When will the school members stand up and shout "Enough!" at the Board Chair and Superintendent. It is they who prepare the agenda for board meetings.
The Special-Called Board Meeting on January 7, 2020 is for approval of a "General Fund Budget Amendment for 2019-20 Fiscal Year" and for reviewing and revising THIRTY-THREE Board Policies.
Members of the public should be alert to the fact that the District is not informing the public of the nature or amount of that Amendment. The Board, no doubt, will receive details in advance, but the public is left in the dark.
DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE?
How many hours will be required of board members to examine carefully the proposed revisions and consider whether the revisions should be accepted as proposed, edited, modified, sent back for more work, or whether the entire Policy should be scrapped?
You can read the proposed revisions by viewing the Agenda on the District's website and clicking on the attachments.
How many of the board members actually and conscientiously read each and every proposed revision, so that they will be fully prepared to ask intelligent questions on Tuesday evening.
I recall one board meeting last year when one of the board members asked a question about a Policy revision (as I recall, it had to do with visiting classrooms). The staff person at the podium was really put on the spot. After a short pause, she explained that the answer to that question was in the Board brief. In other words, if that board member had read the attachment to that item in the Agenda, the board member would have known the answer.
No action is being requested on these 33 revisions on Tuesday night. A vote to approve them will be requested at the January 14th Regular Meeting.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Drug testing of expelled students
On the Special-Called Board Meeting on January 7, 2020 the school board will review and change Board Policy JKEE, which pertains to drug testing of certain expelled students.
Board members should rescind this entire policy.
Once a student is expelled, s/he is expelled. Out. Gone. Done. And that's the end of District involvement in that student's life.
If a student wants to re-enroll and the District evaluates re-enrollment, it should do so based on statements alone.
If the student is found to have violated Board Policy again, then toss him or her out again. A student should not have to give evidence against himself to give the District a heads-up on the violation.
Board members should rescind this entire policy.
Once a student is expelled, s/he is expelled. Out. Gone. Done. And that's the end of District involvement in that student's life.
If a student wants to re-enroll and the District evaluates re-enrollment, it should do so based on statements alone.
If the student is found to have violated Board Policy again, then toss him or her out again. A student should not have to give evidence against himself to give the District a heads-up on the violation.
Richland One Special Election - SEI Compliance
On December 31, 2019 Richland School District One held a special election to fill one seat on the school board. The vacancy was created when a member resigned and planned a move to Nebraska for a new job.
The successful candidate in the election is Jonathan M. Milling.
And wonder of all wonders, he filed his Statement of Economic Interests Report with the South Carolina Ethics Commission on October 21, 2019.
When the election is certified by the Richland County Elections Commission, Trustee-Elect Milling will become both qualified and eligible to take the Oath of Office and enter upon his official responsibilities.
Contrast this with two trustees-elect on the Richland School District Two Board. Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes became qualified for the school board on November 6, 2018, but they have never legally become entitled to take office. They have never taken the oath of office legally.
Both took the oath of office illegally on November 13, 2018; "illegally" because neither had filed her required Statement of Economic Interests Report with the South Carolina Ethics Commission.
After The Independent Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County blew the whistle, each filed her SEI on December 4, 2018.
Neither McKie nor Holmes has ever taken the oath of office legally on or since December 4, 2018.
Therefore, neither is on the School Board legitimately. Yet they are allowed to serve, to attend executive sessions, to hear confidential student matters and District business, to vote on motions, to be paid for serving, to hold memberships in associations.
How much longer with voters allow McKie and Holmes to usurp public office?
The successful candidate in the election is Jonathan M. Milling.
And wonder of all wonders, he filed his Statement of Economic Interests Report with the South Carolina Ethics Commission on October 21, 2019.
When the election is certified by the Richland County Elections Commission, Trustee-Elect Milling will become both qualified and eligible to take the Oath of Office and enter upon his official responsibilities.
Contrast this with two trustees-elect on the Richland School District Two Board. Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes became qualified for the school board on November 6, 2018, but they have never legally become entitled to take office. They have never taken the oath of office legally.
Both took the oath of office illegally on November 13, 2018; "illegally" because neither had filed her required Statement of Economic Interests Report with the South Carolina Ethics Commission.
After The Independent Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County blew the whistle, each filed her SEI on December 4, 2018.
Neither McKie nor Holmes has ever taken the oath of office legally on or since December 4, 2018.
Therefore, neither is on the School Board legitimately. Yet they are allowed to serve, to attend executive sessions, to hear confidential student matters and District business, to vote on motions, to be paid for serving, to hold memberships in associations.
How much longer with voters allow McKie and Holmes to usurp public office?
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Open Request to School Board
This is an open request to the Richland 2 School Board to explain to the public why you consider Amelia McKie and Teresa Holmes to be legitimate members of the school board.
McKie and Holmes violated State law by taking the oath of office before filing their Statement of Economic Interests Reports (SEI) with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. (S.C. Code of Laws 8-13-1110(A))
Each took the oath of office on November 13, 2018. But they took the oath illegally on that date.
On November 13, 2018, each was "qualified" to be a board member (having been elected on November 6), but neither was eligible to take the oath of office.
Each filed her SEI on December 4, 2018.
Neither has taken the oath of office since December 4, 2018.
State law requires that the oath be taken before assuming office. Most certainly, this means taken legally. (S.C. Code of Laws 8-3-10)
Please explain to the public exactly what "interpretations" of law on which you are relying, when you allow McKie and Holmes to act as board members and to hold an Officer position on the board.
Please explain why McKie and Holmes are not usurping public office. (S.C. Code of Laws 15-63-60)
McKie and Holmes violated State law by taking the oath of office before filing their Statement of Economic Interests Reports (SEI) with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. (S.C. Code of Laws 8-13-1110(A))
Each took the oath of office on November 13, 2018. But they took the oath illegally on that date.
On November 13, 2018, each was "qualified" to be a board member (having been elected on November 6), but neither was eligible to take the oath of office.
Each filed her SEI on December 4, 2018.
Neither has taken the oath of office since December 4, 2018.
State law requires that the oath be taken before assuming office. Most certainly, this means taken legally. (S.C. Code of Laws 8-3-10)
Please explain to the public exactly what "interpretations" of law on which you are relying, when you allow McKie and Holmes to act as board members and to hold an Officer position on the board.
Please explain why McKie and Holmes are not usurping public office. (S.C. Code of Laws 15-63-60)
Monday, December 30, 2019
"Forget the S.C. teacher march?"
This headline appears on TheState.com today, as part of 2019 political news.
This got me to wondering what will happen on May 1, 2020.
Why May 1st? May 1st is International Workers' Day, also known as Workers' Day, Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement which occurs every year on May Day (Source: Wikipedia.com)
As a student in the 1950s I learned about May Day. It wasn't ring around the May pole. It was about Red Square and Russia.
Will the Richland 2 School Board begin planning now to head off any "strike" or work slowdown by teachers in 2020?
May 1, 2020 will be a Friday, perfect for a three-day week-end of Red4Ed.
May 1, 2020 will be a scheduled work day, a day of school classes.
Richland 2 should not wimp out, as it did in 2019, declaring at the last minute that schools would be closed. I can name the 4-5 school board members (included two who aren't even legal school board members) who will support the teacher's walk-out. Care to guess?
The School Board has a responsibility to the students, to voters, to taxpayers to see that schools are open and that regular classes are held. Teachers should follow class outlines and keep their personal wishes to themselves.
There are only four months for Richland 2 School Board members and administration to grow backbones and tell the teachers to stand down on a work day. Teachers should advocate, picket, protest, march, etc. on their own time.
This got me to wondering what will happen on May 1, 2020.
Why May 1st? May 1st is International Workers' Day, also known as Workers' Day, Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement which occurs every year on May Day (Source: Wikipedia.com)
As a student in the 1950s I learned about May Day. It wasn't ring around the May pole. It was about Red Square and Russia.
Will the Richland 2 School Board begin planning now to head off any "strike" or work slowdown by teachers in 2020?
May 1, 2020 will be a Friday, perfect for a three-day week-end of Red4Ed.
May 1, 2020 will be a scheduled work day, a day of school classes.
Richland 2 should not wimp out, as it did in 2019, declaring at the last minute that schools would be closed. I can name the 4-5 school board members (included two who aren't even legal school board members) who will support the teacher's walk-out. Care to guess?
The School Board has a responsibility to the students, to voters, to taxpayers to see that schools are open and that regular classes are held. Teachers should follow class outlines and keep their personal wishes to themselves.
There are only four months for Richland 2 School Board members and administration to grow backbones and tell the teachers to stand down on a work day. Teachers should advocate, picket, protest, march, etc. on their own time.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Silent Graduation Honors Student with Autism
Today I came across this video of the 2019 Carmel High School graduation. The first student to receive his diploma was Jack Higgins. It took him eight years, and he graduated this year.
The student body was silent during the entire presentation of Jack's diploma, because Jack has autism and is very sensitive to auditory stimulation.
Watch the respect for Jack from the entire assembly.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
First Special-Called Board Meeting of 2020
The first Special-Called Board Meeting of 2020 will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, according to an announcement on the Upcoming Events section of the District's website.
The starting time of the meeting will be 5:30PM, and the agenda has not yet been published. Watch for the agenda on the District's website no later than 5:30PM on Monday, January 6, 2020 and possibly as early as January 2. If you don't know where to find the agenda on the District's website, drop a comment below and instructions will be posted.
The agenda is probably already known to the Board Chair and the Superintendent, who put their heads together to settle on topics and issues. Otherwise, why would they call a special meeting?
There may or may not be an Executive Session preceding the open, public session. Generally speaking, Public Participation is not offered in Special-Called Meetings. An exception was made in December, when the Board allowed last-minute comments on the re-zoning affecting Catawba Trail Elementary School students.
Board members and the public can suggest agenda items.
Board members can do that at board meetings. It's educational to watch what happens when a board member suggests an item for the agenda of a future meeting. Depending on who offers the item, there may be a call for a motion. If there is no second to the motion, it dies right there. If there is a second, then the gang opposing it can kill it on the spot with a Nay vote. How's that for killing discussion???
The first Regular Meeting of the board will be Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
The starting time of the meeting will be 5:30PM, and the agenda has not yet been published. Watch for the agenda on the District's website no later than 5:30PM on Monday, January 6, 2020 and possibly as early as January 2. If you don't know where to find the agenda on the District's website, drop a comment below and instructions will be posted.
The agenda is probably already known to the Board Chair and the Superintendent, who put their heads together to settle on topics and issues. Otherwise, why would they call a special meeting?
There may or may not be an Executive Session preceding the open, public session. Generally speaking, Public Participation is not offered in Special-Called Meetings. An exception was made in December, when the Board allowed last-minute comments on the re-zoning affecting Catawba Trail Elementary School students.
Board members and the public can suggest agenda items.
Board members can do that at board meetings. It's educational to watch what happens when a board member suggests an item for the agenda of a future meeting. Depending on who offers the item, there may be a call for a motion. If there is no second to the motion, it dies right there. If there is a second, then the gang opposing it can kill it on the spot with a Nay vote. How's that for killing discussion???
The first Regular Meeting of the board will be Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
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