The March 11, 2024 CCS School Board Meeting was the very first meeting after the March 5, 2024 Republican Primary Elections for the School Board. Thirteen Republican candidates for the School Board had signed up to run for the CCS School Board and the race was on to clean house of the Rogue Republicans: Robert Queen, Joel Shores, Ron Humphries, Rodney Fitch and Greg Taylor who were the incumbents and all these incumbents richly deserved to be defeated.
By the end of the evening of March 5, 2024, CCS School Board Chairman Robert Queen, Rodney Fitch and Greg Taylor had been defeated by Gloria Sherman, David Fisher and Kenneth Ledford. These three plus incumbents Danny Blanton, Ronnie Grigg, and Aaron Bridges would, on paper, reverse the 6-3 majority presently on the School Board with a new majority beginning in December, 2024.
However, don’t forget the Democrat School Board Candidates headed up by former School Board member Coleman Hunt that will be on the November, 2024 General Election Ballot for the School Board. If history is our guide, Robert A would bet that the Rogue Republicans and the CCGOP will be pushing for the Democrats in the November 2024 School Board Elections. Just like they did in 2022. A bushel basket full of dirty political tricks that is still well remembered. A history that is already being repeated in 2024. This time by Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg. Who have alienated longtime political friends and supporters who now vow to defeat Blanton and Grigg in the 2026 School Board Elections. A total error of judgement by Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg that was totally unnecessary. And, there was more to come at the March 11, 2024 School Board Meeting.
The March 11, 2024 School Board Business Meeting started off well enough to the untrained observer. The Invocation, The Pledge of Allegiance, Special Recognitions, adoption of the Agenda and all. However, it was at the Approval of the Minutes of previous meetings that the first signs of trouble began. In previous meetings Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg had objected to the Minutes as NOT being accurate. Same with the Committee Reports. This time Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg had no such objections. Blanton and Grigg gave their “Rubber Stamp” approval. Just like Robert Queen, Joel Shores, Walter Scott Spurling, Ron Humphries, etc. The question immediately arose: Blanton and Grigg, why the change of heart? Blanton and Grigg had been correct in challenging the inaccurate Minutes of Previous Meetings and now they just went along without question. And it gets worse. Robert Queen, Joel Shores, Greg Taylor, Ron Humphries Walter Scott Spurling, Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg go into Closed Session. (Rodney Fitch was absent from the meeting altogether and Aaron Bridges had called in to the regular meeting, but telephone call-ins are not allowed in Closed Sessions.
After the Closed Session, School Board Chairman Robert Queen announces that a personnel matter had been discussed in Closed Session and that the School Board had voted 5-0 in Closed Session to enter into a National Class-Action Lawsuit against major Multi-Media corporate entities. Then, the meeting was adjourned.
Robert A’s immediate reaction was that Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg must have been the two that had abstained from the vote to enter into a National Class-Action Lawsuit instead of voting against such a foolhardy measure. According to Robert A’s thinking, the last thing Cleveland County Schools needs to get involved with is another lawsuit.
Another political miscalculation by Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg was the fact that their abstaining to vote on this National Class-Action Lawsuit resulted in a “recorded” 5-0 vote, which appears to be a unanimous vote by the Cleveland County School Board to join in on this lawsuit. When a 5-2 vote would have correctly indicated a split vote. Perhaps this is splitting hairs, but having the “appearance” of a unanimous vote actually enables the 5-0 vote with undue importance than a 5-2 vote. Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg have just unwittedly supported a bad decision by the Rogue Republicans on the School Board that will make it much more difficult or impossible to “undo” when the newly constituted School Board is sworn-in in December, 2024 with three brand-new School Board Members.
This was just another unforced error by Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg. An error that was matched by their “dear in headlight” look right after Robert Queen announced the 5-0 vote by the CCS School Board to join in on this National Class-Action Lawsuit without even reading the lawsuit prior to voting to join the unknown lawsuit.
Folks, Chew on this report over the weekend. Robert A is researching this National Class-Action Lawsuit and has found plenty of reasons that CCS should not be involved at all. Stay Tuned.
