SCDE and PragerU Partnership

WIS-TV announced a new partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and PragerU. 

Three cheers to Ellen Weaver and her staff for approving this.

But how did WIS-TV announce it through its reporter, Kevin Connaughton?

He wrote, among other words, "The conservative media organization and nonprofit, founded in 2009 by radio talk show host Dennis Prager, has generated controversy through its provocative educational videos."

"controversy"? "provocative"? 

To me, that's opinion, not news.

I emailed the reporter this morning:

"Was your article on the SCDE and PragerU intended to be News or Opinion?

"Why would you write that PragerU has "has generated controversy through its provocative educational videos"?

"Isn't that your opinion which, I would suggest, doesn't belong in a news story? I suggest that only The Left will consider PragerU videos as "provocative". PragerU presents information that is too often left out of curricula in our schools. I invite you to view a number of 5-minute videos and Thursday Fireside Chats on http://www.prageru.com and then write another article about this partnership."

You can read his article on wistv.com

SC Superintendent announces partnership with conservative media organization PragerU

Which school bus stop?

Just another day in the Life of a School Bus Driver...

Which route is this on?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/8237243493000264 (Be sure to turn on the sound.)

Spring Valley SRO escapes jail time

No doubt you saw the news about the Spring Valley SRO who escaped jail time for his misdeeds at Spring Valley High School. Just exactly why did Judge Daniel Coble not send him off to prison???

If you only read the local media or watched it on TV, you missed the whole story.

Read the long article on the Washington Post website. Read it slowly and carefully.

Ask why. Ask WHY!

What kind of investigations were done that allowed Jamel Bradley to get away with it for so long?

Where were the breakdowns in Richland 2? Where were the breakdowns at the Richland County Sheriff's Department?

Here's the link to the WashPo story:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2024/south-carolina-sro-child-sexual-abuse-jamel-bradley/

Georgia School Shooting

I found a shocking statement in one of the CBS News' online articles.

"FBI Atlanta said on social media Wednesday night that county authorities had interviewed the suspect last year about online threats to commit a school shooting."

It's my guess that school officials, SROs, and other law-enforcement personnel know who the future shooters are.

And that they are reluctant to "profile" them.

The school-to-prison "pipeline" can be shutdown. Implement the right programs of respect and discipline. It's way past time for "Tough Love".

The Social Justice Warriors, at least around here, will scream racial profiling. I say, "So what?"

Look at the photos of the troublemakers in your schools. Look at the photos of the criminals and suspects in the news? What do you see? 

National BeSmart Week was August 26-30. I'll tell you, folks. Gun locks will not solve the gun violence problem in schools or in Columbia or in this country. Wimpy approaches to the problems will solve none.

All the "Did you know..." questions are worthless. I don't want to hear that pitch one more time. 

Surely there are some smart people around Richland 2 who can figure this out. It's time to stop talkin' the talk and start walkin' the walk. 

R2 School Board Race

The race is on. The filing period for the school board election closed on August 15. As I recall, there are at least eight hats in the ring.

What should the qualifications be to win one of the three Trustee positions that will be elected this November?

First and foremost, the person should have executive leadership and decision-making skills and experience. Help elect these people, not just the ones with the most friends.

The Trustees on the Board are in charge of policy-making. They don't operate the District; that is the job of the superintendent. They should leave the "dirty work" to the superintendent.

Give direction to the superintendent and then monitor her performance.

Too many board members have been "in the kitchen" too often. Can you imagine what would happen if Directors of Ford Motor Company spent time on the factory floor, listening to employees who put fenders on cars or operate robots?

The persons elected should understand finances and the "big picture". 

They should understand that "they" make the decisions for Richland 2, not the South Carolina School Boards Association. They should stop wasting so much time on revising Board  policies.

Splashed on the District's website is "Purpose Driven, Future Ready". Seriously? Look at the grade-level reports. 

Abdullah Mustafa was the sole speaker in the Public Comment period on August 13. To view Mr. Mustafa's comments, go to this board meeting and scroll forward to 20:44 on the timer.

R2 Board Members - how much pay???

Do you, a taxpayer, really know how much pay a Richland 2 School Board trustee receives?

Be sure to read this article from The Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County (July 15, 2024).

Pay special attention to this sentence in the article: "Invoking FOIA to justify higher school board trustee member pay is 'a very creative interpretation of state law and accounting practices,' Bender said."

Jay Bender is an attorney with strong skills in school board matters. Read that comment again, and then read "between the lines". What does "creative interpretation" mean to you???

Apparently, Richland 2 trustees have found a way to earn more than $395/meeting times 30 meetings in a year (is that a school year or a calendar year?).

A while back it was pretty clear that they got paid only for School Board meetings. Then some of the trustees wanted to have committee meetings - lots of them. Why not scarf up $395 for a 2-hour meeting?

And agenda-setting meetings? What the heck! "It's my time; I should get paid." Seriously?

Who is watching? Anyone?

2024 School Board Race

I almost hate to put the word "race" in the same sentence as "school board", but there it is.

Who will be filing to run for the three seats that are up for election?

The terms of Trustees Agostini, McFadden, and Scott expire in November. 

The filing period is August 1-15. Who will be filing?

The voters should pick the very best three, but they should have excellent candidates from which to pick. Unfortunately, there are few qualifications for the office other than getting the most votes. 

Should successful candidates have good critical-thinking skills? Be free from bias and influence? Be free of identity-politics?  Have a clear understanding of business management? Business finances? Think as executives, not as management (or, worse, as employees)? Understand the role of Trustee is to direct, not "do".