Pt. 2-Public Hearing called on Closing Shelby Schools!!! 6:00 PM January 25, 2022 (Tuesday) at CCS Headquarters!! (Scofflaws on the School Board make illegal changes!!) Report and personal opinion comments by Robert A. Williams

Folks, be sure to read the original article regarding how to access the School Board’s Facilities Assessment that is the basis for this Public Hearing related to closing some Shelby Elementary School(s).

I have pulled up and read what this Facilities Assessment had to say and provided my comments below.

Part 2. Begins HERE:

Anyway, I pulled up this so-called Facilities Assessment, that is in reality only an Executive Summary. Which means all the “details” are left out of this document. And everybody KNOWS that the “Devil is in the details.” And if the details are left out, this meeting will be worthless from start to finish. This is undisputedly a planned scheme, clearly dedicated to deceive the public.

And, that ain’t all.

What you would expect from a “Facilities” Assessment would be that the Assessment would be of the facilities themselves. Whether the buildings and equipment are safe, functional, energy efficient and free of asbestos and other toxins. OR broken down, worn-out, energy hogs, wasteful and full of asbestos and of toxic fumes. You will find NOTHING like that in THESE Facilities Assessment/Executive Summary Documents.

What you will mostly find, regarding closing schools, is Shelby “Zone” school attendance trends and estimated future changes in school utilization. And, even that is flawed and incomplete.

Some of the things you will not find in this phony document is any mention of Pinnacle Classical Academy or any of the other Charter Schools that have siphoned Cleveland County students away form CCS. Or Home Schools. Or Private Schools. Completely ignoring the FACT that a change in State Law that would allow school funding to “follow the student” would immediately result in a huge surge in Charter Schools, Church Schools, Private Schools and Home Schools. Simply because parents are tired of the failed public schools in Cleveland County and would seek out these alternate schools so their children will get a better education for the money that is spent educating them. And, who could blame these parents. Information indicates Public Schools in Cleveland County pass students with an average grade of 45 and still less that half the graduating students are proficient at the 9th grade level. And Rodney Fitch, Luke Queen, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores and Greg Taylor, after a full year in office, have never suggested ANYTHING to change that status quo. And Danny Blanton brings it up about every School Board Meeting. Only to be shut down by Luke Queen and the other Rogue Republicans that are trying to get Blanton defeated in the 2022 Republican Primary Elections.

Another glaring omission in this phony document is the “Race Card.” There is a lot of discussion about moving elementary students from one school to another to better utilize the use of the Elementary Schools and close the ones that are not necessary. Completely ignoring the fact some of the neglected schools, that are heavily attended by inner-city black students will be mixed in with other schools that are presently heavily attended by white students from more affluent neighborhoods. Since the City of Shelby is over 40% Black, this represents a severe and disruptive “culture shock” in the elementary school population where such basic components of a child’s education are formed. Any educational disruption at this stage of a child’s educational achievement is clearly proven to negatively affect the child’s educational accomplishments for the rest of the child’s life. Affecting both black students and white students alike.

Again, I found nothing in this phony Assessment that addresses this long-lived Race issue in Shelby and Cleveland County. Rodney, Luke, Ron, Joel and Greg apparently forgot to address this race “education gap” issue. Or, most likely, purposely ignored it. As usual.

The sad part of this scenario is that the folks conducting this Assessment have been given “Guiding Principles” by the School Board on how this assessment was to be performed and what goals they (the school board) want to achieve. Rodney Fitch, Luke Queen, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores and Greg Taylor (advised by Wes Westmoreland, Dennis Bailey, David Allen, Kevin Whisnant and a few others) are the GUILTY PARTIES in such a destructive direction that Cleveland County Schools is heading in. All I can do is point out the facts.

Shelby Folks, I have provided you the best instructions on how to access the so-called Facilities Assessment and just a few thoughts on just some of the many problems. This is YOUR Schools and YOUR Children. It is up to YOU, from here on, whether or not YOU read the Assessment, attend this Public Hearing (Public Meeting) and speak out. Whether YOU do what is stupid or do what is smart is on YOU. Otherwise, I am done with you.

Wake up Kings Mountain Folks, YOU are next.

Stay tuned.