I attended the Committee of the Whole meeting this evening. Even though Dr. Holliday had previously stated that he would be at the meeting he was not. I guess he left the building right after the reception in his honor. Mr. Johnson was there to take over the duties of the superintendent. The meeting started with a presentation from a couple of students who participated in the AIG Summer Camp. They showed a video they made while at the camp. This was followed with a presentation by the principals of each of the middle schools. They each spoke of some of the student successes that occurred during the last year. There were a number of positive achievements at each school.
There was some talk about this year’s budget but without a finalized budget from the State there was still a lot to be resolved. Please see my previous post about the NC budget.
This was my post on a July write up. "Anonymous" posted there to ask why I wasn't at the meeting last night. I am re-posting it here to be sure it is read by all:
ReplyDeleteI have two different groups at which I volunteer my time as a leader every Monday night. They are both for my kids. I'm not about to pass that up to stand silently in a BOE meeting just because I can legally do so. Ya'll think that is a show of force? Wait, you wouldn't want a show of force, that might offend someone or appear to strong of a stand.
You have all forgotten that we have been complaining to the administration, to the school board and to the R&L for years. What has changed because of that? It is time for new tactics.
The group has no leadership, no solidarity and no teeth. Last time ya'll attended a meeting Paul got ribbed because he was the only one who wore red white and blue.
Let me know when you really want to start a battle to take back our schools and I'll be there. The stuff that is going on now isn't going to matter if there are 3 people or 300 people.
As Clint Eastwood said in Heartbreak Ridge,
"With all due respect sir, you are beginning to bore me."
Outside of John Rogers the BOE considers this group to be nothing more than an irritant. They have proven that they are going to do what they are going to do.
By the way anonymous...you were there in person but you can't sign your name? Way to take a firm stand.
Just now noticed the final line.
ReplyDelete"It all ended with the Board going into a closed session."
The board is in control. The board will remain in control until they are tossed out on their arrogant behinds. Tell me why a group of public officials would need to have a closed meeting to discuss public matters. The only valid reason would be a personnel matter. Can anyone think of another?
Some have posted on here and said that the public is meddling in ISS business. Unreal. Either that poster is part of the "business" or needs to move to a communist country where the system would support their beliefs.
Not so, Mr. Coover. It could be any number of reasons, but if the cause for a closed session were actually a personnel issue, it could be something such as an accusation has been made against an employee that has to be investigated...and maybe that employee is innocent, but the board has to be informed about the situation...and as much as people like to post and air others' dirty laundry, they didn't want that to be something that was printed here.
ReplyDeleteI have no clue what the closed session was about, but I can say that my previous experiences in other school districts have pointed to such things.
And obviously, there is the argument that closed sessions are obviously legal, or they wouldn't be allowed to take place. Maybe the information is just considered to be private?
I'm not sure I came across as I intended to. If the matter was a personnel matter then I fully support a closed meeting. I wouldn't want personal information or accusations to be released to the public unless it has been proven to be of a criminal nature.
ReplyDeleteSince the issue was brought up let me clarify something else for all to read as well. There have been some postings on here that were way out of line and really should have been deleted. One example; There were details posted about Holliday having an ex and children. That was totally of a personal nature and had absoulutely NO beneficial merit within the Citizen's group or on this Blog.
Getting back to the meeting; Other than the personnel matter, I can't think of any other issues that would be considered private. That was the point and question of my original post.
By the way, what is legal today can be changed tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteI have a family to support and when I retire I will sign my name as big as I can. I am glad you support your family. I also volunteer and tutor for free in the summer months. Thanks again for everything you write and your bravery.
I understand. Thank you anonymous.
ReplyDeleteAccording to North Carolina law, a closed session during a school board meeting is for two reasons: a personnel matter or the purchase of property. If you have attended a board meeting, a board member will read from the NC law to go into a closed session and must state the reason for the closed session. If any action is taken,
ReplyDeletethe board must come out of closed session and actually vote in an open session and this is recorded by the clerk. This usually takes place after everyone has left the meeting and there is no one to actually see the board taking the vote regarding the matter in closed session
Thanks for the info. Can't say as I understand the discussion of property purchase being secretive but at least it is voted on publically. So Paul,what reason was stated for last nights closed meeting?
ReplyDeletePersonnel matters
ReplyDeleteWhat?
ReplyDeleteIgnore the what. I eread back over everything and got it this time. Duh.
ReplyDeleteI am so afraid that the personnel matter had to do with Denise Holliday. Her contract was up June 30. Word around school is that she is staying until she sells the house. Teachers are afraid that with her still around, IF's and Baldrige will continue with business as usual. If the school board doesn't rehire her, there is $60,000 plus dollars to use for say TA's. What would help students more TA's in the classroom or another paper pusher in the central office.
ReplyDeleteI believe things are going to run business as usual this year. I would expect things will change next year with a new superintendent. People need to be careful how they throw nepotism around in the school system. Friends hire friends just as much or more than they hire family and neoptism is a small amount when compared to that. Don't get me wrong...I WANT DENISE HOLLIDAY TO LEAVE. I mean come on Holliday are you going to feed your wife to the wolves? Are you seriously not going to make enough money now in Kentucky? I know of several people who have a husband or a wife in other positions in the school system and they are very well qualified to be in those positions. I'm only writing about neoptism because it was brought up a couple of blog posts back. It's hard to get a promotion when you are on the same pay scale as the rest of the teachers. Title changed is all but I assure you that they are qualified to be where they are.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand, the public may speak for three minutes at the end of the regular BOE meeting, but the board has a policy of not making any immediate response to whatever was said.
ReplyDeleteThe public is not invited to participate in the COW meeting (as I found out when I made a comment during the meeting and had my hand slapped for attempting to bring up a point that needed to be considered).
My question to those who may be more familiar with "how things are done around here". Is there ANY time when the public can ask a question of the BOE, AND GET A RESPONSE?? They ignore you at the COW meeting and ignore you at the BOE meeting. Do we have to remind them of NC House Bill #43, which states that it is AGAINST THE LAW for them to fail to correct a problem after it has been presented to them?
The BOE will continue to ignore and be condescending to the public. They have done it for so long that they don't know how to do anything different. I see things very simply and I want everybody to think about what I am about to say.
ReplyDeleteIt was my understanding that the COW meeting was where the BOE makes most of the decisions after discussion. The public is not allowed in that discussion. As anonymous said, he/she attempted to bring up a point that needed to be considered.
The public is allowed to speak at board meetings AFTER the discussion is over. and the decisions have been made.
If you do speak at the board meetings, it is SOP that they don't reply at that time.
What is the reason for even attending or speaking? Don't think that your attendance is some show of force. This group, and the public in general are a joke to the BOE and many in the administration at both the Central Office and in many of the individual schools.
August 4, 2009 10:18 PM... you are right about the Bill but I don't think it goes into effect until this winter sometime. (Somebody correct that if it is wrong). After it is in effect you still have to get the system to utilize that law, and don't forget that the system protects itself.
When you all get done playing, let me know. We'll call a meeting and get this thing going.
Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.
Harry S Truman
August 4, 2009 7:11 PM... With the exception of a few changes, "things are going to run business as usual this year." I agree.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wouldn't "expect things (to) change next year with a new superintendent". A year from now people will be weary from all this peeing in the wind that is going on and will give up.
Janey... There is no need to get hung up on which individuals remain. There are ways that issues can be handled effectively if you focus on what is being done wrong.
It is inconsequential who remains from the old administration. Actually, their arrogance and feelings of invulnerability are of great assistance in bringing about change.
I have a teacher friend who had to move to another state because her husband had a been transferred with his job. She left the house in a realtor's hands. It took 1 year to sell and she came back every few months to check on it.
ReplyDeleteShe knew life is short and you should be with your family and especially her husband. Go Denise.
I have noticed something consistent over the years. People love to bitch, put each other down, be angry and raise Cain about issues; until someone asks them to roll up their sleeves and help fix what is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure what the reason is. Maybe they are angry enough to complain but don’t really care enough to work hard for resolve. Maybe they get so hung up on “us against them” that they don’t want to meet with the other side and give in. If it is something other than this let me know. I have been trying to figure it out for years.
I used to have a bi-weekly column in the R&L until the R&L edited me so much it wasn’t even my article anymore. I quit when they refused to print an article they were concerned “would be too divisive”. (The title of my article was healing, not division. It was directed at those who continue to stir up racial divide.)
It didn’t matter to me at that point anyway. I wrote those articles for a long time. It wasn’t so I could be heard; it was to bring about change. People asked me to write about what upset them, mostly the condition of society and the government. People I had never met stopped me, thanked me for saying what I did and asked me to keep doing what I was doing. I still have people tell me they miss my column. Yet, I was never able to form a group of people to address the issues that supposedly meant so much to them. Without results, those columns were pointless.
I’m seeing that here again. Every time I made a post suggesting a starting point of resolve, that series of posts died. Look back over here and see. It seems there is plenty of hate and anger for the other side, but not much so much at the issues themselves.
I’ll tell you this; if we do form meetings such as I have offered to lead, everybody is going to be right and everybody is going to be wrong. The truthful answer to a problem is always somewhere in the middle. We need to get off each other and focus on those problems. That is why I said that there is no direction here. We aren’t moving forward.
It’s easy to be angry and attack others or rant about any subject. However it takes sincerity and dedication to change what is wrong. We have a given amount of energy every day when we wake up. How do you use yours, causing more division or searching for resolve? The sooner we find that middle ground starting point and shake hands, the sooner ISS can begin to heal.
My email address is: ISSresolve@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete