But, Now, and with Mr. and Mrs. Sink present; the four of all the 5-4 school board votes cut loose. Starting with Republican Greg Taylor.
Editor’s Note: The four School Board members, Greg Taylor, Dena Green, Poodle Glover and Coleman Hunt went on to make the same comments as I made in my Part I article regarding the Board Committee Meeting the Friday before. They had come, to the same conclusions independently as my Part I article had not yet been publisher. And that were now being confirmed. Not only had the public been kept in the dark about what the board member majority were doing, so was the four school board members. And now they were being asked to approve the hiring of a lawyer that they did not know in advance of the meeting which law firms were interviewed and which law firm was now being put before them for approval. Such as this is a sad thing to happen in Cleveland County and anywhere else for that matter. It was an embarrassment for Mr. and Mrs. Sink too as I am sure they never anticipated such a display of incompetence from those that they would be going to work for.
Greg Taylor wanted information on all the Q&A that had gone on in the Lawyer Selection interview. He wanted the same opportunity for every other Board Member that had been kept in the dark. But Greg Taylor had only lit the fuse to sticks of dynamite.
Dena Green was the first stick of dynamite that exploded. Folks, watch the meeting video broadcast if you don’t believe me. Dena declared, “Where is the Transparency? There was NO information on anything to the rest of the board until tonight. No local firms were interviewed. YOU ran on transparency, where is the transparency?”
Chairman Robert Queen broke-in saying he wan not aware of their concerns, nobody asked. Apparently not realizing that people he is keeping in the dark, like me, the rest of the School Board and every member of the public in Cleveland County don’t know to ask questions about things they don’t know about.
But Dena was not phased with this failed attempt to shut her down. She continued,” there is “no transparency to the rest of this Board.” “YOU didn’t tell us anything.”
Then Coleman Hunt opened up with a broadside. “YOU five are new board members without a track record. We don’t know you enough to have confidence in you.” Hunt went on. “I have Questions.”
I wrote in my notes that this is a good example of the failure of Board Committees under the leadership of Chairman Robert Queen. When I first heard of plans for Board Committees, I thought it was a good idea. And it was. The only thing is the “Devil is in the Details.” And keeping secrets from other board members and the public is not only bad, it is against North Carolina law.
Mrs. Sink, who was standing at the podium said that she was available for questions.
It was a FUBAR! Hunt, without having the opportunity to prepare asks some questions. Everything about this was embarrassing for Attorney Mrs. Sink. The School Board, the audience and even me.
Dena Green had some questions for the Attorney too. About the Ten Commandments at Schools and availability of attorney for all board members.
Poodle Glover Chimed in with his own brand of dynamite.
Something “doesn’t smell right about these committees” Poodle said. This, hiring of the Attorney, “was a done deal” said Poodle-obviously correctly. “Now I will never have the opportunity to participate in the interview” says Poodle. “Why didn’t the committee invite experts and other board members?” Poodle Glover was grandstanding and being hypocritical in my informed opinion, but much of the complaints were valid from an organization standpoint. There was obviously no transparency or anything legal or ethical about Robert Queen’s so-called committees.
But Queen exclaims, “I don’t understand the complaint here.” Obviously ignoring the facts. And defends his and the committee’s actions. I sent emails said Queen, only to be called a liar by one of the Board members who had searched the records.
Danny Blanton adds that he had been on the School Board for seven years and the OLD board did the very same thing to him. Blanton was correct to make that point. But, overall, two wrongs don’t make a right. The secret Committee process under Robert Queen’s direction is a fiasco, is unethical and illegal to boot.
Queen calls for a vote, which passed 5-4 to hire the Sink Law firm.
