Please sit down before you read this next sentence. I agree with the lazy, rogue and renegade Cleveland County School Teachers who want to keep Cleveland County Schools shut down until “science” tells us then it is safe to start back up amidst the COVID Pandemic. I have even made that recommendation to the NEW School Board Majority. Way before the lazy, rogue and renegade teachers started their Facebook petition.
This is what I wrote, in part, in my article published December 8, 2020 regarding operations at CCS during the COVID 19 Pandemic. The entire article will be provided at the end of this article as my recommendations are still 100% valid.
I stated:
Also note that the COVID-19 school shutdowns ordered by State Officials are still in place.
I would suggest that the new school board adopt the policy for COVID-19 (and any other emergency situation) that CCS will either:
1. CCS will operate all schools and all grades five- days a week.
OR
2. Shut-down all schools and all grades until further notice.
The Old School Board burned through around $100 Million in funding during their shutdown, mostly spinning their wheels on the thousands of options that changed daily. All the while, the Cleveland County Health Department Director, under the Cleveland County Commissioners, refused to make recommendations on whether or not to operate the Cleveland County Schools. Even though they are the experts hired just for such matters. My recommendation to the NEW school board is to require the Commissioners and the Health Department (those already tasked with keeping up with the COVID19 Pandemic) provide specific recommendations to either operate or close the schools due to the pandemic.
The problem today, January 13, 2021 is the same problem the OLD School Board faced December 8, 2020 and before. The Cleveland County Health Department and the County Commissioners have failed the School Children, Teachers and staff at CCS by refusing to provide recommendations to the School Board on whether or not it is “safe” to restart CCS. For some students or all students. Now, the Health Department Director and Commissioners won’t even attend school board meetings.
Of course, there are reasons for the Health Department refusing to use a scientific analysis of the COVID-19 data and make recommendations to CCS and others. Mostly bad reasons.
1. Federal Lawsuits alleging sexual harassment against the Commissioners, County Manager, the previous Health Department Director and a former Health Department employee the former Health Department Director is accuse of having sexual relations with. The Commissioners just hired a third lawyer to CYA. It may be the new Health Department Director is overwhelmed with the task of bringing the Cleveland County Health Department back into some semblance of order and control.
2. COVID has been weaponized and used as a means to shut down schools and thus the economy for political purposes. Data has been gathered and manipulated for those political purposes. Some data potentially useful in restarting schools was not taken or recorded, leaving the “science” in using the data more of a “witch-doctor” type of science instead of providing useful and reliable “science” in regard to safely restarting schools.
3. COVID money provided to schools appears to have become a priority all of its own. The goal at CCS appears to has become find more c=COVID so we can get more money instead of reducing risks so schools can reopen. Getting the money has become more important than educating students. There appears to be many examples of that. Not just COVID.
The fact is, life has risks. Nobody, adult or child, is totally safe from disease or accident. Or old age for that matter. The issue with reopening schools or any other endeavor is to determine what is an acceptable risk for activity in mind.
There is always a risk a child might get injured or killed in a school bus accident. Or crossing the street. Or get choked eating an apple or a hot dog from the lunchroom. Tripping on the steps or falling down on the playground. Or drown in the school swimming pool if they attend Shelby or Kings Mountain High School. So, we work to minimize risks. Get them as low as reasonably achievable. Remember, almost nothing has a zero risk of injury and death.
And, since the Health Department and the County Commissioners have left the School Board to their own devices, the School Board will have to develop those devices themselves. That does NOT mean we can’t help them.
Now folks, you better sit down again before you read the next sentence. Poodle Glover’s idea of forming a COVID Committee is a good idea. Whether or not Poodle meant it to be. The School Board cannot get good data and recommendations from the Health Department. So, they (and the COVID Committee) hires a competent Healthcare consultant to sift through the available data and risk reduction plans to determine if that “as low as reasonably achievable risk” can be achieved. Then, recommend that schools restart and under what conditions and limits.
Or, join the group of North Carolina School Districts that appear to have done just that. Or both. Remember, the health and safety of CCS students, teachers and staff are most important here. And just wringing of hands and long speeches about how much good CCS has done in this terrible pandemic is no excuse for NO positive action.
On a regrettably sour note here, “gossip” has reached my ears that Poodle Glover was asked to join the COVID Committee that was his idea and Motion to initiate and refused to serve on that very same committee. Obviously, Poodle was trying to somehow obstruct the NEW School Board Majority and did not realize that he had a good idea.
Well, CCS School Bboard, Poodle’s idea is a good one and I hope you put it to good use. With or without Poodle’s involvement. Let Poodle be the “Outcast” that he wants to be. Get the kids back in school safely and get to work on all the other problems and issues you have on your plate.
As for me, I recommend reading again the entire December 8, 2020 Article shown below. I believe there are more good ideas ready for implementation to improve the Educational experience at CCS. As well as save taxpayer money by minimizing waste and inefficiency.
Happy Reading!!!
https://citizensforgoodgovernment.org/online/cgg-investigations/new-school-board-about-to-take-over-at-ccs-given-mandate-by-citizens-voters-to-make-changes-changes-start-at-december-14-2020-meeting-public-and-parents-to-be-included-in-decision-maki/
Citizens For Good Government
New School Board about to Take Over at CCS!!! Given Mandate by citizens, voters to make Changes!!! Changes START at December 14, 2020 Meeting!!! PUBLIC and Parents to be included in decision making???
Report, suggestions and arguendo by Robert A. Williams
December 8, 2020
Five Weeks ago, on election day, Cleveland County voters overwhelmingly threw out the “Old” and voted in a completely “New” set of School Board members. A majority of five-all Republicans-who will have complete control of Cleveland County Schools. Beginning at the December 14, 2020 School Board meeting when they will each be sworn in. Those five new school board Republican members, plus Danny Blanton equals six of nine school board members. A super-majority by any standard.
Elections have consequences. After decades in office and poor and declining leadership, it was well past the time for a change on the CCS school board. And citizens-taxpayers and voters just made such an across the board change possible. Actually, demanding such a change for the better. Mandating a change. A drastic change-top to bottom.
Now, December 14, 2020 is just seven days away. Let’s take a look at what the NEW school board majority has to do to separate themselves from the bad leadership and corruption of the old school board has-beens.
A new administration team!!
The New School Board must decide whether or not to stick with the old set of CCS administrators. Administrators who were chosen based on who they were kin to, where they went to church, how well they sucked-up and other corrupt factors. Instead of how well they were qualified, experienced and trained for their particular administration jobs.
Some would say, keep the old incompetent and unqualified crowd and provide them more direction and more oversight. I say “Hoey” to such nonsense as that!! My suggestion to the new school board majority is, at the December 14th meeting, to assign new personnel to the following administrations positions:
1. Superintendent: Such actions as suing the Sheriff for 3 Million without consulting the full school board is enough to fire the Superintendent for cause. Lots more where that came from.
2. Assistant Superintendents; Eliminate all positions and Reclassify or replace all existing personnel in those positions with qualified personnel at a lower level. It’s called flattening the organization chart. A reduction of the number of unqualified management people communicating information from the bottom to the top. Go back to just about any school board meeting video and you will find plenty of examples here. HR, Maintenance and Child Nutrition are other areas where excessive layers of management have led to unnecessary problems.
3. Title IX Coordinator: Replacing this position is probably necessary to settle the Federal Title IX complaints and possibility of reducing multi-million-dollar fines.
4. Reorganize the School Resource Officer Program under a single law enforcement controlling agency-the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department-with school safety and disciplinary control authority.
Also note that the COVID-19 school shutdowns ordered by State Officials are still in place.
I would suggest that the new school board adopt the policy for COVID-19 (and any other emergency situation) that CCS will either:
1. CCS will operate all schools and all grades five- days a week.
OR
2. Shut-down all schools and all grades until further notice.
The Old School Board burned through around $100 Million in funding during their shutdown, mostly spinning their wheels on the thousands of options that changed daily. All the while, the Cleveland County Health Department Director, under the Cleveland County Commissioners, refused to make recommendations on whether or not to operate the Cleveland County Schools. Even though they are the experts hired just for such matters. My recommendation to the NEW school board is to require the Commissioners and the Health Department (those already tasked with keeping up with the COVID19 Pandemic) provide specific recommendations to either operate or close the schools due to the pandemic.
And there are other pressing matters:
Since all four high schools in Cleveland County are over 50 years old, have unequal facilities (No swimming pools and auditoriums at Burns and Crest High Scho9ols) and other schools are aging, I would also recommend that the new school board appoint a committee that includes members of the public to study all the schools and facilities within CCS to:
1. Develop an overall strategic plan and schedule to determine what schools need to be retired from service, renovated or continue to operate as is.
2. Develop Preventive maintenance plans and programs to extend the life of all schools and facilities.
3. Develop a single set of architectural and equipment requirements for all schools to encourage equal facilities and maximum economies of scale.
4. Coordinate funding requirements and priorities for all school construction or maintenance with the Cleveland County Commissioners.
I would suggest the target maximum useful life of existing Cleveland County Schools be set at 70 years, since we are where we are because of the inactions of the old school board.
I would also suggest the NEW school board include members of the general public who are qualified, interested and willing to provide expertise, assistance and advice to the new school board regarding facilities construction, maintenance and equipment requirements. One of the priorities of school and facility construction and equipment selection is energy efficiency such that utility cost savings will significantly offset school and facility operation costs.
The biggest utility expenses at CCS and about everywhere else spring from heating and Cooling (HVAC) systems. Therefore, energy efficiency in school and facility construction should be of high priority as well as proper design, specification, selection of HVAC systems and equipment, preventative maintenance, proper operation and control and a handful of other considerations are inter-related and all are important. Again, go back and watch past school board meeting videos for plenty of examples of know-nothing administrators presenting know-nothing information and recommendations to the know-nothing “OLD” school board. Probably the best (perfect in my book) example of this are the past several school board meetings regarding Mold, water leaking and air conditioning the gymnasiums at Burns and Crest High Schools. I would recommend the NEW school board stop all work on air conditioning the Burns and Crest High School gymnasiums until such time that qualified persons can evaluate this situation. Since I have 40 plus years engineering experience designing, maintaining, specifying and evaluating contractor bids on such HVAC and other mechanical work at large (and small) facilities, I would be glad to assist the NEW school board on doing what is right and cost-effective for this work.
Folks, this December 14, 2020 School board meeting is just the beginning of making changes at Cleveland County Schools that are cost effective, innovative, equitable, fair to all, common-sense, fiduciary responsible, etc., that will have as its top priority the best educational experience and results for our children. Just as “Rome was not built in a DAY” Cleveland County Schools will not meet all expectations by December 15, 2020.
But the new School Board members have attended school board meetings just like I have attended school board meetings. They have seen what I have seen and they have heard what I have heard. They know what has to be done and they know what it will take to get it done. So, hopefully concerned citizens and parents will turn out in large numbers at the December 14, 2020 school board meeting to witness the “changing of the guard” and experience the hope of better days ahead for CCS and the economic benefits of a well-educated workforce in Cleveland County of wherever our graduates have to go to obtain the best jobs that their skills can provide. And back-up our new school board in all that they endeavor to do to make these hopes a complete and total reality. In record time.
See you there. And come early to get a seat.