to say the pledge doesn't have to participate and can remain in his/her seat, without penalty for failing to participate?

When sports resume in Richland 2 and teams take the field, is the National Anthem played? 

Will all the players remain on their feet? Hats, caps, helmets off? Standing erect, not slouched? Hands over their hearts?

Will the School Board lead the District and direct the superintendent to instruct the principals and sports coaches to warn the players against "taking a knee"?

Any kid that takes a knee should be immediately expelled.

He is fully entitled to express a personal opinion and disrespect OFF the playing field.

Now that Board Policy BEDH has been reinstated, I shall email the Board Chair, Superintendent and Board and ask them to adopt a policy that the U.S. Flag and the National Anthem will not be disrespected by any student taking a knee during the Pledge of Allegiance or the playing of the National Anthem. 

Will you support this?

Can you trust all-mail balloting?

Lately there has been a lot in the news about all-mail balloting. You know what that is, don't you? 

The election commissions would mail out ballots to all the people on the voting rolls. Who would get ballots? Dead people. People who moved but never revoked their previous voter registration. People in jail. People who have become ineligible to vote because of convictions for certain crimes. Mentally-infirm voters.

Can you trust the Post Office to even deliver the ballots TO the voters or to deliver the completed ballots to the election commissions?

On Monday I mailed a Certified Letter to James Shadd, Chair of the Richland 2 School Board. It was mailed on July 27 in the afternoon, and my expectation was delivery on Tuesday, July 28, before that night's board meeting. By 11:04PM it had reached the USPS Regional Facility,

COLUMBIA SC PROCESSING CENTER.

Was it delivered on Tuesday, July 28? No.

July 29, 2020, 1:27 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
COLUMBIA SC PROCESSING CENTER 

July 30, 2020
In Transit to Next Facility

July 31, 2020, 10:30 am

Delivered to Agent for Final Delivery
COLUMBIA, SC 29223 
Your item has been delivered to an agent for final delivery in COLUMBIA, SC 29223 on July 31, 2020 at 10:30 am.

What in the world is an "Agent"? Have the postal carriers been re-classified and given a raise? Do they work for Homeland Security now? Watch out. Here's comes a postage increase!

At least, it is now in the right ZIP Code for delivery to the District's office. Unfortunately, due to summer work hours there may be nobody at work today, and the "Agent" will have to return tomorrow and Monday. So, mailed on Monday; delivered the next Monday. Not bad, for $10.59.

Now what about your ballot that you decide to mail back? The one in the postage-paid envelope that will be sent with it (to avoid the "voter suppression" that Rep. Jim Clyburn talked about on July 10 with The State newspaper host). How certain can you be that your ballot will be delivered in time to be counted?