Safety Committee Meeting 5/2/2023

The Safety Committee of the Richland 2 School District met yesterday (Tuesday, May 2, 2023). 

Five Committee members in attendance were Angela Nash, chair; Lashonda McFadden, board member; McGee Moody, parent participant, Marq Claxton, R2 director of safety & security; Capt. Verlon Rhodes, RCSD liaison.

Four Committee members were absent, judging by the empty chairs and places set: Monica Scott, board member (she apparently was attending by telephone but did not speak up until 37:45); female parent participant, whose name is unknown; teacher-of-the year (name?); ; and an unknown fourth person. (Three places were set to the left of the head table.)

The committee heard a presentation about metal detectors by Will Anderson, R2 Chief Operations Officer. His presentation begins at 5:00 on https://livestream.com/richland2/5:00events/10847395/videos/236055739

In 26 random (pop-up) screenings since February 2, 2023 there were 21,796 students screened. 21,756/26 = 856 students per school (average). What percentage of students attending those schools was screened?

The following were found: 1 gun, 1 taser, 1 pocket knife, 1 screwdriver, 1 ½-pair of scissors, 1 sharp edge weapon, 9 keychain mace; also, vapes, drugs, marijuna [sic], alcohol.

Staffing required for those 26 pop-ups were 241 school personnel; 111 contracted security; 181 R2 (security) Officers.

Only the direct cost for contracted security personnel was disclosed: $21,805.48. $21,805.48/111= $196.12 average for each contracted security person. $21,805.48/26= $838 average for contracted security per screening.

The indirect costs for 241 school personnel and 181 R2 Officers was not estimated; nor was the cost for the equipment, transportation, etc. HOW MUCH WAS THAT?

See the estimate of costs at 10:57 on the livestream recording. For five high schools (only), $2,601,576 for 2023/2024 school year.

At about 37:45 Trustee Scott was recognized with a question, and the committee chair said she was attending by phone. About time! She stated emphatically that teachers will not be asked to "man" the metal detectors. She referred to conversations she has had with teachers and said they are "very fearful" they will be asked to do so.

My response to that is that many teachers will be ready to man metal detectors. We have to stop living in fear! 

Board makes Statement about new search firm

I believe the Richland 2 school board was shocked to learn that Baron Davis is a consultant with the superintendent-search firm that the board selected.

McPherson & Jacobson LLC, of Omaha, Nebraska, was selected last Tuesday (April 25) at the Special-Called Board Meeting.

Trustee McFadden made a statement at the end of tonight's Special-Called Board Meeting that the board will NOT be working with any South Carolina consultant of the search firm.

When the selection of that firm was announced in local media today, I examined its website and was horrified to see Baron Davis listed as its S.C. consultant. I wondered why Richland 2 would ever select that firm.

When did Baron contract with McPherson & Jacobson?

Maybe he called them yesterday and told them he'd like to hook up with them. And today? Voilà! He's on board and some speedy I.T. person pasted his name up on their website?

If you believe that, call me. I'll still got that bridge in New York I'd love to sell you.

It takes a few days to put together a deal like that. A business ought to be curious why an applicant or potential contractor left his last position. Did he leave on good terms? Is he eligible for re-hire?

A young HR person in Denver told me in 1975 that the one question he would ask a former employer was, "Was there a great sigh of relief when that person left your organization?"

What would the answer be at Richland 2?

Should McPherson & Jacobson have informed the Richland 2 board that it was in negotiations with Davis?  Of course they should have! It might have cost them the Richland 2 deal. And it might not have.

But, in my book, McPherson & Jacobson gets low marks for integrity. In fact, the mark is so low that there won't be any mark at all!

Search Firm hired yet?

Has the Richland 2 School Board/District retained a search firm yet to identify candidates for consideration for the new permanent superintendent?

So far, there have been many Executive Sessions but no announcement.

Does the Board know how to hire a superintendent?

Did they contact other districts to find out whom they interviewed but didn't hire?

What will a search cost? And how quickly will it commence? (Hint: it should have commenced in February.)

I recall investigating a job in 1987 for an executive director of a chamber of commerce in eastern Oregon. A member of the board's search committee responded to my resume and asked me a few questions. Then he asked if I'd pay my own expenses to come there for an interview. I was in Kansas City at the time.

I asked how many candidates they planned to interview. Nine. I told him I would pay my own expenses 1) if I were one of two final candidates for the position and 2) if they would reimburse me if they hired me.

I never received any questions, and I never followed up to learn whom they hired. I also realized that I never wanted to be an Executive Director of a chamber. Can you imagine having 15 "bosses" (on the Board of Directors) and trying to keep eight of them happy?

[Edited. Richland 2 has hired McPherson & Jacobson LLC, according to ABC in Columbia earlier today. The firm is located in Omaha, Nebraska. Its website is https://macnjake.com/ 

Guess who is listed on their website as a member of their consultant team for South Carolina: "Dr. Baron Davis". And the Richland 2 Board picked that firm???

Read that firm's "Equity Policy". 

WOKE - all the way.

Role of the R2 Board - forgotten? never known?

Only a month ago (March 23, 2023) the Richland 2 school board heard a presentation by Attorney Ashley Story on the Role of the Board.

Unfortunately, that meeting was not livestreamed, but the excellent presentation by Attorney Story can be viewed here:

https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/rsd2/Board.nsf/files/CQ6S3M6CDC0E/$file/The%20Role%20of%20School%20Board%20Members_Richland%202.pdf

Did the Board learn anything from that presentation? If they did, how did they forget it so quickly?

Most of the board members seem not to know that their roles are 1) direction and 2) oversight. They are not "do-ers".

One of the reasons for 4-5-6-hour board meetings is that board members have inserted themselves too deeply into operations and management of the District. That is not their role. They are Trustees. They are supposed to be decision-makers. They are not management employees of the District.

It could be that the only way to fix this will be in the next two elections.

Rather than attending to all the minutiae, the board should focus on hiring a permanent superintendent. What "face" are they presenting? Do they think that candidates aren't watching the board meetings?

Safety Committee Meeting - May 2ne

The R2 School Board's Safety Committee has announced a 5:30PM meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at R2i2. 

The agenda shows the the only item is a discussion of Implementation of Metal Detectors..

Why is the Safety Committee addressing an "implementation" of metal detectors. The decision belongs in the authority of the Superintendent, or her designee.

The committee is a group of well-intentioned but untrained volunteers, with the exception of the R2 Director of Safety & Security and the RCSD liaison. The committee may eventually make a recommendation to the Board about metal detectors, but the agenda for Tuesday's meeting doesn't include an Action Step, just "discussion".

May 1st - Special-Called Board Meeting

Richland 2 School District has announced a Special-Called Board Meeting for Monday, May 1, 2023, 6:30PM.

The agenda states there will be an Executive Session for the purpose of a 1) Security Update and 2) Receipt of Legal Advice pending Litigation.

Again, these "purposes" are general, not specific. Is the District running afoul of South Carolina's FOIA law? 

S.C. Code of Laws §30-4-70(b) reads, in part, "...the presiding officer shall announce the specific purpose of the executive session. As used in this subsection, "specific purpose" means a description of the matter to be discussed ..."

"Security Update" is not specific.

"Litigation" is not specific.

Is it time for a complaint to the S.C. Attorney General?

Is the "Security Update" about the stabbing at Ridge View High School? No need to go into executive session for that.

Is "Litigation" that lawsuit about to be filed by Attorney John Mobley, related to that stabbing?  The Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Publis Index doesn't indicate a filing yet.

Stabbing lawsuit - already!

Well! That didn't take long.

WACH-TV is reporting today that the family of one of the stabbing victims at Ridge View High School on Tuesday is suing Richland 2 School District and the mother of the suspect, named by WIS-TV earlier in the week as Tony Abrams, age 17.

WACH-TV did not name Attorney John Mobley's client or the student.

However, the article answered a couple of my questions about prior incidents. The article states:

"Attorney John Mobley says this is not the first incident between the students.

"He says days prior the suspect allegedly assaulted the student with brass knuckles and took his belongings."

What? Abrams (allegedly) used brass knuckles against the stabbing victim "days prior"? And stole his belongings? At school? And Abrams was still in school???

How bad is crime at Ridge View High School?

Is it under-reported to RCSD? Do administrators treat crimes as discipline problems? A few years ago I found a Discipline Schedule somewhere in online District materials. As I recall, there are three levels of discipline.

Where do brass knuckles and theft fall in the grand scheme of "discipline"?