1. Cleveland County Schools (CCS) led by Chairman Phillip Glover and Vice Chairman Shearra Miller. Folks, CCS probably should be in a three way tie for the worst government agency in Cleveland County-along with the Commissioners and the DSS. So much so that I just had to put CCS into the same category as being the Worst Government agency in Cleveland County.
So Williams you ask, why would the Cleveland County Schools be so bad as to rate as tied for the worst government agency in Cleveland County???
Several reasons:
One, they are the biggest governmental agency in Cleveland County with about 2,500 employees and an annual budget of over $155 MILLION of which much is wasted by accident, by malfeasance as well as by criminal actions, i.e. the widespread credit card scandal, inappropriate bidding processes, and stealing school equipment and selling on Ebay with little to no oversight by CCS administration.
Two, the entire reason CCS exists is to properly educate over 15,000 students in Cleveland County to the point that the students graduate with an education that enables them to proficiently read, write, comprehend and have sufficient math skills to enable and prepare these students to be a good and productive citizen. Only thing is, over 40% of these students (6,000+) will graduate less than proficient in the skills noted above and 100 % will graduate without being taught how to sign their paychecks when they get their first low paying job.
Three, eight of the nine school board members are not fiscally responsible as clearly shown in the botched from the start new North Shelby School Project, which is already $2 Million over budget and the first shovel full of dirt has yet to be moved.
Four, the new North Shelby School Project and associated partnerships has exposed the fact that this school is basically a place to warehouse handicapped students until they age out of the system.
Five, eight of the nine school board members don’t give a rip about any of the problems noted above as well as the many other problems that are too numerous to mention in this article.
Six, eight of the nine school board members refuse to oversee CCS such that state laws are followed. A good example, like the Commissioners, is the CCS Board refuses to provide public records to the public as required by North Carolina law.
Seven, the CCS Board refuses to investigate the numerous sex scandals involving CCS staff and students, financial crimes, etc. Although NC law enables the CCS Board significant power to investigate, even subpoena witnesses, the CCS Board refuses to investigate anything. At the October 24, 2016 School Board workshop, they plan to delete the investigative power of the board from their official policy, even though that power is provided by state law. Is that crooked or what?
