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?

Woke is already here

 

Imagine my surprise last night when I looked for a bathroom at R2i2 last night. Did I dare enter? Seriously? Are you kidding?

That sign was on the former Women's restroom at the rear of the first floor. Where else are these signs showing up?

Fortunately, I already knew the Men's restroom was opposite it.

The handicapped world should be rising up in protest over having to share a bathroom sign with three of the 13 genders. If RSD2 wanted to provide equity (or would it be equality?), would it post a sign for all genders?

Is any man brave enough to enter that restroom? Suppose there are women or girls in there and a man enters? How loud will be screams be? 

What if you walked up to a bathroom and were confronted by these signs?

By the time  you figured out whether it was .safe to enter, it would probably be too late

Terrance Staley for School Board

(Click to enlarge)

I met Terrance Staley at last night's board meeting and spoke with him briefly before the meeting. He has very strong qualifications for a board position.

Listen to his remarks from last night's meeting at 1:43:40 on livestream.com/richland2/events/10609944/videos/232910367

Due to his military and other experience, he has elected to avoid social media.

He is a solid candidate and is deserving of full support.

Just imagine a school board in November with (alphabetically) Lindsay Agostini, Lashonda McFadden, McGee Moody, Angela Nash, Monica Scott, Larry Smalls, and Terrance Staley.

All the back-biting, one-upmanship, sarcasm, personal agendas and chaos would be gone. What a powerful board this will be.

NOTE: Let me know if the copy cannot be read, and I'll type it in large letters. Or email me at gusphilpott@gmail.com, and I'll forward a copy that is very readable.

Just how bad it is at Blythewood Academy?

At previous school board meetings, Trustee Lindsay Agostini has stated that she will not vote in favor of a student appeal motion that involves sending a student to Blythewood Academy.

Now you can get it first-hand from a Richland 2 student who was recently transferred to Blythewood Academy. 

Go to https://livestream.com/richland2/events/10609944 and "fast-forward" to 1:26:06, when William Patrick is introduced. Mr. Patrick was followed by his daughter, Julie, who was followed (after Gary Ginn spoke) by her daughter, who is a student at Blythewood Academy.

What kind of behaviors are there at Blythewood Academy?

Toxic and dangerous environment. Known gang members. Violent offenders. Kids who have been to jail. Fights. Foul language. Teachers using foul language in classrooms. Students possessing prohibited items in school. Students have brought guns and bullets into school and have made bomb threats. Slurs spoken in classes. Last week a student got jumped in a bathroom and was covered in blood. Passing metal detectors with phones and vaping devices. A male student pointed at her head with fingers as if pointing a gun. Students attending who have charges of assault-and-battery and possessing a gun on school grounds. 

Mr. Patrick was quite passionate in his statement, and he exceeded his three minutes. He was almost done.

What did Chair James Manning do? He called for Security to remove the man from the microphone!!!

What a stupid action for Manning to take!

Mr. Patrick was an excellent speaker. He addressed the board without notes and expressed himself politely.

Fortunately Mr. Patrick stepped back from the microphone as the Richland 2 security officer approached him. Might parents have come out of their seats and surrounded that speaker?

What harm would have been caused by letting the man complete his remarks?

(I was reminded of the night that I was ordered away from the microphone under threat of security.)

The Board had just wasted a long period of time for the Inspirational Moment. Remember when it used to be a "Moment" (that being 2-3 minutes)? We haven't had a short Inspiration Moment (or even one that was inspirational) at a school board meeting for two years!

Safety & Security Meeting - October 11, 3:30PM (tentative date)

NOTE: Board Chair James Manning unilaterally disbanded the Committee on September 15. Watch for an announcement of the group's meeting, coming soon.

At last night's school board meeting Trustee Monica Scott announced the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Safety & Security. The Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 11th, 3:30PM, at R2i2 (not September 27). This is a tentative date, until confirmed.

She had to fight the objections and resistance of Board Chair James Manning, who tried to funnel her through "procedures" for scheduling the meeting. Trustee Scott knew that wouldn't work, because she had already tried that. 

The continuation of the work of the Committee is very important, approaching urgent. Not yet an emergency; no one is dead or bleeding.

Hopefully, the Committee will expand to include parents, staff, community members and others who are not under the thumb of the superintendent. 

The superintendent and staff have had 4½ years to work on this. At the February 27, 2018 board meeting I requested a survey of parents, staff, tickets and community members on the topic of arming teachers.

NOTE: I did not request the arming of teachers; I requested a survey. Supt. Davis said, "No" without consulting the Board.

A couple of weeks later I suggested the District apply for a School Safety Shield Grant. RSD2 might have received a $15,-20,000 no-strings grant to improve school safety & security. Supt. Davis said "No" without consulting the Board. (The money would have come from the NRA. Ohhhhhh, bad word.)

Where are we now? BeSMART and gunlocks. On a scale of 1-100 for solutions, that's about 0.5.

End of Board Meeting. So glad I didn't stay.

I tuned back into tonight's board meeting toward the end, just in time to hear part of Teresa Holmes' closing rant. I wish her well in the upcoming election. Based on her rant tonight, I hope she comes in no worse than 12th.

I'll comment on Wednesday on more of the meeting, especially the public participation, soon (but not soon enough) after the meeting began. 

I don't know what happened before Teresa cut loose. Something triggered her - big time!

Then Supt. Davis spoke too long (again) and Manning closed it out with his own rant.

The board meeting had convened at 5:30PM and had a very short executive session. It resumed at 6:30PM and ran on and on.

For your entertainment, start near the end of the meeting. Go to https://livestream.com/richland2/events/10609944/videos/232910367 and "fast-forward" to 5:07:22.  Right there, you'll find out all the reasons you need to vote Teresa Holmes dead last in the coming election. 

"It is easy to attack when you are charged with not doing nothing." Words of a "product" of Spring Valley High School. Words of a 35-year educator. 

Her words: "Stay Woke, Richland School District Two." 

Absolutely pitiful. Tell your friends!

November 8th will not get here soon enough. Only 56 days. Early voting starts sooner.

(Edited 9/14/2022.)