Clayberry's
Board of Education had a packed house for their Feb 14th
public meeting. That's something they don't like to happen.
The norm is to have no one in the peanut gallery. Anything
controversial, keep it quiet. That's the way they like it. For
the 14th, additional chairs were brought into the meeting room
at the Pentagon. With all those chairs full, others listened
from the hallway and still more were in an adjourning room. At
least 50 taxpayers were in attendance not counting the paid
staff and Board.
Packed House
Let's get
into some background before the actual meeting coverage.
Without prying eyes present or knowledgeable, the school
system administration can do as they want.That's been the case
for decades.
It has been the perfect storm for that bunch in the last 6 weeks. Stuff got out into the public sphere.
There was the girl punching another female student and there was no adult supervision at Clay High to break up the fight. That part about not having adults on site, that's areal no no. That was egg on their face.
Their attempt to cram an Excess Levy down our throats came up short. It failed. They wanted to try it again right away but then they found out they must wait until the General Election in Nov to make another attempt at fleecing our wallets.
For this year's Primary Election three incumbents are up for voter approval. It's important that the Pentagon keeps their existing Board in office. The existing folks rarely ask a question in public. This time around, there's a bunch of candidates with good credentials. It's very possible that all three will be voted out of office. It has happened before. Remember?
Right after the first successful School Excess Levy Election, voters voted out two Boardsters. In that same year the pillar of secrecy JD Morris left Clayberry for a State appointment. They got their Levy but they lost their tried and true Board majority.
On Jan 29th pictures of rat poo on counter tops at CHS became public. Other droppings and nibble marks were around the big stash of bulk chocolate supplies. So bad was the mess, poll workers had to clean up the polling place before letting in voters. It's our understanding, it was so bad, the Health Dept went to Clay High and investigated the place.
And then came the stories on unrest by the teachers at that same school. At one point the emails came about a mutiny in the works. Something about out of control and lacking as the main theme.
Back in January Dave Mullins opened his ample pie hole and stuck his foot in up to the knee. A guy in the peanut gallery asked: how many students are actually doing the online classwork? Seems like a good question but, with dismal participation numbers (we think around 15% did their classes), the Administrators can not let that out. It would be too embarrassing that close to an Election.
Just a couple weeks back, a widow of a deceased bus driver asked the Pentagon to pay her for all the saved up sick leave days accrued by her husband. At one point, social media lit up with Dave Mullins telling the lady that he held a Board meeting and all of em said no the widow's request except him. Later came social comments from two Boardsters which stated, they had never been asked about sick leave pay out. FYI, the Board did not call a public meeting during that time period according to the school website. If they did make a decision, that would be unlawful we think.
One thing is for sure, in an election year, you should not be bad mouthing a widow.
Before the Excess Levy bote, the Pentagon sent out letters to H E White and Lizemore grade school parents. The threat letter told the Moms and Dads, if you vote down the Excess Levy, we will immediately get to work closing H E White Elem. That one threat letter peed off parents, teachers, and supporters at both schools.
Everything has to be kept under wraps for the Pentagon and Sch Bd to maintain order and keep their well oiled machine rumbling right along. For 2022, their train has derailed on a number of fronts.
That's it for background. Lets get started with the most recent public meeting.
It has been the perfect storm for that bunch in the last 6 weeks. Stuff got out into the public sphere.
There was the girl punching another female student and there was no adult supervision at Clay High to break up the fight. That part about not having adults on site, that's areal no no. That was egg on their face.
Their attempt to cram an Excess Levy down our throats came up short. It failed. They wanted to try it again right away but then they found out they must wait until the General Election in Nov to make another attempt at fleecing our wallets.
For this year's Primary Election three incumbents are up for voter approval. It's important that the Pentagon keeps their existing Board in office. The existing folks rarely ask a question in public. This time around, there's a bunch of candidates with good credentials. It's very possible that all three will be voted out of office. It has happened before. Remember?
Right after the first successful School Excess Levy Election, voters voted out two Boardsters. In that same year the pillar of secrecy JD Morris left Clayberry for a State appointment. They got their Levy but they lost their tried and true Board majority.
On Jan 29th pictures of rat poo on counter tops at CHS became public. Other droppings and nibble marks were around the big stash of bulk chocolate supplies. So bad was the mess, poll workers had to clean up the polling place before letting in voters. It's our understanding, it was so bad, the Health Dept went to Clay High and investigated the place.
And then came the stories on unrest by the teachers at that same school. At one point the emails came about a mutiny in the works. Something about out of control and lacking as the main theme.
Back in January Dave Mullins opened his ample pie hole and stuck his foot in up to the knee. A guy in the peanut gallery asked: how many students are actually doing the online classwork? Seems like a good question but, with dismal participation numbers (we think around 15% did their classes), the Administrators can not let that out. It would be too embarrassing that close to an Election.
Just a couple weeks back, a widow of a deceased bus driver asked the Pentagon to pay her for all the saved up sick leave days accrued by her husband. At one point, social media lit up with Dave Mullins telling the lady that he held a Board meeting and all of em said no the widow's request except him. Later came social comments from two Boardsters which stated, they had never been asked about sick leave pay out. FYI, the Board did not call a public meeting during that time period according to the school website. If they did make a decision, that would be unlawful we think.
One thing is for sure, in an election year, you should not be bad mouthing a widow.
Before the Excess Levy bote, the Pentagon sent out letters to H E White and Lizemore grade school parents. The threat letter told the Moms and Dads, if you vote down the Excess Levy, we will immediately get to work closing H E White Elem. That one threat letter peed off parents, teachers, and supporters at both schools.
Everything has to be kept under wraps for the Pentagon and Sch Bd to maintain order and keep their well oiled machine rumbling right along. For 2022, their train has derailed on a number of fronts.
That's it for background. Lets get started with the most recent public meeting.
Attorney Jason Long for the Pentagon
With the parking
lot nearly full and the meeting room overflowing, Bd. Chair Dave Mullins opened the meeting
at 6pm but a little differently. He asked if anybody wanted to
speak during the meeting. That request is very rare for the
aging Mullins.
Carolyn Rogers indicated she wanted to speak. Beside Carolyn was her attorney, Mark Tore pic below. Up front beside Joe Paxton was the Pentagon attorney Jason Long (pic above).
Anytime attorneys show up you know something important was at hand.
Special note readers. Dave Mullins has made it very clear, the public can ask questions or comment but under no circumstances will they get answers to their orations. That's something he reiterated during a Jan 2021 public meeting. Mullins said: I think I have made it clear before!!
With four Boardsters in attendance and Boardster Morgy Triplett participating via a phone connection, they went thru the mundane stuff like hirings and the shuffling of teachers, coaches, service personnel and such. That part of the meeting was completed in just a few minutes.
Then came secret time. They said they would be discussing the status of a CHS student. We think that was relating to the fight at CHS. Our guess, whoever threw the first punch got kicked out for a few days. But there's more. The Board would have taken the opportunity to discuss their game face when back in public. Something like: Don't say a word during this meeting. Keep your traps shut! Just a guess but we'd put a nickel on it!
Carolyn Rogers indicated she wanted to speak. Beside Carolyn was her attorney, Mark Tore pic below. Up front beside Joe Paxton was the Pentagon attorney Jason Long (pic above).
Anytime attorneys show up you know something important was at hand.
Special note readers. Dave Mullins has made it very clear, the public can ask questions or comment but under no circumstances will they get answers to their orations. That's something he reiterated during a Jan 2021 public meeting. Mullins said: I think I have made it clear before!!
With four Boardsters in attendance and Boardster Morgy Triplett participating via a phone connection, they went thru the mundane stuff like hirings and the shuffling of teachers, coaches, service personnel and such. That part of the meeting was completed in just a few minutes.
Then came secret time. They said they would be discussing the status of a CHS student. We think that was relating to the fight at CHS. Our guess, whoever threw the first punch got kicked out for a few days. But there's more. The Board would have taken the opportunity to discuss their game face when back in public. Something like: Don't say a word during this meeting. Keep your traps shut! Just a guess but we'd put a nickel on it!
Ms Rogers (center) attorney Mark Tore to the left. Way over on the right is What's his name
Here's the
main event. Carolyn Rogers expressed: her husband John Paul
died leaving 187 1/2 unused sick leave days; those days cannot
be used toward retirement time served; during a call to PEIA,
those folks said the Sch Bd COULD pay her for the 187 1/2 days
of sick leave; she phoned Dave Mullins who said the
Board would not do it; Mullins said he would talk to the Board
again; On Jan 27th Dave Mullins told Rogers, Yes they could
vote on it; sometime later during a latter call to Mullins, he
said the Board had voted no again.....
Keep in mind readers, we're not providing every statement the widow made. Fact is, we can't write that fast. Sorry. Back to Ms Rogers...
During other calls, Dave Mullins was very unhappy; he denied everything; and again from Ms Rogers, she told the assembled, she taped all the tele conversations with Bd Chair Dave Mullins. If that last part is true, Dave Mullins is in the crapper now. Gulp!!
Carolyn explained her husband worked hard, never wasted sick or vacation days and now after his death, they're treating a fair man unfairly. She asked to be paid for the unused, saved up, sick leave days.
With each statement out of her mouth, Mr Mullins neck went from blue to dark blue up to his ears. His bald head was red in color. You could see him biting his lips to keep quiet.. His legs were twitching around. His blood pressure must have been up around 400!
From Superintendent Paxton came: we loved him too... everything but Kum Ba Ya was heard from the Top Dog at the front table.
Enter the attorneys. In one corner was Jason Long for the Pentagon. In the other corner was Mark Tore for the widow.
Mr Long with first. His lengthy spiel boiled down to, the Board can't decide this. The problem is with Charleston and the Legislature. He said it over and over. Long, " Upon death, there is no pay out.... Unfortunately it's use it or lose it." The attorney kept talking in soothing, smooth fashion.
With 50+ in the audience and all of em supportive of Rogers, Long knew, he had to keep the peasants quiet. Otherwise, a rumble would begin.
After hearing 10 or more minutes of the stuff from Long, Mark Tore interrupted the "gosh we wish we could" speech. Tore: with respect to your opinion....I take issue.... state code does not forbid the pay out... state code 18a-4-10a reads that the Board can approve the [payout]... state code authorizes the local Board to make that decision... "Your hands are NOT tied by State Law ...It is your discretion... You have the authority!... He accrued those benefits... Law does not forbid you [Bd] from paying..."
And then And then.. guess Tore had heard enough of Long's side stepping, Tore: "It's a little bit cowardly to hide behind the law when the law says differently." Attorney Tore suggested that the vote be put on the next agenda.
Smiles were seen in the peanut gallery!
Note: It didn't sound like Long wanted to answer any questions from the peanut gallery. But, sensing the mood of the assembled, Long provided some responses. Responses just not answers. He was smooth!
This meeting got underway at 6pm. Around 7:15, Carolyn made the ask. Will you Joe Paxton put this vote on the next agenda.
Dive Dive Dive. Missile coming our way!!!!
Paxton said he would not put that decision on the next agenda. Instead he told the widow he had to do more research first.... we will continue a legal search....
The peanut gallery was warming up. You could hear the murmurs. From a lady to the side: Do you support Dave Mullins harassing her?????
From the back of the room came: I have 147 sick leave days saved up. I am going to start using them next week!!
Another guy but standing in the back added: Find a way to pay her.. you might want to run again!
Tempers were warming up. At 7:36, Dave Mullins hastily closed the meeting.
How about that for a public meeting?
Here's the referenced state code passage mentioned by Tore: "§18A-4-10a. Bonus for unused days of personal leave. County boards of education are authorized to pay to their employees or to defined groups thereof, for the purpose of reducing absenteeism, a bonus at the end of an employment term for each unused day of personal leave accumulated by the employee during that employment term."
Finally, there's a problem with paying John Paul's widow. They should but if they do it for one, they would have to do for all the other employees. Did you say "should pay" Yelp. With employee attendance at record lows, if you paid for the sick leave, that would mean fewer subs would be needed.
From George Knight: Dishonesty, cowardice, and duplicity are never impulsive.
With an Excess Levy attempt coming up and with the fate of three of Boardsters in limbo, Superintendent Paxton, oh, that's Mercedes Paxton, is in the hot seat.
AW
Keep in mind readers, we're not providing every statement the widow made. Fact is, we can't write that fast. Sorry. Back to Ms Rogers...
During other calls, Dave Mullins was very unhappy; he denied everything; and again from Ms Rogers, she told the assembled, she taped all the tele conversations with Bd Chair Dave Mullins. If that last part is true, Dave Mullins is in the crapper now. Gulp!!
Carolyn explained her husband worked hard, never wasted sick or vacation days and now after his death, they're treating a fair man unfairly. She asked to be paid for the unused, saved up, sick leave days.
With each statement out of her mouth, Mr Mullins neck went from blue to dark blue up to his ears. His bald head was red in color. You could see him biting his lips to keep quiet.. His legs were twitching around. His blood pressure must have been up around 400!
From Superintendent Paxton came: we loved him too... everything but Kum Ba Ya was heard from the Top Dog at the front table.
Enter the attorneys. In one corner was Jason Long for the Pentagon. In the other corner was Mark Tore for the widow.
Mr Long with first. His lengthy spiel boiled down to, the Board can't decide this. The problem is with Charleston and the Legislature. He said it over and over. Long, " Upon death, there is no pay out.... Unfortunately it's use it or lose it." The attorney kept talking in soothing, smooth fashion.
With 50+ in the audience and all of em supportive of Rogers, Long knew, he had to keep the peasants quiet. Otherwise, a rumble would begin.
After hearing 10 or more minutes of the stuff from Long, Mark Tore interrupted the "gosh we wish we could" speech. Tore: with respect to your opinion....I take issue.... state code does not forbid the pay out... state code 18a-4-10a reads that the Board can approve the [payout]... state code authorizes the local Board to make that decision... "Your hands are NOT tied by State Law ...It is your discretion... You have the authority!... He accrued those benefits... Law does not forbid you [Bd] from paying..."
And then And then.. guess Tore had heard enough of Long's side stepping, Tore: "It's a little bit cowardly to hide behind the law when the law says differently." Attorney Tore suggested that the vote be put on the next agenda.
Smiles were seen in the peanut gallery!
Note: It didn't sound like Long wanted to answer any questions from the peanut gallery. But, sensing the mood of the assembled, Long provided some responses. Responses just not answers. He was smooth!
This meeting got underway at 6pm. Around 7:15, Carolyn made the ask. Will you Joe Paxton put this vote on the next agenda.
Dive Dive Dive. Missile coming our way!!!!
Paxton said he would not put that decision on the next agenda. Instead he told the widow he had to do more research first.... we will continue a legal search....
The peanut gallery was warming up. You could hear the murmurs. From a lady to the side: Do you support Dave Mullins harassing her?????
From the back of the room came: I have 147 sick leave days saved up. I am going to start using them next week!!
Another guy but standing in the back added: Find a way to pay her.. you might want to run again!
Tempers were warming up. At 7:36, Dave Mullins hastily closed the meeting.
How about that for a public meeting?
Here's the referenced state code passage mentioned by Tore: "§18A-4-10a. Bonus for unused days of personal leave. County boards of education are authorized to pay to their employees or to defined groups thereof, for the purpose of reducing absenteeism, a bonus at the end of an employment term for each unused day of personal leave accumulated by the employee during that employment term."
Finally, there's a problem with paying John Paul's widow. They should but if they do it for one, they would have to do for all the other employees. Did you say "should pay" Yelp. With employee attendance at record lows, if you paid for the sick leave, that would mean fewer subs would be needed.
From George Knight: Dishonesty, cowardice, and duplicity are never impulsive.
With an Excess Levy attempt coming up and with the fate of three of Boardsters in limbo, Superintendent Paxton, oh, that's Mercedes Paxton, is in the hot seat.
AW