What was the kid's social-media post???

Richland 2 issued a press release today, after somebody's nose got out-of-joint over some kid's social media post? Do anyone know what the post was? Sure looks like somebody's feelings got hurt. Or could have.

What in the world could that social-media post have said to cause such an over-kill by Richland 2?

Is this a case of "The beatings will continue until morale improves"?

Said Richland 2:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2020 

RICHLAND TWO RESPONDS TO SOCIAL MEDIA POST

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland Two and Blythewood High administrators were alerted this morning that an inappropriate tweet had been posted by a student in the district and the Blythewood High School’s student government account was tagged in the tweet. The school’s principal took immediate steps to have the post removed and to communicate with the schools’ students, employees and parents. 

The tweet was in connection with the school’s Spirit Week. The school plans special activities during Spirit Week as a way to highlight anticipation for the upcoming Homecoming football game and to create excitement about being a Blythewood Bengal. Today, students were asked to wear colors based on their class: black for Freshmen; navy for Sophomores; white for Juniors; and gold for Seniors. The photos in the tweet were inappropriate and insensitive. They did not support the goal or intent of Spirit Week. 

Superintendent Dr. Baron R. Davis said, “As a district, we acknowledge that the tweet was unacceptable, inappropriate and hurtful. It does not reflect the core values of the district or of Blythewood High School. We are certainly sorry for any hurt or distress the tweet caused, and we will continue to be committed to providing a premier educational experience for our students, staff, parents and community.” 

Helen Grant, Richland Two Chief Diversity and Multicultural Inclusion Officer, has been in consultation with Matt Sherman, Blythewood High School’s principal, since early in the summer about the goal to enhance the culture and climate of the school. 

“Blythewood High is committed to making sure that all students feel valued. The school’s employees and students have been engaged in productive conversations about race and equity and have committed to being the change that needs to happen,” said Grant. 

Under the leadership of the Richland Two Board of Trustees, Richland Two implemented an Equity Policy in August 2019 that makes clear the board’s and district’s commitment to the success of every student and to equity of opportunity and access to programs, services and resources that are critical to student success. 

To accomplish this goal, the district is taking a series of steps including: 

• Using a growth mindset and believing all students are capable of success ### 

• Reviewing policies, procedures and practices to ensure they do not present institutional barriers 

• Recruiting, employing and retaining a high quality diverse staff 

• Offering opportunities for employees to increase their individual cultural competency thereby increasing our collective capacity to serve our diverse student population 

• Providing professional development opportunities for staff in the areas including diversity, inclusion, equity, anti-bias, privilege, microaggressions 

• Affirming and modeling an appreciation for all forms of intelligence and the wide variety of ways students illustrate their mastery of skills and knowledge 

One of the goals set by Superintendent Davis for the 2020-2021 school year is to focus on the social justice and equity needs of our district. The district is participating with the national school superintendent’s association (AASA) in a nationwide Equity In Action Program where the Richland 2 team is receiving specialized training in how to implement change to help ensure that we are being equitable in our work. Additionally, an Equity Focus Group is being formed to identify, prioritize and rectify any areas of concern in the district. 

Davis said, “We are determined to have the courageous conversations about being anti-racist as we continue to reach out to one another in unity. We have been working continuously to make Richland Two a place where all students, staff, parents and community members are valued, included and supported. We strive everyday to uphold our core values of learning, character, community and joy. We take seriously the principle practice of diversity and inclusion in our policies, our goals, our programs and our initiatives.” 

“Changes and improvements have been made but there is still work to be done. Just as our staff needs the professional development and access to resources that will help improve our work, our students also need instruction and access to resources to help them learn acceptance of and sensitivity to people who are different from them,” said Grant. “We will use our student government groups, our clubs and organizations, our character education programs and our classrooms to provide that instruction and those resources.” 

“We are grateful for the support we have received from our community as we continue our journey towards premier education. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students and our community. We join with the commitment of the Blythewood High School family to Be The Change,” said Davis.

The sky is falling

The State newspaper published this news today: "The 821 since school began include 570 student cases and 251 employee cases, according to the DHEC database updated Tuesday."

I have written to the reporter and asked him to publish in future articles how many students there are in South Carolina schools and the number of school employees.

The State is terrorizing the public with its constant bombardment of COVID-19 news without providing the big picture.

Richland 2 - seven schools reporting. 27,822 students (as of Day 10 of the school year). Employees? 3,-4,000?

"Less than five" means 1-4.

New student cases (3 schools): 3-12 new cases; 7/27,822=0.025%

New employee cases (5 schools): 5-20 new cases; 12/4000=0.3% 

From The State today (9/29/20)

Richland 2

• Catawba Trail Elementary: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• Forest Lake Elementary: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• L.B. Nelson Elementary: Fewer than 5 student cases
• Muller Road Middle: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• Richland Northeast High: Fewer than 5 student cases
• Spring Valley High: Fewer than 5 student cases and fewer than 5 employee cases
• Windsor Elementary: Fewer than 5 faculty cases

Learn about your candidates

Do you want to learn more about the candidates for the Richland 2 School Board?

The 2020 election is important, because it is an opportunity for voters to put fresh faces on the board. Hopefully, people with business, management and executive experience.

The 2022 race will be even more important, because four seats will be open. At least three current board members should be replaced then.

To see a video-recording of the two-night panel and Q&A with eight of the ten candidates, go to the Facebook page of Gretchen Barron.

VOTE411 Voter Guide appears to be a good place to read the submitted answers by candidates to four questions pertaining to Richland 2 schools. The website does not identify any person or organization behind it. 

The League of Women Voters may be behind the VOTE411 Voter Guide. On the League's website is an image for VOTE411.ORG. I don't know why it doesn't identify itself on the Voter Guide website. 

The League office in Columbia doesn't return phone calls. I left a message that I'd like to suggest a question for any candidate forum that they sponsor. 

If you know of additional sites for voter information in this race, please post them in the Comment section below.

Oct. 20 6:00PM the League and the Richland 2 Teachers Forum will host a candidates' forum at R2i2. Watch for a possible location change. The forum could be changed to virtual.

If a candidate sends me promotional information or I stumble across it, I'll publish it. 

Maryann Wright, Candidate:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5GpF_UOh0Q

"Until It's Safe" means Never

How many times during school board meetings recently have you heard "until it's safe"?

Administration and the Board don't want to re-open schools because it's not safe.

Is it safe to get out of bed in the morning? Safe to step out of the house? To wait at the bus stop? To ride a school bus? You know, no seat belts. No shoulder harness. No airbags. No drug-testing of the drivers every morning. No checking of the driver's checklist to be sure the bus is safe.

Watch this Fireside Chat with Dennis Prager.  I credit Mr. Prager for that line - 

"Until It's Safe Means Never"

Richland 2 and COVID-19

The State newspaper (online) continues to report the number of positive COVID-19 for schools, but it still fails to provide a context. Here's what it has to say today:

Richland 2

• Catawba Trail Elementary: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• Forest Lake Elementary: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• L.B. Nelson Elementary: Fewer than 5 student cases
• Muller Road Middle: Fewer than 5 employee cases
• Richland Northeast High: Fewer than 5 student cases
• Spring Valley High: Fewer than 5 student cases and fewer than 5 employee cases
• Windsor Elementary: Fewer than 5 employee cases

"Fewer than 5" could mean 1, 2, 3 or 4. At least one; not more than four.

So, the Richland 2 District night have 3-12 student cases and 5-20 employee cases.

Where The State fails is when it does not provide a frame of reference by including total number of students in the State of South Carolina and the total number of school employees in the categories covered.

Richland 2 had 27,822 students on Day 10, according to the superintendent's report to the Board on September 22.

With "only" 3-12 student cases, why aren't kids back in school?

Remember, not so long ago (before the superintendent himself was diagnosed positive), when the board was told there were NO cases in Richland 2?

Although DHEC doesn't want to break down exact numbers in the "Fewer than 5" group, Richland 2 certainly could. How would parents feel, if they learned that the real number was "1" at each school?

Public Participation at School Board Meetings

The District has updated information on its website about Public Participation at board meetings. Click here for the whole scoop.

When the agenda for the next board meeting is published on the Friday before the meeting, the window opens ("activates", the District calls it) for written comments. The window closes at 1:00PM on the day of the board meeting.

Submit your written comments on the webform on the Board's Public Participation webpage. The webform will magically appear when the page "activates". You'll be asked to include your name and contact information.

When your comment is read to the board, your name will be read with it (but not your contact information).

The letters are shown to the public as Mrs. Roof reads them. She is a fantastic reader. She is accurate, and she is also a very fast reader. If you have any trouble understanding her or keeping up with the pace, be sure to drop her a note at LRoof@richland2.org

Some of the letters were long. It is not possible to judge the interest of the board members, because their faces are not shown while letters are being read. I guess some might wonder whether all of them are really listening.

Do you have an opinion about whether schools should re-open for in-person education?

Are your special needs or young children falling behind because of virtual learning?

Write and submit your messages on the Friday before the next board meeting (or not later than the day of the meeting, Tuesday, 1:00PM). Contact your network, neighbors, friends, other parents. Tell them to write.

Mrs. Roof read 52 comments on September 22. Was that a lot? As of Day 10 of this school year, there are 27,822 students in Richland 2. If there are 12,000 active parents, 52 letters represents 0.43%. But many letters were from teachers, some of whom are probably parents of Richland 2 students.

Do you even watch the Zoom school board meetings? On Tuesday about 200 viewers did. That's 200 out of 27,822 students and 12,000 parents and 3,000+ employees.

Was anyone else brave enough to watch the whole meeting from 5:30PM until 8:08PM? Not sure "brave" is the right word.

Who will explain to me?

Who can explain to me why Richland 2 School Board does not have two illegitimate members; i.e., two are not legal members of the board?

This is what the South Carolina law says about taking the oath of office and entering upon official responsibilities. Let's start here:

South Carolina Code of Laws Section 8-13-1110. 

SECTION 8-13-1110. Persons required to file statement of economic interests.

(A) No public official, regardless of compensation, and no public member or public employee as designated in subsection (B) may take the oath of office or enter upon his official responsibilities unless he has filed a statement of economic interests in accordance with the provisions of this chapter with the appropriate supervisory office. If a public official, public member, or public employee referred to in this section has no economic interests to disclose, he shall nevertheless file a statement of inactivity to that effect with the appropriate supervisory office. All disclosure statements are matters of public record open to inspection upon request.

(B) Each of the following public officials, public members, and public employees must file a statement of economic interests with the appropriate supervisory office, unless otherwise provided:

(1) a person appointed to fill the unexpired term of an elective office; 

(2)-(7) omitted

(8) a school district board member and a county board of education member;

To simply (emphasis added), 

(A) No public official, regardless of compensation, and no public member or public employee as designated in subsection (B) may take the oath of office or enter upon his official responsibilities unless he has filed a statement of economic interests in accordance with the provisions of this chapter with the appropriate supervisory office. If a public official, public member, or public employee referred to in this section has no economic interests to disclose, he shall nevertheless file a statement of inactivity to that effect with the appropriate supervisory office. All disclosure statements are matters of public record open to inspection upon request.

11/13/2019 McKie and Holmes took the oath of office.

12/4/2019 McKie and Holmes filed their statements of economic interests

Therefore, they took the oath of office illegally.

To me, it's black and white. Cut and dried. First, you file the statement of economic interests; then you take the oatch of office; then you enter upon official responsibilities. That's not what they did.

A candidate becomes "qualified" for office by winning the election. But that candidate is not "eligible" to take the oath of office unless he (or she) has filed the statement of economic interests.

If you take the oath of office before you are eligible to do so, then you are just practicing. Any oath taken before one is eligible to take it is invalid.

Is there anyone who thinks an elected person can legally become an official by taking the oath of office and then, three weeks later, filing the statement of economic interests.

Shouldn't the elected person have the taken the oath after filing the required statement?

The only way you can become a legitimate member of the school board is to take the oath after filing the required statement. 

Another South Carolina law says you have to take the oath before assuming office. This must mean, Take the oath legally.

So, if one has never taken the oath of office legally, then the person cannot assume office. The public body - here, the Richland 2 School Board - should not be allowing two women to be seated at the Board, because they have never legally taken the oath of office. Why is the District allowing this? Why have the five legal Board members allowed this for more than 18 months.

What laws are being violated?

Section 8-13-1110(A) (above). Holmes and McKie were elected on 11/6/2019 and took the oath of office (illegally) on 11/13/2019. But they had not filed their statements of economic interests. They filed those statements on 12/4/2019, which is the earliest date on which they could legally take the oath of office.

Section 8-3-10. "It shall be unlawful for any person to assume the duties of any public office until he has taken the oath provided by the Constitution and been regularly commissioned by the Governor."

McKie and Holmes have never taken the oath of office legally.

Section 15-63-60 Usurping public office - any person [who] shall usurp, intrude into, or unlawfully hold or exercise any public office

Section 59-19-315. Beginning of 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. The election was certified on 11/9/2019. One week after the certification was 11/16/2019. McKie and Holmes attended and participated in the Board Meeting on 11/13/2019, three days before the election was certified. Board Policy BBB reflects this law.

Now, am I wrote to believe that they are not legal board members?