Tomorrow's Special-Called Meeting - No Open Meeting

When Teresa Holmes announced the Special-Called Board Meeting for tomorrow, Thursday, April 28th, at 4:30PM at R2i2, she did NOT inform you that the only item on the agenda would be an Executive Session. She was so serious about addressing gun violence and guns in schools; right?

If they haven't come up with the answers so far, what do they think they are going to accomplish without more help; for example, the community, parents, teachers, staff. 

Yes, it's a public meeting. The public part will be the 30 seconds after the meeting is called to order at 4:30PM.

Then the board will scoot off for a private meeting, after which they will return to the boardroom and publicly adjourn.

DO NOT SHOW UP TOMORROW, unless you want to be disappointed.

What Will S.203 Mean for Richland 2?

Signed into law by Gov. McMaster on April 25, 2022.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES AND FILLING OF TRUSTEE VACANCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR MAY REMOVE TRUSTEES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR MAY FILL TRUSTEE VACANCIES, TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND HEARING REQUIREMENTS, AND TO DELETE EXISTING PROVISIONS CONCERNING TRUSTEE REMOVAL AND FILLING OF VACANCIES BY SCHOOL BOARDS.

What does this new law mean for the Richland 2 school board?

Not much information is available today on the State legislature's website. A note reads:

THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

But I recall some of the reasons the Governor can use to remove a school board trustee. Misfeasance. Malfeasance. 

Does he just have to believe that such conduct took place? How will he decide? What "proof", if any, will he need or want?

For more than three years I have been decrying the fact (FACT) that the Richland 2 school board has been operating with two illegitimate members. Teresa Holmes and Amelia McKie have never taken the oath-of-office legally.

They were duly elected on November 6, 2018.

An oath-of-office was administered to them on November 13, 2018; however, neither was eligible to take the oath on that date.

Each first became eligible to take the oath-of-office on December 4, 2018, after filing her Statement of Economic Intrerests Report with the South Carolina Ethics Commission.

Neither has taken the oath-of-office since December 4, 2018.

Thus, neither is a legitimate board member.

What would happen, if Governor McMaster removed Holmes and McKie?

That would leave Agostini, Scott, McFadden, Caution-Parker, and Manning. Now look at the balance! Three Conservatives. Two Liberals. How would those five have voted last night?

The vote clearly would have been in Gary Ginn's favor. And I would ask for an immediate re-hearing, and they'd vote in my favor. Agostini, Scott and McFadden know that what happened to Ginn and me on January 25th was wrong. The vote would 3-2 in our favor. Hear that, Caution-Parker and Manning?

Would the Governor appoint successors for Holmes and McKie? Or would the Governor tell the remaining five trustees to appoint the successors? Or would the Richland County Council appoint? Or would the Richland County Elections Commission have to conduct a special election? 

Either way, there is a good chance that more-conservative members would join the board, whether appointed by the Governor or the remaining five board members.

Can the refusal by Holmes and McKie to take the oath-of-office legally be considered misfeasance or malfeasance? Where is my legal dictionary?

Hear that train late last night?

Did you hear that freight train roll through Richland Two late last night?

Gary Ginn's grievance was heard in the second executive session of the Richland 2 school board last night. As anticipated, his appeal to the board was denied.

The public missed all the antics. It's certainly too bad that his grievance wasn't conducted in full view of the public. He and I have not talked about that. But it was what I wanted for mine, and I bet a box of Dunkin' Donuts that he wanted it in public, too.

As was the case with my grievance, Gary also was denied access to ALL Richland 2 property and was prohibited from attending the hearing on his own grievance. Tell me again how it is fair that a person is denied his opportunity to face his accusers.

What you can view is the hanging. Errr, the board's vote on the matter they had just considered. That part of the livestream.com/richland2 video begins at 4:43:13. Previously, it was possible to capture just that part of the video and put a link here. But the District decided, in its infinite wisdom, to restrict copying of the YouTube recording into Vibby.com.  So now, you must go to livestream.com/richland2 and pull the timer bar across the bottom of the video to 4:43:13.

Agenda Item 17.2 was Gary Ginn's grievance. When a motion was called for, Trustee Agostini moved to accept the appeal (by Ginn) and revoke the no-trespass notice. 

Notice especially the body posture and attention that Caution-Parker, McKie and Holmes give her. As Agostini speaks, Caution-Parker is turned away from her, McKie appears to be studying her lap (is she using her phone during a board meeting???), and Holmes  

When a Second is asked for, Trustee Scott begins discussion but is stopped until there is a Second, which she makes. Scott makes, then withdraws, a request for Agostini to alter her motion.

Again, watch Caution-Parker's swiveling in her chair, leaning back, and holding her folded arms across her chest. Any body-language expert can tell you very quickly what she is shouting by that posture.  

McKie is still busy with something off her desk. McKie appears to be looking at her phone in her lap.

Holmes, as usual, is not looking at Agostini and appears to be just tolerating her words until she finishes speaking. This is par for the course at board meetings.

Holmes, after waiting for Agostini to finish, asks for a Second. Trustee Scott seconds.  

As discussion starts, the camera clearly shows McKie on her phone. She is reading whatever is on her phone and not paying attention to Trustee Scott. Why not? My compliments to the camera manager for showing McKie's clear violation of Board Policy about use of phones during meetings. (I hope he doesn't get fired for having done so.)

After Trustee Agostini re-states her motion, Holmes asks for another (unnecessary) Second. Holmes says, "Second for Dr. Caution-Par... I mean, Dr. Scott."

During discussion, Trustee Scott addressed "fairness" and "doing the right thing" She stated that they were there dealing with two trespass notices (one last night and one other (mine previously, on February 22) previously)) "and nothing to other people". By that, she meant no action against Pamela Davis and Baron Davis for their actions and words on January 25th. She added, "We have to be able to walk the talk."

Look again at Caution-Parker's posture. What does that say to me? "Cut out the chatter. Let's hang 'im and get out of here."

The vote was 3-4. Agostini's motion failed. The four against Agostini's motion were Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker, and Manning. Of course.

Then Holmes was ready to move on, but Manning reminded her they needed to vote on the grievance. (By this meeting, Holmes has been acting as the Board Chair for 9½ months and she still doesn't know procedures!) Manning moved to deny the appeal. Caution-Parker seconded. (She must be the Designated Second for any motions made by The Core Four.)

During this vote, it was hard to see what was on McKie's tablet screen, but it didn't look like District business. As McKie voted, she reached into her purse and lifted her phone in her left hand. Why is she looking at her phone again? Her car keys were on the desk. She was more than ready to leave.

The vote was 4-3. Passed. As Holmes announces the vote, McKie is looking down at her phone.

Chaos - Again!

Board meeting chaos!!

At 7:52PM I bailed out, when the superintendent began his Highlights.

The board was late starting the public session, which commenced at 6:39PM (after ending at 6:31PM, according to trustee-elect McKie's motion. Extreme discourtesy is shown to those attending in person and virtually, when the board runs late in its executive sessions without any message or apology to the public.

Once again, the Inspirational Moment was a performance, and it was not inspiring. McKie's introduction seemed more like an audition for Toastmasters. All she needed to do was introduce the Moment. Same with following the Moment. Thank those who were involved and move right into the Pledge of Allegiance.

Trustee-elect and acting Chair Holmes announced a Special-Called Board Meeting for Thursday, April 28, 2022, 4:30PM at R2i2 to address safety and security issues, in consideration of TWO guns having been confiscated at Blythewood High School this week.

Holmes lost her place several times in the agenda. Maybe she would work better with a printed agenda and then check off what has been completed. 

Holmes read Consultant Liz Guthridge's report on the two Executive Coaching sessions. Holmes couldn't even read the whole thing coherently. She stumbled many times while trying to read the report. You'd think that an educator with the 35 years' experience (to which she referred tonight) would have learned to pronounce "asks" by now; it's not "aks". The first executive session must have been a wing-dinger, based on the comments by board members after that report was read. The claws must have come out during the executive session, and they were still out. Trustees Agostini and Scott were right. Those two training sessions provided little or no value. 

Trustee Scott asked what the cost was for those "trainings". My estimate? $13,000. ($8,000 for the trainer plus $5,000 for the trustees plus staff time to prepare and set-up)  Another businessman and I watched them. Almost NO value.

Chaos reigned supreme when the Board tried to discuss forming a committee. It should have been a three-minute discussion. Instead, it went on and on, and it was clear that most on the board had no idea what the purpose of a committee is. And then Holmes made a HUGE and DISRESPECTFUL error when she referred to Christine (Christine Lewis, the Special Assistant to the School Board?) as "my girl". Ms. Lewis is NOT Holmes' "girl". She is an administrative assistant to the entire seven-member school board.

And then, as the Executive Coaching Update ended, Holmes announced it was time to move on to Item 9.1, Executive Coaching. "Oh, no. We just did that..."

McKie made several unnecessary and inappropriate comments during the first portion of the meeting, including her comment when voting on the Committee was underway. Trustee Agostini raised a Point-of-Order, but Holmes allowed McKie to continue. There's The Core Four for you. Sticking together.

Gary Ginn Grievance - TONIGHT

Do NOT miss tonight's board meeting - Tuesday, Aril 28.

When you look at the agenda, you'll see just one item in the short Executive Session that starts at 5:30PM.

BUT - look down further on the agenda for tonight's meeting and you'll see a SECOND Executive Session. That one lists a grievance to be heard. That grievance is the matter of Rihland 2 vs. Gary Ginn.

Gary is the second white man who was kicked out of the Jasnuary 25, 2022 board meeting, after Pamela Davis, wife of Supt. Baron Davis, created a disturbance prior to the beginning of the 5:30PM meeting.

The first part of the disturbance was shen she shouted at me after I introduced myself.

I was not in the board room when Pamela Davis is reported to have uttered profanities at a 14-year-old student who was seated behind her. He told me what she said to him. Ginn intervened, and Ginn told me that he was told by Marq Claxton, Safety & Security Director, that Baron Davis had told him to Trespass him (Ginn) and kick him out.

I was either in the hallway speaking (voluntarily) with a RCSD deputy, or I had already left the meeting after Claxton put me on Trespass. I was not "escorted" out of the meeting! In fact, I asked the two security officers if they were going to walk out with me.

Board Chair Teresa Holmes and Supt. Baron Davis set the agenda for board meetings. What was their planning (scheming?), when they decided to schedule Ginn's grievance after what has been the normal ending of the meeting? They certainly could have scheduled the grievance in the First Executive Session. If they thought they needed extra time, they could have started the first Executive Session at 5:00PM, instead of at 5:30PM.

Or do they think that the audience - the interested and conerned public - will not stay around until the middle of the night for the second session and the public vote on Ginn's grievance.

We all know what the decision will be. Let me predict it.

To uphold the Trespass Notice and vote against Ginn: Holmes, McKie, Caution-Parker, Manning

To vote in Ginn's favor: Agostini, Scott, McFadden

Lay in your supply of NoDoz. Don't miss it. Of course, you won't get a chance to view the fireworks that will take place IN the Executive Session, but you can watch the vote (if you can stay awake that long).

Another Gun at Blythewood High School

Today, Tuesday, April 26, another gun was confiscated from a student at Blythewood High School.

Today's suspect is a 17-year-old girl, according to one reader of this blog.

What in the world is going on at BHS?

I'm working on getting the girl's name.

I got the boy's name from yesterday's gun seizure. As soon as I can confirm it, I'll post it here. Then I'll invite comments from readers about why he would take a gun to school.

Same with the girl.

As I asked yesterday, why hasn't there been a peep out of Richland 2 about that "wonderful" Be SMART program, about which they were so excited in December?

15 y/o with gun at Blythewood H.S.

Let's hear once again from Richland 2 how well the BeSMART program is working.

Richland County Sheriff's Department took a 15-year-old boy into custody today for having a gun at school. No word yet on what kind of gun or whether it was loaded. 

And definitely no word on the 15-year-old's name. He will enjoy the privilege of privacy from The State and the local TV stations. 

If I can get the name, you'll read it here.

At least The State newspaper got the personal pronoun right (presumably). 

Remember the big hoop-de-lah last December when there was the big name-signing ceremony at R2i2?

Has anyone heard even a peep out of Richland 2 or BeSMART about all their wonderful efforts to lower gun violence in area schools?

How many Richland 2 students have been involved in gun-related incidents since December 5, 2021?

At the time, it looked to me like All Talk and No Walk. 

Has any teacher or administrator heard what Be SMART is doing?

[Edited 4/25/22 10:40PM]

Here's the print version of the telephone message that was sent out by Principal Matt Sherman:

"Hello Blythewood High Parents. This is Principal Matt Sherman.

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

"The teacher saw the weapon and immediately called for assistance from the School Resource Officers and school administrators. The weapon was turned over to a School Resource Officer as soon as the SRO entered the classroom without incident.

"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 followed district procedures and board policy in administering disciplinary and legal consequences. Students should never bring weapons onto school grounds and they face serious consequences when they do. 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.

"Our leadership team is extremely proud of our teacher who responded quickly and of the students in the class who remained calm while the situation was addressed. Parents, I do ask for your help in stressing to our students the importance of “See Something. Say Something.” Ensuring the safety of our campus for all students and teachers requires all of us to work together to keep weapons off our campus and to alert administrators and SROs immediately whenever someone sees something that may cause harm to others.

"If you have any questions or concerns about school safety, please contact a school administrator."