Open-Door Policy

Mr. Klaene's post about the "open door policy" echoes one of the main concerns of the general public. The concern is that our school system has a heavy handed administration. The same has been expressed by many teachers when speaking with those that they trust.

I respect Dr. Holliday's opinion, only when combined with the uncensored input of teachers, parents and students. However, in my opinion, the teacher's input is the most valuable tool of all. Our current educational system seems to be focused on numbers founded by statistics and reports. Some of these reports are possibly falsified to support the results that the administration needs to condone its actions. There are numerous individuals currently looking through material in an effort to prove or disprove the allegations and concerns that have surfaced about ISS operations. I don't understand the referral to a high priced attorney (in Raleigh) to obtain documentation unless that documentation would provide information to support allegations of misconduct.

I understand that being constantly questioned about one's credibility is tiring. However, that is part of the job description of a public official. I'm sure it's not easy being School Superintendant, but that is why it pays $170,000 a year plus other benefits. Being open and forthcoming with answers would speed up the process and go a long way in easing the minds of those with concerns. Referring questions to an attorney only feeds the suspicion that things are not as they should be. It also adds an increased financial burden to current budget deficit.

I encourage all those with information to please come forward and I would hope that the ISS administration would assist in resolving the issues that concern the citizens of Iredell County.

This post was written by Larry Coover.

Banished From the Central Office

I spoke during the public comment section of this evening's Board Meeting. I am inserting the text of what I said.

My name is Paul Klaene. Thank you for allowing me to speak this evening.

Last Thursday, I had an appointment to view certain school records. I was instructed to mark any pages I wanted copied and that those copies would be available to pick up today. I did mark a number of pages to be copied. Today, when I went to the Central Office to pick up the copies, I was told that there would be a cost of $18.00. I tried to explain to Dawn Creason that there should be no charge since I-SS policy states that when a person first requests copies of school records, he will be told the cost for copies. When I first asked for copies of school records in January, Mr. Ellis told me that there would be no charge for copies. As I was trying to explain this to Ms. Creason, Dr. Holliday walked up to me and very gruffly told to leave the building. When I calmly tried to explain myself, he again directed me to leave the building. He did allow me to pay for my copies before leaving. Attached to the copies there was a note stating that if, in the future, I would like additional information or have further questions, I am to contact the school attorney, Mr. Neal Ramee whose office is in Raleigh.

One of the records I wanted to see last Thursday was the I-SS computer database indexes. I was told that the indexes were not available. As you know, NC state law and I-SS Policy requires that all computer database indexes should be made available to individuals requesting public records. I first requested public records in January of this year, and I specifically asked for a copy of the database indexes two months ago but I have not yet received them. As I stated last month, I am asking the Board to direct the school administration to expedite my request for these indexes as well as my other requests for public records to which the administration has not yet responded.

Last Friday, I sent an e-mail to Mrs. Wike asking for an appointment to examine additional school records on Thursday of this week. I have not heard back from Mrs. Wike. Will I be allowed to view those records at that time?

NC state law and school policy give me a right to examine school records. No school employee should be allowed to impede that right.

Let me also add that my grandson was with me today when I went to pick up those copies. When we got back to the car my grandson asked: who was that mean man? My grandson is a first grader at Third Creek elementary and that is now his impression of the Superintendent.

During Dr. Holliday's time to comment at the end of the meeting he stated that he had directed all of his staff not to have any contact with me and that he had told me to direct my requests through the attorney, Mr. Ramee, so that they could make sure that they comply with the Freedom of Information Act. Dr. Holliday also stated that my request for information had cost I-SS $5,000.00 in staff time and attorney's fees.

If the administration had just complied with my requests for public records as required under the Freedom of Information act and NC state law they could have saved a lot of money. I-SS has been retaining the services of Mr. McMillan here in Statesville and now they are going to hire an attorney in Raleigh. Dr. Holliday is the one causing the system to spend all of this money, not me.

Appointment to Examine Records

Renee Dulin, Janey Munday, and I have been making plans to go to the Central Office and view some of the I-SS financial documents. Renee and I were planning to go Thursday of this week and Janey and I were going to go next Thursday. Renee called and tried to schedule for this Thursday but she received word that Mrs. Wike, I-SS Financial Officer, would be busy this week as she was preparing for the annual audit. Since we could not go in and examine the documents this week, Renee and I decided to meet at the Statesville Library and share the information that we each had been accumulating. It was interesting to see that we each had several letters from the I-SS attorney, Mr. William McMillan, with regard to information we had requested. Who knows how much money the administration could have saved if they had simply provided the information requested.

I called Mrs. Wike this morning (Friday) to schedule an appointment for Janey and me to examine documents. As Mrs. Wike was in a meeting, I left a message saying that Janey and I would like to examine the following documents next Thursday: the 2008 audit report, all invoices from Jim Shipley and Associates for the last two years, all I-SS database indexes, and all consulting contracts between I-SS and any business, organization, individual, or group of individuals from January 2002 until the present. Renee wants us to look at the audit report, Janey wants to look at the invoices, and I want to look at the indexes and contracts. This afternoon, I received a call from Dawn Creason, I-SS Public Relations Director, and she told me they would have the documents ready for us to examine next Thursday.

An interesting note is that, not only are they going to have the database indexes that I have been requesting for some time, they are also going to have the consulting contracts available for inspection. Just a couple of weeks ago I received a letter from the I-SS attorney telling me that I would have to pay $2,000.00 for the staff to research and accumulate the consulting contracts. That was based on 40 hours of staff time at $50.00 per hour. I had responded to Mr. McMillan that I should not have to pay for those contracts since they were existing records and NC State law states that agencies must provide copies of existing public records at a minimal cost, which is defined as the actual cost of reproducing the public record. I have not yet heard back from Mr. McMillan.

In order to try to get the administration to follow state law I also sent an e-mail yesterday to the Board members, several administrators, and the school attorney. The text of the e-mail is inserted below.

Since many of you don't seem to be aware of the NC State law with regard to accessing public records I am providing a web address that will take you to the relevant section of NC State Law. When someone asks for access to public records you cannot deny access, or charge a fee, because that information is hard to find, or it is stored off site, or you have to redact confidential information. I ask that all of you carefully study the law so that, when in the future, someone asks for access to, or copies of, public records, he or she will not get the run around as I have been getting for the last several months.

Web address for access to section of NC law regarding public records.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_132.html

I don’t know if my response to Mr. McMillan or if my e-mail made a difference. I am just glad that the administration is finally allowing access to the requested information. There is other information I have asked for and not yet received but hopefully this will get Renee, Janey, and I some of the information we are looking for. I will write a post next week and let every one know what we find out.