Fans fighting ends game early

OK, readers. What do you think?

Last night's football game between Ridge View H.S. and Spring Hill H.S. was interrupted and then canceled, thanks to some punks "just above Spring Valley’s home stands".

The headline in The State newspaper is "Off-the-field fight forces early end to Midlands football game" Click on that headline to read the article.

EDITED 9/11/22 Having seen a video of the fight, this was not just a scuffle. It was an all-out melee. Numerous RCSD deputies were right in the thick of things, trying to break it up and grab some of the perps. I hope they got a bunch of them. And I hope none of the deputies was injured.

I have my own opinion about whether you let mobs rule or whether you worry about what "might happen". 

My opinion is that the jerks who chose to fight, instead of peacefully cheering, should have been arrested (not "detained") and removed; as in, carted off to jail. Then put 2-3 deputies in their seats and resume the game.

Media report no weapons were involved. Is that true?

Students, parents and staff shouldn't have to enforce the law. But, if a fight breaks out, why not intercede and put down the troublemakers? Odds quickly could have been 5:1 or 10:1; that is against the troublemakers.

Of course, the District will not identify the miscreants. I'd like to know gender, race, and whether they were students of Richland Two, either of the schools, or from elsewhere. Were parents among the fighters? Were some of the troublemakers from A.C. Flora in Richland One?

If anyone knows, let me know. I don't feel any of the restrictions that media are worried about. I'll print names, pictures, ages, criminal charges.

How'd you like the final sentence in Supt. Davis' letter to parents. "Thank you for your continued support." I was reminded of the two old guys in the Bartles & Jaymes ads. 

Here's what I would written to parents: 

"Richland Two was embarrassed once again by knuckleheads in the stands who seemed to think fighting was better than watching the game. They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The real reason that the remainder of the game was canceled was the likelihood that more fights would break out. We apologize for the inconvenience. Help us with this problem. Parents, control your kids."

Fired Teacher Wins Suit over CRT and BLM material

Read about the Massachusetts teacher who got fired for objecting, as a parent, to CRT and BLM materials in his 7th Grade daughter's classroom.

Judicial Watch: Massachusetts School District Settles Civil Rights Lawsuit with Football Coach Fired for Objecting to Critical Race Theory in Daughter’s Class

Click on the headline to read the article.

Read the letter to him from the superintendent there. Can you imagine such a letter ever being issued in Richland 2?

Supt. Welch wrote, in part, "Effective two-way dialogue among parents and school staff is the foundation of mutual trust."

It's extremely unfortunate that he should have been fired, that he should have had to sue, and that he had to endure the lengthy period of time before the case was resolved.

If you are a teacher in Richland 2 with your own children in the District, what would you do? What will you do?

Did Supt. Bill Over-spending by Trustees?

The 2021-2022 School Year ended on June 30, 2022.

Last (school) year each school board trustee had $7,000 to spend on travel and training. Several of them over-spent their allowances; some by as much as $3,000.

By July 15th the superintendent could have received a report for those who exceeded their allowances. Did he?

And did he bill those trustees for the amounts over $7,000?

Expenses over $7,000 never should have been paid or approved for payment. Did a low-level Accounts Payable clerk alert her supervisor or manager that a trustee had exceeded her (or his) allowance? Who approved the over-payment(s)?

Actually, the superintendent shouldn't even have to bill the trustees for reimbursement. They should look at their statements and write checks to the District for the excess funds they received.

If they don't, are those funds considered "income", rather than expense reimbursement?

On August 11th I filed a FOIA Request for the last two reimbursement requests of Teresa Holmes. Why? I'm curious as to who approved payment to her for funds in excess of $7,000. The form requires signatures of two R2 staffers. (Teresa was board chairman at the time.)

The FOIA response is late, and a follow-up has been initiated.

What stupidity?

Richland 2 Trustee Lashonda McFadden is apparently still under some legal direction not to speak to Supt. Baron Davis outside of board meetings!

You have to wonder ... what kind of stupid game is that? What was that letter that Baron had his attorney send to Lashonda?

When did that come up? Back in December? Lashonda was trying to get action to protect students against guns in schools. 

The entire Board should have slammed Baron Davis for such a juvenile act. 

But the Board Chair at the time was Teresa Holmes. Rather than recognize that the superintendent works for the board, she never took the bull by the horns and reminded him that he takes orders from the board, not vice versa.

In November 2022 elect four candidates who understand Business and who understand what the function is of a Board of Trustees!

Open Letter to Supt. and Board Chair - CUBE Convention

The following email has been sent to James Manning, Chair of the Richland 2 school board (until November 2022) and Supt. Baron Davis:

Pursuant to Board Policy BEDH Public Participation at Meetings, particularly Agenda Items, which reads "Citizens wanting an item to be placed on the agenda..."

I, Gus Philpott, of 39 Barony Place Circle and resident of Richland School District Two, hereby make this request on September 3, 2022, which is more than three days before the next regular school board meeting on September 13, 2022, and request an Agenda Item for the September 13, 2022 regular board meeting for discussion of board member participation at the CUBE Annual Convention in Miami, Florida, on September 29-October 1, 2022.

Specifically, I request a full, fair, transparent discussion of the reason(s) that any board member(s) whose term-of-office in two months (November 2022), and especially those who have not filed for re-election, should have access to District funds for Conference fees, travel, ground transportation, lodging, meals, and incidentals (parking, rental car, gratuities).

I request that the board deny use of District funds to those whose terms are expiring, including the one current board member who has filed for re-election. Should she not be re-elected, such funds will have been wasted.

Sincerely,

Gus Philpott

If you agree that RSD2 funds should not be wasted on that junket to Miami (estimated cost: $3,000), email Manning and Davis your own request. 

AND show up at the board meeting on September 13, 2022 to let them know how you feel.

Gun at SVHS - 9/2/2022

A gun was found in a student's possession at Spring Valley High School today.

See articles in local media.

Be sure to read Richland Two's alert to SVHS parents from SVHS Principal Jeff Temoney.

Dear Spring Valley High School Families,

I am writing to let you know that this afternoon a weapon was confiscated from a student. I know this is alarming to hear so let me assure you that the situation was addressed swiftly, our students and employees are safe, and we have been able to continue with our school day without interruption. 

The weapon was found after our school received a tip that a student was talking about having a gun at school today. Immediately upon receiving the tip, school administrators and our School Resource Officers located the student and took possession of the student’s book bag. A hand gun was found while conducting a search of the book bag in an administrative office. So far in the investigation, we do not have any evidence to indicate that the student threatened to harm anyone at school.

School administrators and our SROs are following district procedures and board policy in administering disciplinary and legal consequences. Making sure our students and employees are safe remains our top priority, and anyone who compromises the safety of our campus faces serious consequences. In accordance with state and federal law, Richland Two Board Policy JICI states that a student who brings a weapon to school faces expulsion of no less than one year.

I assure you that school and district leaders understand how concerning it is for parents and students to learn about a weapon on campus. We all share the alarm and concern at this growing problem, and we must all work together to prevent our children from getting access to weapons. Our district’s partners BeSMART and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department provide free gun locks, available by calling 803-576-3498. For more information on BeSMART’s efforts to help parents talk with their children about gun safety and take responsible actions to prevent children from getting access to weapons visit their website at www.BeSMARTforKids.org. Also, Richland Two’s Office of Emergency and Security Services will conduct random metal detector screenings at high schools starting this month. The district will be providing more information about these screenings in a safety update.

Thank you for helping us keep our school a safe place for teaching and learning. If you have any questions or concerns about school safety, please contact a school administrator. 

How many words would be in Principal Temoney's announcement if you cut out all the boilerplate and P.R. nonsense? The District probably has a form letter, pre-approved by the lawyers, for explaining away how much it cares.

Anyone care to comment on the effectiveness of the BeSmart initiative coordinated by Supt. Baron Davis and Richland Two last December?

Or about the effectiveness of the Committee of the Whole on Safety and Security?

CUBE Conference, Miami, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Who is going?

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) and CUBE will hold the 2022 Annual Conference in Miami from September 29 through October 1, 2022.

Registration fees vary from $550-$775, depending on Early Bird and Member/Non-Member rates. Add to that, travel, hotel, meals, incidentals (parking, baggage, car rental?).

What is CUBE? Council of Urban Boards of Education.

You may remember that it was NSBA that instigated U.S. Attorney General's determination that parents are domestic terrorists. If I recall correctly, the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) dropped out of the NSBA. 

Did Richland 2 drop out and just go silent?

There are seven board members (including two trustees-elect who have never taken the oath-of-office legally) on the Richland 2 School Board. The terms of four of them end in two months. On November 8, 2022 four candidates will be elected to the 2022-2026 term-of-office.

Three incumbents are not running for re-election. Trustees James Manning and Cheryl Caution-Parker did not file for re-election. Trustee-elect Amelia McKie (proud $57,100 debtor of the South Carolina Ethics Commission) did not file for re-election.

Should any board members who did not file for re-election attend the CUBE conference at Richland 2 expense?