The NEW school board majority (Robert Queen, Joel Shores, Ron Humphries, Rodney Fitch and Danny Blanton) has a mandate from the citizens of Cleveland County as shown by their overwhelming victory in the 2020 Elections. They have previously attended school board meetings and know, or should know, who and what they are dealing with in the corrupt bureaucracy in the CCS Administration. And with the old school board members. They have been sworn in and now the NEW school board majority members are in charge. Rooting out corruption, waste, inefficiencies, incompetence, etc. will take some time. We all know that. But so does the corrupt bureaucracy. And the NEW school board majority has lost their very first battle in the search for a new lawyer.
At the December 14, 2020 School Board meeting the New School Board Majority voted (5-4) to terminate the high-dollar Raleigh law firm of Tharrington & Smith by ordering a start to the 90-day termination agreement in the T&S Contract. This was totally appropriate as T&S and Superintendent Stephen Fisher had, all by themselves, filed the frivolous lawsuit against Sheriff Alan Norman in the name of the School Board, but without consulting the school board for approval.
Then, School Board Chairman Robert Queen foolishly instructed Supt. Fisher to develop a Request for a Proposal (RFP) to be issued to local attorneys for a new local Board Attorney position. And Fisher immediately issued the RFP to attorney firms that did NOT meet minimal standards. Many attorneys may not even waste their time responding to such an inadequate RFP. At least without having to ask many basic questions. Almost exactly like Fisher handled the frivolous lawsuit against Sheriff Alan Norman.
Basically, the NEW School Board Majority knew Superintendent Fisher was a “snake” and the “snake” would bite them at the first opportunity. And Fisher did bite them at the first opportunity as they should have known that he would. And from the start.
The subject RFP is attached at the end of this article. I will discuss the failings of the documents one by one as I have found them.
First, Superintendent Stephen Fisher installed himself as the “Head” of Cleveland County Schools in many locations in the document. Not the School Board, but Superintendent Stephen Fisher is running the show. And, just like in the frivolous lawsuit against the Sheriff, Fisher issues the RFP under his signature and then copies the School Board on what he has done. With no indication that the NEW School Board Majority members had a chance to review the document before it went out.
The most obvious mistake that the New School Board Majority made is to allow the RFP to be sent out under Superintendent Fisher’s name to begin with. For example, the RFP Cover letter should have been issued under the signature of CCS School Board Chairman Robert P. Queen instead of Superintendent Stephen Fisher. It is like the New School Board Majority has come out waving the white flag of surrender from the git-go. Not a good thing considering the Fake News article from the Shelby Star and the Petition from Rogue CCS School Teachers and Phillip “Poodle” Glover are basically thumbing their noses at the New School Board Majority for trying to start back schools. Which would put the teachers back to work for their pay instead of paying them for who knows what since the kids are not back in school full time.
Also, the instructions to the law firms to submit their proposals are ambiguous. In Section II of the RFP it says that CCS will accept RFPs through January 5, 2021. In Section VII Proposal Submittals, it says “Submit at least one (1) copy of the written proposal no later than 4:00 p.m., January 8, 2021. No proposals will be accepted after this time.”
Then is says:
Submit to:
Dr. Stephen Fisher, Superintendent
Cleveland County Schools
400 W. Marion Street
Shelby, North Carolina 28150
Instead of to:
Mr. Robert P. Queen, Chairman
Cleveland County Schools
And then Fisher says:
“Questions regarding this proposal should be directed to Dr. Stephen Fisher at (704) 476-8055.”
A clear statement to all that Superintendent Stephen Fisher is in charge at Cleveland County Schools and not the School Board. Especially the NEW School Board Majority. Besides, with Fisher as the go between, he controls what the lawyers hear and what the NEW School Board Majority hears. Just like always. And remember this; “when you do what you’ve always done, you get what you always got!!!” Take heed NEW School Board Majority, as Einstein defined insanity, “to keep doing the same things and expect different results is the very definition of insanity.” Wise up NEW School Board Majority! Closely!!!
Now, if you want to consider that all this is only minor political maneuvering by Superintendent Stephen Fisher and Poodle Glover, et al, to keep a lid on the corruption at CCS and should be expected. Or even overlooked. That is your prerogative. This is only an indication of things to come.
But this article is not winding up, we are just starting. This “Lawyer” RFP is worthless on it’s face. I will take this slow so everybody will understand.
An RFP is a Request for a Proposal from somebody to do something for YOU. In this case, the somebody is a lawyer firm, but what is the “something???” Where is the “Scope of Work? Where is the Board’s goals spelled out anywhere in the RFP? I will make this offer right now. I will pay $100 in cash to the first person that can show me where this RFP says anything specific that the lawyers will be doing or why!!