How to Rate Candidates

When it comes time to make your final selection of the four candidates for whom you will vote in the School Board election in November, how will you choose?

Will you just wing it? Or will you give it thoughtful consideration?

You might even have already decided. Is your mind open? Or have you decided and shut the door on change?

Will you examine a candidate's experience for a Trustee-level, decision-making position? Does he or she have practical, Business experience? Does s/he have financial experience? Is s/he able to see the big picture of large-dollar expenditures? Does the candidate understand that being a school board trustee is NOT making day-to-day decisions about school business matters?

A trustee is responsible for directing the business of the District. How many times in the past year did the Trustees get mired down in "It's for the children"?

Print this grid. I came across it 40 years ago in Denver. It's the National Career Development Project Prioritizing Grid. If I knew where I found it, I'd certainly give credit here.

Working horizontally across the top row, for every choice, circle one number. Ex., do I choose Holmes or Mobley. Holmes? Circle the 1. Mobley? Circle the 2. Next: Holmes or Moody? Circle 1 or 3. Next? Holmes or Nash? Circle 1 or 4. The last one? Holmes or Wright? Circle 1 or 12.

Now do Row 2. Then Row 3.

To score the grid, count the number of circles. Enter that number to the left for each row.

Which row had the highest number? That's your first choice.

Which row had the second-highest number?

Third-highest?

Fourth-highest?

There are your top four candidates. Be sure to vote for them.

Teresa Holmes' real colors

 Here are "words of wisdom" from Teresa Holmes, which she posted on Facebook.

Here's where you get a chance to see the person she really is. 

Great work going on? Teresa is responsible for the chaos on the board, by leading The Core Four away from respectful dialogue, cooperation, collaboration. With Teresa, it was "My way or the highway."

So James Manning, Cheryl Caution-Parker, and Amelia McKie are taking the highway. By exiting now, they avoid the embarrassment of possible removal by the Governor, when the State Inspector General submits his findings.

No one is saying "the whole board" needs to go. Four DO need to go, and three decided to go. Holmes is going to stick around until November 8. Help her come in #12 out of twelve candidates. Just think, the worst she can do is come in No. 12.

We don't get to "vote out" Manning, Caution-Parker, and McKie. They are running out on their own, leaving Teresa to face the music alone.

We want you off the board, Teresa, because you were the Chaos Leader. 

All your good work? Seriously? Why did you disrespect Lashonda McFadden from almost her first day on the board?

"If" you return in November, you'll be on the short end of votes that will be 6-1. The Six will not treat you the way you treated Trustees Agostini, Scott, and McFadden. But you'll find some way to the oppressed and the victim. It's in your blood.

Community Member addresses Board

The following message was sent to the Richland 2 Board of Trustees by a Richland 2 parent and community member. Please read it carefully and then send your own email or letter.

Good Friday afternoon,

 

As my work schedule prevented me from attending the meeting in person, I did have the opportunity to observe via LiveStream.

 

I would like to address several items:

 

1) Board staff travel - This is an extremely troubling business practice that taxpayer funds would be expended for Board members who only have several months left on their term.  As stewards of taxpayer money, you have a fiduciary responsibility.    This attendance at conferences by outgoing board members is just bad business practice.  To that end, I would ask that the Board enact a policy regarding Board travel by members whose terms are limited.

 

2) Extension of contract for Superintendent - The fact that the contract was extended by 1 year by members who will no longer be seated in a few months is certainly troubling.    It is a known fact that there are four seats up in this election cycle.   From all appearances, it was like the majority knew that votes might change in a few months and in effect, rammed a contract extension through as a last gasp of power.  To that end, I would ask that the Board enact a policy regarding contract extensions by members whose terms are limited.

 

After the meeting, I learned that the Security(Safety) committee had been disbanded.  How in the world does this even make sense?   Rather than get community engagement and support on this very critical issue, the Chair decided to pull the plug.  This of all decisions is the most perplexing to me.  Safety and security should be front and center.   It is quite evident that this committee was formed to appease angry residents and parents and once things quieted down a bit, the Chair decided, community be damned.   

 

I'm continually amazed by the lack of self awareness, grandstanding and embellishment by members of this board.    As elected officials, you are held to a higher standard of accountability and transparency.    It is quite evident to some on this Board, that your oath means very little and your term is to satisfy your egos that are large enough to fill Williams-Brice Stadium.  

 

It is my fervent hope that in a few months, the voters will see the power grab for what it is and transparency and accountability will return to R2.

 

Good friday!

 

Monica Glowinski

Apparently one of the small group of residents who likes to make noise

Published with permission. Before moving to Columbia the author was an elected public official for more than ten years.

Richland 2 Community - show up 9/27/2022

Community members, parents, teachers, staff, students:

The next school board meeting is Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 6:30PM, at R2i2.

Please attend. Arrive by 6:00PM, if you'd like to sign up to speak.

Three current board members whose terms expire in November may be going to Miami on Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 at District expense to attend a National School Boards Assn. CUBE conference. This is a waste of public funds. 

Manning and McKie will not be on the board after November 18, only six weeks after their junket to Miami. That's when the new term-of-office starts for the four who will be elected on November 8th. 

Holmes will hopefully not be re-elected. If you paid any attention at all to the chaos of the past school year or have been reading this blog, you'll know why I feel this way.

Whatever would cause them to think it is okay to spend District money in this way on their way out the door?

Another item of outrage is James Manning's unilateral decision to disband the Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security. Without any discussion with the Committee chairperson, Trustee Monica Scott or with the rest of the board.

Who does Manning think he is? Vladimir Putin? Xi Jinping? Kim Jong-un? Ali Khamenei? Joe Biden?

What about solving the problems of the fights in schools? the rumble at the Spring Valley-Ridge View game? guns in schools? the mess at Blythewood Academy?

How will the trustees and the public find solutions to these problems, when Supt. Davis hasn't solved these problems?

See you on September 27. Bring friends.

Statement by Terrance Staley

Read this great statement by Richland 2 school board candidate Terrance Staley. He addressed the school board on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 - the link to his remarks follows this statement.

Good evening Friends of District Two. I am glad to have attended the meeting on the 13th. Many thoughts come to mind concerning the many questions, issues and concerns that were and weren’t spoken of during the meeting. I must first say how encouraging the presence of all the parents, teachers, and concerned citizens was to my heart. Unfortunately there was also an obvious presence of disorder, unaccountability, and a lack of transparency, responsibility and leadership from the current school board members. Seemingly no notes were being taken by board members, no pursuit of answers to questions or concerns by the community, and no positive moral. Questions concerning board spending and board activities funded by taxpayers also went unanswered. This has got to stop. We as a community we deserve more. Parental, educational, business, and community stakeholders have payed and deserve a school board with the pursuit of solutions always in mind and pro-active paths to get the job(s) done. Again, there may not be any one answer to all the issues facing District Two. But the first steps will be to: 1. Acknowledge and take responsibility for the problems 2. Remove all negative influences and reasonings for those problems 3. Establish an accountability complex where integrity, transparency and accountability are MANDATORY 4. Begin COA’s (Course of Action) where ideas and problem solving and solutions are pursued This will not happen overnight. This will take a lot of time and effort and self-discipline. I ask for your patience, and most of all faith. But it is possible if we work together and embrace the mindset that it takes a village to raise a child. Every individual pursuing what’s best for the community, especially our children. I can be reached via email at: TeStaley2022@gmail.com I look forward to meeting you, hearing from you, and being of service to you. Sincerely, Retired Colonel Terrance E. Staley

Listen to his remarks to the school board on September 13, 2022 by going to https://livestream.com/richland2/events/10609944 and fast-forwarding to 1:43:40

Manning Unilaterally Disbands Safety Committee

Read this message from Chair James Manning to Committee Chair and Trustee Monica Scott:

"I appreciate the work you have done for the committee of the whole for safety and security. After careful consideration I am going to eliminate this committee immediately. Dr Davis provided a detailed plan for the implementation of metal detectors and other measures to improve safety and he released more information today on his plan for safety at sporting events. With a formal plan in front of us, I believe we will get more accomplished in a more efficient manner by bringing these initiatives to the formal board where there needs to be board action. At the time he presented administration’s   plan there were no concerns brought up. I will add a safety item to an agenda so we can continue the work that has already been underway on this issue and to update the public as to where we are."

I believe that Manning cannot unilaterally, and outside of a board meeting, disband a Committee. It is the chicken's way out.

He is leaving the board. Why would he do this? Why would he try to muzzle the public and those on the board who believe that not enough is being done.

Email James Manning and let him know how you feel. jamesmanning@richland2.org

Copy the rest of the board: 

ameliamckie@richland2.org, cherylcautionparker@richland2.org, lashondamcfadden@richland2.org, lindsayagostini@richland2.org, puttingstudentsfirst2012@gmail.com, teresaholmes@richland2.org, 

And copy the S.C. State Inspector General. 

brianlamkin@oig.sc.gov

It is preposterous that Manning would do this less than two months before he leaves the board.

Good riddance, James Manning!!!

Supt. should deny funds to Manning, McKie

The Richland 2 superintendent is responsible for the lawful disbursement of public monies of the Richland 2 school district.

Some clerk way down in the bowels of the Accounting Department examines requests for funds, such as from trustees for reimbursement or payment of travel/training conferences. If she questions a reimbursement or payment request, that clerk has a supervisor, who has a manager. Then there are the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Above them are the Deputy Superintendent and the Superintendent.

Four board members have terms that are expiring in November. The term-of-office for the four board members elected on November 8th will be about November 17th, depending on the exact date that the Richland County Elections Commission certifies the November 8th election.

Manning and McKie (and Caution-Parker) are leaving the Board, for sure. They did not file for re-election. Holmes may be leaving the Board.

Manning, McKie and Holmes went to Atlanta for a COSSBA conference last week-end. Why would Manning (Board Chair) and McKie (Board Secretary) expend Richland 2 funds to travel to and attend a conference, when they will be leaving the Board in only two months?

AND why will Manning, McKie and Holmes be attending a NASB CUBE conference in Miami at District expense on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, when Manning and McKie will be leaving the Board five weeks later?

It's called "junket", "vacation of the taxpayers' money".

Supt. Davis ought to be saying, "I am not approving District monies for those meetings. The District will derive NO benefit from your attendance there. You are welcome to go on your own dime but not on Taxpayer funds."

When I addressed the Board about this on September 13th, I mentioned these words, "ethics, integrity, honesty, responsibility, fiduciary duty, responsible use of public money, stewards of public money, breach of fiduciary responsibility". 

Will Manning and McKie cancel their reservations for Miami?