Voters, examine qualifications

VOTERS, please examine carefully the qualifications and experience of the candidates for the Richland 2 School Board.

In this race, there are more than four good candidates. It may be hard to select THE four who will be the best board members.

So, do your homework. Don't just say, "Well, I like ____."

Remember, a lot of people "liked" the four who are leaving the board. And look what the District ended up with.

The dynamics on the board WILL change after November 8. When two, three or four of the top candidates take their seats on the board on November 18, you can be sure they will not shun the "minority" (and I don't mean, by race of color).

We can hope that there will be one board - one cohesive, collaborative, cooperative, unified board - unlike what existed for the past two years or more. 

The rudeness, disrespect and incivility of The Core Four (of 2018-2022 infamy) will be history. Especially during the 2021-2022 School Year. That's the one that resulted in drastic action by the State Legislature, the Governor, and the State Inspector General. 

Meet the candidates. Study their websites and Facebook pages. 

It's too bad that the Sandhills Library is waiting until November 2nd to hold its candidates' forum. Many will have already voted. 

Don't vote too soon. You could hear something at the last minute that sways your vote.

Voter Guide by League of Women Voters

Use this Voter Guide to learn more about the candidates in the Richland 2 School Board race.

The Columbia League of Women Voters has published candidates' answers to three questions at   https://onyourballot.vote411.org/m/candidate-detail.do?id=4164817

Early voting starts October 24th, and you can vote at R2i2. But don't vote too soon.  Early Voting ends on Saturday, November 5th. Election Day is November 8.

If you vote too soon and change your mind, you can't change your vote.

Vote for Eric Rovelli for Richland 2 School Board

 

Go to www.EricRovelli.com and watch his video on "School Board Management". You can get to the video right from his homepage. It is short and to the point.

Eric understands the function of a board. He is a businessman with business experience, which is just what the Richland 2 School Board needs.

Read over his website and watch his other videos. Mark your ballot FOR Eric Rovelli.

Early voting starts October 24, but don't vote too soon. Do your homework.

Index of the Richland 2 Clown Show

 This Index will help you find comments, but watch the whole 35 minutes.

View the Richland 2 Clown Show at https://rumble.com/v1nv53q-the-richland-2-clown-show.html

1:25 Holmes. Stay Woke

1:38 Old news about Trustee Scott who was accosted and baited in the R2i2 lobby in Jan. 2019.

2:20 Parent speaking on 6/29/21

2:38 Chair cuts off parent at 3:00 mark

2:47 Larry Smalls. Hands off my kids about gender. Chair cuts him off as soon as time expires.

3:18 Holmes adjourns to Executive Session without acknowledging “No” votes. Argues with Agostini. Holmes says she will conduct meeting as she sees fit.

4:04 Trustee Scott departs 9/14/21 (before vote on supt. contract)

4:14 Trustee Agostini agrees with Dr. Scott and departs

4:20 Holmes delays calling on Trustee McFadden, disrespectfully saying “I’m sure you are going to join the rest.” Holmes interrupts and argues with McFadden.

4:48 Caution-Parker says, “You do not want to hear what I’m going to say.”

5:00 Manning refers to email from a community member (me) asking board members to walk out of a meeting.

5:40 Holmes argues with Trustee Scott.

6:16 Trustee Agostini calls a Point-0f-Order. Holmes ignores it. Agostini again calls a Point of Order. Holmes says, “Mrs. Agostini, I AM the point of order at this time. I’m speaking.”

6:29 Philpott reads bitter email from Holmes on 10/26/21.

8:17 Monica Glowinski speaks on 10/26/21 about disrupting and stifling public participation.

8:45 Holmes uses the Royal “We” in a patronizing tone.

9:30 Philpott speaks at public participation on 10/26/21 while wearing t-shirt, “I’m a Dad, not a domestic terrorist”. McKie not paying attention.

10:10 Joe Trapp speaks on 10/26/21

10:28 Agostini questions Holmes’ vote in favor of a motion. Holmes unilaterally changed her vote, improperly per Robert’s Rules of Order. Holmes said she had a right to change her mind. NO, not after the vote was announced. RONR provides the way to do, which Holmes did not follow.

11:05 Several speakers on 10/26/21 criticize the board to task for so much adverse news in media, for CRT indoctrination, sexualization of children.

12:36 Philpott addresses board on 11/16/21. Caution-Parker inattentive.

12:40 Supt. Davis said that two years ago he didn’t know what CRT was.

13:25 David Oberly challenged Privilege.

14:10 Holmes improperly talks over Trustee McFadden, who had the floor.

14:50 Many talking at the same time. Chaos!

15:05 Caution-Parker calls out Trustee Scott, pointing her finger in a scolding manner.

15:35 Larry Smalls addresses board regarding poor relationships with parents.

15:45 Ethan Lopez addresses board on 1/11/22 about respect between trustees.

16:12 Philpott addresses board on 1/11/22. Holmes improperly corrected Philpott about attempting to say that Trustee McFadden had correctly (done something). Holmes was wrong AT MANY MEETINGS about the speaking of names. Board Policy does not prohibit mentioning names.

15:30 Media report about 1/25/22 event, but incorrect date of 1/11/22 embedded in video.

18:00 Mary Livermore speaks to board.

18:39 Larry Smalls speaks to board. Manning cuts him off at end of time and cuts off microphone.

19:23 Student Ethan Lopez addresses board on 3/8/22 about being cussed out by Mrs. Davis on 1/25/22. Holmes cautions him after he says “district leader’s wife” and tells Lopez “no names”. Manning interrupted, calling it a “personnel matter”. McFadden stood up for Lopez. Holmes says she would “let” Lopez continue.

21:10 WIS-TV clip of interview on 1/25/22 with Pamela Davis. Says she did not use any profanity. Says a board member’s comment was “very hurtful.”

22:00 Ethan Lopez addresses board on 3/8/22 about Pamela Davis’ comments to him on 1/25/22. Say District pushed it (the 1/25/22 incident) under the rug. He had watched a cop and school board (member) restrain him (Supt. Davis).

22:50 TV reporter says Mrs. Davis said she didn’t do anything inappropriate on 1/25/22. [Shouting “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. DON’T TALK TO ME! GET AWAY FROM ME!” at a man who was politely introducing himself is “not doing anything inappropriate”?]

23:15 More by Ethan Lopez on 2/8/22.

23.38 David Gayle addresses the board on 2/8/22.

23:48 Conclusion of Craig Conwell’s (Khanwell) vicious, racist, threatening remarks at the 2/8/22 board meeting. No challenge at all from Holmes or Davis. Had a white man spoken that way at the meeting, he would have been carried out!!!

23:56 McKie expresse being offended. Oh, sob, sob, sob. Pass the Kleenex.

24:12 President Bush. Hard work.

24:35 Caution-Parker complains about the “git-cha” [sic] (Most people call it a “gotcha”). Trustee McFadden commits the unpardonable sin of addressing Caution-Parker as “Ms. Parker”. Caution-Parker responds nastily and disrespectfully with “It’s Dr. Parker. Doctor Parker. DOCTOR. CHERYL. CAUTION. PARKER !!!”

24:57 Holmes. “Stay woke”

25:06 Audio recording of 4/28/22 executive session, recorded in violation of Board Policy by (I have the name but have not been able to confirm it with him.) Holmes is clearly baiting and patronizing Trustee McFadden.

25:40 Woman speaker at 5/24/22 board meeting about the 4/28/22 executive session, referring to Holmes’ “taunting” of Trustee McFadden.

27:35 Blythewood Academy student speaks to board about discipline problems at school and profane language used by teachers.

28:11 Philpott addresses board on 10/11/22. “Richland 2 school district is about to take a huge leap forward.”

28:30 McFadden was speaking. Scott interrupted. Chair further interrupted and chastised Trustee Scott. McKie then spoke unnecessarily, acting like she was the board chair.

29:10 Caution-Parker speaks on 10/11/22 against Cash Advances to board members for travel. Scott brings up unnecessary car rentals, referring to Holmes’ $807.30 car rental and parking at the April NASB conference in San Diego. Caution-Parker doesn’t understand Advances. Manning makes irrelevant comment about per-diem. Agostini asked who approves expenses after travel. Agostini had the floor, but Manning continued to interrupt and argue with her.

34:00 Manning made a completely irrelevant, improper and racially-oriented comment about what he thought was a different standard for travel permissions between previous white superintendents and Supt. Davis, who is black. Manning said that was a statement of fact. Trustee Scott objected strong to his statement. Caution-Parker chimed in with support for Manning’s statement.

35:00 Holmes: “You need to Stay Woke”

And with that the Clown Show ended. Will there be a sequel?

McKie Ethics Debt - Still $57,100

#10

What is Amelia McKie doing about settling her $57,100 debt with the South Carolina Ethics Commission?

When the Ethics Commission filed a judgment against her in Richland County Common Pleas Court on July 10, 2019, her debt was $51,700. Now it's $57,100. (No, this is not a typo.) And it may go up next Thursday, if she is found liable on another violation of ethics laws.

McKie's debt is owed for Default Years 2016, 2020 and 2021.

Why isn't she paying? She seems to have money for new clothing, hair styling, pearls, jewelry.

And more importantly, why isn't the South Carolina Department of Revenue, which is the State's collection agent, pursuing collection?

If she hasn't been paying on her debt during her term of public office, what is the chance that she will pay on it after she leaves office next month? Somewhere between slim and none would be my guess.

Remember her frequent statements during the past month that she will fulfill her duties as long as she is a sitting member of the board?

What about her ethical responsibility to pay off this debt?

Out of 26 pages of debtors, McKie is Number 10 on the Debtors' List. 

This is the person elected by the board (majority) last June to be Board Vice Chair. This is the trustee-elect who, after she was re-elected in November 2018, never took the oath-of-office legally for the current term-of-office.

How much do the Top Ten owe? 

which is 44% of the Total Debts of $2,751,668.

Presenting ... the Richland 2 Clown Show

Be absolutely sure to watch this video, which was published yesterday. The Richland 2 Clown Show!

See it at https://rumble.com/v1nv53q-the-richland-2-clown-show.html

Everything is there but the clown car.

Somebody spent a lot of time culling through livestream videos and putting this 35-minute video together. It shows the chaos of the school board. Be sure to see the segments when Teresa Holmes continually interrupts board members who are speaking.

One of Teresa's most-memorable statements occurs on September 22, 2021, when Trustee Agostini is calling a Point-of-Order. After Agostini's third call Teresa says, "Mrs. Agostini, I AM the point-of-order at this point. I'm talking...". See that, starting at 6:00.

Email this article or forward the video link far and wide.

Item 10.2 - Board Comp and Expenses

 At 2:01:39 on the recording of last night's meeting https://livestream.com/richland2/events/10641431/videos/233280827, Item 10.2 Board Member Compensation and Expenses came up.

In that Policy we are reminded that board members are paid $384 (per diem) for meetings and the board chair is paid $480. Are we getting our money's worth? If you measure it by the number of words spoken, maybe we are.

The Core Four and the Superintendent want to control which meetings future board members can attend at District expense. The Core Four want to, in effect, rule from the grave by shoving through this change with their dying breaths.

Paragraph 3 was quite visible but was not on the agenda for discussion. It reads, in part, "Each board member will be designated an equal and specific amount for travel and development opportunities..."

That amount is $7,000 per School Year, which ends June 30. 

Holmes had spent $9,529.27 as of May 10, 2022, and she still had 1½ months to go, which may include a meeting in Myrtle Beach.

WHY DID THE DISTRICT OVER-REIMBURSE HER?

Paragraph 4 reads, in part, "The district will reimburse board members for all reasonable and necessary expenses..."

WHY DID THE DISTRICT REIMBURSE TERESA FOR A $587.30 CAR RENTAL IN SAN DIEGO AND PAY $220 FOR FOUR NIGHTS OF OVERNIGHT VALET PARKING? 

The conference hotel was four miles from the airport. The conference center was two miles (or was it 0.2 mile) from the hotel. Did she drive to the conference center from the hotel each day? Is $807.30 for traveling eight (8) miles from the airport to the hotel and back "reasonable and necessary"?

At 2:01:50 Trustee Scott made a motion to table Item 10.2. Trustee Agostini seconded. There was no discussion. When such a motion is made, the Movant should provide reasons for the motion. Otherwise, it doesn't have a chance. There was a hand vote, because the recording secretary can't figure out how to enter secondary motions in the Minutes. The vote was 3-4, of course!!!!

At 2:02:27 Caution-Parker was recognized for discussion, and she moved to add language that no advance for expenses will be made to board members. This is clearly aimed at any board member who cannot afford to front her own expenses for a meeting.

Caution-Parker clearly does not understand what an Advance is for and how it is accounted for. There is a line right on the Seminar Reimbursement Form (Rev. 1/4/2016), where the employee accounts for the advance.

Caution-Parker appeared to be sniping at one board member, and she was completely out-of-order; Manning did not interrupt her. Manning works at a business where accounting is extremely important, and he must know that Advances are not "free money". Caution-Parker's remarks showed a complete ignorance of bookkeeping and accounting methods, right on the District's own form!

The vote to amend the policy to prohibit advances to board members, per Caution-Parker's request, at (2:12:34) was 6-1.

Trustee Agostini asked who approves "what is reasonable" as a board travel expense. She was asking about Teresa Holmes' $807.30 car rental and parking expense in San Diego. Supt. Davis waffled by conflating other expenses and throwing in a lot of other words to distract from the exact answer. NO "LIST" is needed. A third-grader would know that Teresa did not "need" a car in San Diego.

Trustee Agostini suggested that "common sense" is how you decide whether an expense is reasonable and necessary. That works for me!

I wanted to scream POINT-OF-ORDER when the supt. got on a roll about his expenses. All that had nothing to do with this policy.

Discussion ended on that Item at 2:32:07.  WHEW!