McKie still owes $57,100 to S.C. Ethics Commission

This is the (not-so) proud owner of a $57,100 debt to the South Carolina Ethics Commission. Who is it?

Amelia McKie, trustee-elect of the Richland 2 School Board.

Her debt was $51,700 in February 2019, when I figured out that she was not a legitimate member of the school board. Why isn't she?

McKie has never taken the oath of office legally. 

She was elected to her second term on November 6, 2018. The oath was administered to her on November 13, 2018, but that was three weeks before she became eligible to take it. She should have filed her Statemet of Economic Interests Report (SEI) with the South Carolina Ethics Commission before taking the oath!

She did file that SEI on December 4, 2018 and, on that date, she first became eligible to take the oath of office and commence the official responsibilities of the office of school board trustee.

Because she has never taken the oath legally, she has been usurping public office, receiving tax-payer funds as a monthly stipend, and receiving expenses from the public monies of the school district.

Due to additional violations of ethics laws, her debt now totals $57,100.

She apparently has no qualms about thinking she is qualified to serve and oversee a $300,000,000 annual budget of the school district, even though her debt remains so high and she has trouble filling out the required forms for the Ethics Commission's quarterly and annual reports.

What should happen now?

At the very least, she should raise her right hand and take the oath of office. Even though she'd be more than three years late in doing so, she would become a legal member of the board.

But then the District would have to go back through three years' worth of Board records and remove every vote she cast. 

Or she could just resign from the board. They can't kick her off because of the fines from the Ethics Commssion because, unfortunately, there is no South Carolina law that prohibits holding (or running for) public office if you owe a huge debt for ethics fines.

McKie's term-of-office ends in November 2022. Perhaps the voters will be wise enough this time not to re-elect her. They sure missed the boat last time!

Where is Be SMART?

On Thursday, December 9th, with great fanfare a Be SMART initiative was announced at R2i2. It is to be a partnership between Richland 2, a number of other school districts, law enforcement agencies and healthcare sytems.

Three Be SMART volunteers showed up at the December 14th school board meeting to pose some "Did you know ...?" questions to the board. As I listened to the questions, which seemed straight out of the Everytown for Gun Safety anti-gun playbook, I wondered how much of the information was distorted. And there is a reason that I wondered.

Everytown and MOMs Demand Action (and now Be SMART) seem to me to be an anti-gun organizations, rather than specifically anti gun-violence organizations.

I awakened early today (3:45AM) and, before arising, glanced at The State newspaper on my phone. Bad habit; I know. There I read about a 13-year-old boy who died by gunshot at the Harbison Gardens apartment complex. That's over by Columbiana Mall, off I-26, in the City of Columbia. Apparently, another boy and he had gotten hold of a firearm about 11:00PM.

There is plenty of anti-gun talk around Columbia, but is anyone really doing anything to educate kids and young adults about firearms safety? I roughed out what I can do. What I can do is NOT wait for "government" (i.e., school districts) to assemble a grand program. I have ideas which will work right now. Some of them could even have been implemented since December 9th. I'm starting on them today.

Every kid should be exposed to the four (4) rules of firearms safety.

1. Treat every gun as if it's loaded.

2. Never point a gun at anything you don't want to destroy.

3. Finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

Most gun injuries and deaths are not "accidents". They are caused by negligence. Some are the result of just plain stupidity. 

Firearms safety should start at very young ages. Dispel the curiosity of firearms. Teach safety awareness and handling. 

The criminal use of firearms is another matter. Students' taking guns and other weapons to schools must stop. As in, S-T-O-P. 

A local group wants to slow down the school-to-prison pipeline. It's simple. Make it plain to the kids that committing crimes will land them in jail or prison. How do you stay out of jail? Don't commit crimes. What could be simpler?

R2 Board insults community, teachers, students

At last Tuesday's school board meeting, the board considered and approved a resolution regarding Winter Break.

What a complete waste of time. There was administrative time wasted in preparing it; the attorney for the District probably looked at it to get all the WHEREAS's right, and today it was sent out.

Winter Break (Christmas break) has been on the school calendar since the day it was approved months ago.

Do we really need Big Brother telling us to relax and have a good time?

Following is the message from the school district and the resolution. If you agree it was a waste of time and taxaper money, please sound off to the school board and the superintendent. The email addresses for the school board can be found here: https://www.richland2.org/School-Board/Members  (If you wonder why Trustee Scott and trustee-elect Holmes use personal email addresses, ask the Board; they should only be using @richland2.org email addresses for official business.) 

The superintendent's email address is superintendent@richland2.org 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 17, 2021

 

RICHLAND TWO BOARD OF TRUSTEES ENCOURAGES STUDENT AND EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME OFF DURING WINTER BREAK

COLUMBIA, S.C. — At the December 14, 2021 meeting, the Richland Two Board of Trustees passed a resolution encouraging students and employees to prioritize investing in their own personal mental and emotional wellbeing during Winter Break.

Board Chair Dr. Teresa Holmes said, “As an educator for more than 30 years, I know the value of Winter Break every school year. However, this year, possibly more than ever, the importance of this time off cannot be understated. With this resolution, which was the idea of Board Vice Chair James Manning, we hope to convey to our employees and students that the Richland Two School Board recognizes how hard they have worked since school started back in August. In the face of all of the challenges the pandemic continues to throw at them, their premier dedication to the district’s Core Values of Learning, Character, Community and Joy led to Richland Two being named the District of the Year by K-12 Dive.”

In the resolution, the Board is publicly encouraging that no non-essential assignments be given to students or employees over Winter Break so that the entire Richland Two family can focus on enjoying time off from school and work, investing in personal wellbeing and spending time with family and friends.

The resolution approved by the Board stated:

WHEREAS, Richland School District Two schools will close for Winter Break starting December 20, 2021.

WHEREAS, Richland Two employees and students will return to school and work on January 3, 2022.

WHEREAS, all students, teachers, school and district employees, continue to demonstrate a premier dedication to the district’s Four Core Values of Learning, Character, Community and Joy in the midst of a pandemic that has altered life in countless ways.

WHEREAS, the pathway to success requires time to focus on doing the work, it also requires that students and employees take time to focus on investing in their own personal mental and emotional wellbeing.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Richland School District Two Board of Trustees, by this resolution, strongly encourages no non-essential assignments be given to students or employees over Winter Break that would take time away from enjoying time off from school and work, investing in personal wellbeing and spending time with family and friends.

Adopted this 14th day of December, 2021.

Fights at Richland 2 Schools

Today I heard that there are channels on social media for the fights at Richland 2 schools.

Today I sent the following email to the members of the school board, including trustees-elect Holmes and McKie.

Members of the Board,

I hope you are getting daily updates from Administration on the number of fights every day at each school.

These fights must be stopped immediately. If they aren't, the severity of them will increase.

Teachers should not be expected to intervene. Their only duty should be to summon law-enforcement (SROs and 9-1-1) and to direct other students to leave the area, removing the audience of the combatants.

Are you aware of the channels on social media where fight videos are being posted by students?

If you hear of any fights or recordings of fights, please email them to all board members and request that immediate action be taken to restore safe conditions in Richland 2 schools.

Teachers and other staff should not be expected to expose themselves to injury by interfering or attempting to stop fights. All they should do is summon the SRO and dial 9-1-1, then encourage non-combatants to leave the area. 

Comments from students, teachers and staff are invited. Post them below. If you fear retaliation by posting with your name, email your comments to gusphilpott@gmail.com for publication without your name.

If you want to provide information to me but not have it published, email me. Confidentiality is assured.

Early Dismissal - Dec. 17 - - WHY?

The District calendar indicates that schools will release students early tomorrow, Friday, December 17.

WHY???

Winter Break - formerly known as Christmas Break - starts Monday, December 20. Christmas is not until Saturday, December 25. Schools are closed for two full weeks.

Why isn't December 17th a full day?

When the yearly schedule was planned, did anyone take in consideration that parents of many (most?) Richland 2 students are working? Will a parent have to take a day off? Without pay? How understanding are employers?

On the District's homepage it reads, 

"Early Dismissal Middle & 

Elementary Schools: 10:50 AM

Middle, 11:30 AM Elem"

Do you think anyone bothered to proofread that? Does it make sense to anyone?

Are middle school students released at 10:50 or 11:30? What about High School students?

Will a parent bother to send a kid to school for 2½-3 hours?

Georgetown Teacher hurt while breaking up fight

A Georgetown County School District teacher was hurt while trying to break up a fight between two girls.

The State newspaper published this: 

https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article256625331.html

Suggestion: when a teacher sees students fighting, call a cop (or a deputy).

Let 'em fight. Don't risk your own skin and bones. You're not paid for that. Call the SRO or dial 9-1-1. Just stand by and watch them duke it out. Be a great witness.

No heroes wanted.

Sure. You'll want to help. It's not worth it. You don't get battle pay.

The wimpy response from the school district can be read in the second-to-last paragraph.

Just before I read this, I was wondering if an SRO's response to a fight or other crime in a school is reported by the Sheriff's Department as a "call for service". Does it go in the crime statistics or does it get swept under the rug.

MORE Justice was complaining a few years ago about the school-to-prison pipeline. I've got an idea how to close the pipeline. 

Tell the kiddies to stop committing crimes.

Fights in Richland 2 Schools?

What's going on in Richland 2 schools with all the fights?

Today I heard about fights at Dent Middle School. Kids roaming the halls, shoving and cursing. Seriously?

What are the Principals, Assistant Principals, teachers and SRO(s) doing about it?

Are the inmates taking over the asylum?

It's a good thing I'm not a teacher. I might make it to the end of First Period.

It's a good thing I'm not a principal. I might make it to noon on my first day.

My first-day morning's announcement would be:

"This is the first day of the rest of your life. No more cursing, rudeness, pushing, shoving, throwing things. No more chaos and bullying. No more weapons at school. If you "made a mistake" and brought a weapon today, bring it to the office. Now. Surrendering it voluntarily means you can go back to class.

"Otherwise, you're going to get expelled and go to jail. This is your choice. You have one minute to make it.

"You are here to learn. We will teach you, and you will learn.

"If you don't want to be here, walk out now. If you want this to be a school-to-prison pipeline, we will arrange that. Choose wisely."