"A Bridge to Nowhere Announced"
August 30 2022
For decades,
the public, that's their employer, received little in the way
of public discussion by the Clayberry Board of Education. The
Board held a special meeting August 30th at the Pentagon
beginning at 6pm. Nine people occupied the peanut gallery.
Special meetings are allowed under State law if there is something that can't wait for a regularly scheduled public meeting. Ditto for something even more urgent, an emergency meeting can be called (after a posting of the agenda).
Board Prez Phoebe Nichols explained the reason for the special gathering. According to Nichols, the group wanted time to sit down and talk with the Superintendent (before a mid Sept deadline) about new goals for the lad. Also, there were a bunch of new bail outs and new hires that needed attention. Makes sense so off they went with a big long agenda.
Special meetings are allowed under State law if there is something that can't wait for a regularly scheduled public meeting. Ditto for something even more urgent, an emergency meeting can be called (after a posting of the agenda).
Board Prez Phoebe Nichols explained the reason for the special gathering. According to Nichols, the group wanted time to sit down and talk with the Superintendent (before a mid Sept deadline) about new goals for the lad. Also, there were a bunch of new bail outs and new hires that needed attention. Makes sense so off they went with a big long agenda.
The Board
Let's get
into the hum drum stuff first...
Alexander and Kristie Keiffer both resigned from their coaching duties at Clay Middle
Michael Kiser bailed from his head baseball coach and asst football coach duties at Clay Middle.
Retired Green Shirt Scott Bass was hired as a substitute teacher
Now without a Green Shirt, Badge, and pistola, Scott Bass
will be be dealing with the same old issues but on a younger scale, in the school system.
Alexander and Kristie Keiffer both resigned from their coaching duties at Clay Middle
Michael Kiser bailed from his head baseball coach and asst football coach duties at Clay Middle.
Retired Green Shirt Scott Bass was hired as a substitute teacher
Now without a Green Shirt, Badge, and pistola, Scott Bass
will be be dealing with the same old issues but on a younger scale, in the school system.
Continuing with the mundane stuff...
Joseph Stone is a new substitute bus driver
New after school teachers include: Lisa Haynes,Patrick Shepherd, Edna Belt at H E White; Josie Morton at Lizemores; and Ron Starcher, Morgan Hacker at Clay High
Joshua Nutter is now an asst football coach at Clay Middle.
Jason Nichols moved from history teacher at CCHS to driver ed / ALC at the school.
Total time for the business of running a $20+ million system, just ten minutes
Now for the good stuff.
Joseph Stone is a new substitute bus driver
New after school teachers include: Lisa Haynes,Patrick Shepherd, Edna Belt at H E White; Josie Morton at Lizemores; and Ron Starcher, Morgan Hacker at Clay High
Joshua Nutter is now an asst football coach at Clay Middle.
Jason Nichols moved from history teacher at CCHS to driver ed / ALC at the school.
Total time for the business of running a $20+ million system, just ten minutes
Now for the good stuff.
Phil Dobbins
From the last meeting (see our coverage for details), we
learned of a $250 M pot of free money brought to us from up
for reelection, Delegate Roger Hanshaw. He told the Board a
couple weeks ago: money is available now, apply ASAP; it's
first come first served on the handouts; and think big when
it comes to spending the free stuff.
Doesn't that sound great?
In this county with its failing test scores... where our county rankings come in fifth from the bottom, just think how a boat load of fresh money could make a difference in a big way. Finally, a way to make education fully funded or at least enough free money to make up for our many short comings. First on our minds would be a new vocational school that teaches 21st century skills.
Now for this meeting, while smiling ear to ear, Superintendent Paxton has come up with a multi faceted project to get a big fistful of taxpayer funds to improve edumacation in County Clay.
Paxton's answer: after brainstorming with his team, the grant should cover funding to build a monster multi purpose building in the Schoonover Bradley Football field parking lot, apply astro turf on the field, build a new press box on the correct side of the bleachers, build a track around the field; install a new river access point for kayakers, and and and, the bestest of all for edumacation, build a bridge from that same parking lot across the Elk River over to the ERTS hiking trail.
Think, think, think, Digest it all. ... OK
That new building could serve as a meeting room, a place where Community Care could house, train, a place where ERTS offices could be housed, a place for wrestlers, and on and on.
Paxton said he did not have the cost estimates for such a colossal project but has alreayd met with architects /engineers.
Michelle Samples will write the grant application.
After the 11 minute spiel, supporters in the peanut gallery including CCHS Football Coach Jason Nichols and CCHS teacher Phil Dobbins spoke out in favor of the monstrosity.
Smiles were seen. All seemed happy with what they had come up with. Oddly, it sounded like, members of the Board, the bosses, some of em anyway, had NOT heard the proposal ahead of time.
A secret time was called to discuss the Superintendent's goals for this year and another personnel issue. We don't know how long they spent behind closed doors, we shagged out.
AW
Doesn't that sound great?
In this county with its failing test scores... where our county rankings come in fifth from the bottom, just think how a boat load of fresh money could make a difference in a big way. Finally, a way to make education fully funded or at least enough free money to make up for our many short comings. First on our minds would be a new vocational school that teaches 21st century skills.
Now for this meeting, while smiling ear to ear, Superintendent Paxton has come up with a multi faceted project to get a big fistful of taxpayer funds to improve edumacation in County Clay.
Paxton's answer: after brainstorming with his team, the grant should cover funding to build a monster multi purpose building in the Schoonover Bradley Football field parking lot, apply astro turf on the field, build a new press box on the correct side of the bleachers, build a track around the field; install a new river access point for kayakers, and and and, the bestest of all for edumacation, build a bridge from that same parking lot across the Elk River over to the ERTS hiking trail.
Think, think, think, Digest it all. ... OK
That new building could serve as a meeting room, a place where Community Care could house, train, a place where ERTS offices could be housed, a place for wrestlers, and on and on.
Paxton said he did not have the cost estimates for such a colossal project but has alreayd met with architects /engineers.
Michelle Samples will write the grant application.
After the 11 minute spiel, supporters in the peanut gallery including CCHS Football Coach Jason Nichols and CCHS teacher Phil Dobbins spoke out in favor of the monstrosity.
Smiles were seen. All seemed happy with what they had come up with. Oddly, it sounded like, members of the Board, the bosses, some of em anyway, had NOT heard the proposal ahead of time.
A secret time was called to discuss the Superintendent's goals for this year and another personnel issue. We don't know how long they spent behind closed doors, we shagged out.
AW