Editor’s Note: Rodney Fitch (along with Robert Queen, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores and Greg Taylor) was one of group of five School Board Candidates who ALL lied to the public to get elected to the School Board in 2020. They all promised transparency where the then Democrat controlled CCS School Board had little to no transparency. Yet, as a group of five (Rogue) Republicans, which represents a MAJORITY on the 9-member CCS School Board! They ALL vote in lockstep on every vote to enforce a “secrecy” upon the School Board like never before seen in Cleveland County history. Hiding a massive amount of cover-up that includes overseeing the CCS annual budget increase from around $150 MILLION to $250 MILLION+. All the while CCS student attendance was shrinking from a high of 15 to 17 thousand students down to around 14 thousand students in 2024. With most attending almost 60-year-old schools (average age) and with educational effectiveness being severely substandard according to NC Department of Public Instruction records. Note that School Board member Danny Blanton read into the record at a recent school board meeting that new grading of academic achievement gives anything over a score of 24 out of 100 is a passing grade.
Note that Robert A, due to believing those transparency lies, recommended electing Rodney Fitch, Robert Queen, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores and Greg Taylor to the CCS School Board in 2020. Bur, after only two School Board meetings Robert A realized the mistake and has worked hard ever since to alert the public that we voters had been lied to and to and complained that it would take four full years to correct our mistake in the 2024 elections. So far, Rodney Fitch, Robert Queen and Greg Taylor were defeated in the 2024 Republican School Board Primary Elections. Hopefully, we can defeat Joel Shores and Ron Humphries in the 2024 School Board General Elections in November. Make a clean sweep. Even in if we have to hold our noses when we go vote in December.
Also, note that Rodney Fitch, as an elected CCS School Board Member has found himself in a number of personal controversies:
- Rodney Fitch, a sworn Deputy with the CC Sheriff’s Department, attended a majority of his CCS School Board meetings wearing street clothes, but visibly wearing a sidearm. Robert A himself had witnessed Rodney Fitch wearing his firearm, did not consider this inappropriate considering the circumstances and does NOT remember ever writing anything negative about Rodney Fitch wearing his firearm to School Board meetings. Robert A also remembers hearing lots of “gossip” that a number of members of the public had complained to the CC Sherriff about Rodney Fitch wearing his firearm to School Board meetings and that the Sheriff had ordered Rodney Fitch to stop wearing his service weapon to School Board meetings. Robert A has since personally observed that Rodney Fitch has stopped wearing his firearm to School Board Meetings.
- Rodney Fitch is alleged to be an avid Pickleball player. Robert Ahas recently witnessed Rodney Fitch presenting to the CCS School Board at an official school board meeting some kind of agreement between the CCS School Board and the local “Pickleball” association for approval or recognition. At that time Robert A thought this was a bit of a conflict of interest, but did not rise to the level of being anything important enough to mention. Especially with all the other “stuff” going on at CCS and Rodney Fitch.
- There has been lots of “gossip” between lots of people around Cleveland County that Rodney Fitch has (or had) a “Pickleball Girlfriend” that caused division in Rodney Fitch’s marriage that resulted in Rodney Fitch moving out of his marital residence and relocating into a camper that is alleged to be parked somewhere near Polkville.
- During the 2024 Early Voting in the School Board Primary Elections at the Library in Shelby, “somebody” allegedly called Rodney Fitch at work and told Rodney Fitch that Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg had stolen some of Fitch’s Campaign Signs. Allegedly Rodney Fitch left work, “roared” over to the Shelby Library, parked in a Handicapped Parking space, and confronted Blanton and Grigg; who were campaigning against Rodney Fitch, Robert Queen, Joel Shores, Ron Humphries, and Greg Taylor. Allegedly after Fitch had words with Blanton and Grigg he went inside the library and demanded loudly to see the Library’s security camera footage. It is alleged that people inside the library were severely frightened by “a man yelling and screaming and carrying a gun while inside the library.” The Shelby Police were eventually called. Nothing official was ever done about this that Robert A knows of. But, by all accounts, Rodney Fitch’s campaign signs were found to have been moved by Election Board officials because they violated some kind of “distance” violation. Fitch’s signs were returned to him. Robert A published an account of this alleged incident a few days later and since Robert A had not personally witnessed this incident himself, Robert A clearly indicated that all reports or this incident were “gossip.”
- Now, it is several weeks after the 2024 CCS School Board Primary Elections and Robert A personally observed that Rodney Fitch was absent from the March 11, 2024 and the April 8, 2024 Official School Board scheduled meetings. Robert A also personally observed that School Board Member Walter Scott Spurling has moved into Rodney Fitch’s “empty seat” during the past two official school board meetings (March 11 and April 8, 2024). The “gossip” going around is that Rodney Fitch has been banned from School Board meetings and CCS property because of the items noted above or some other unknown reason. “Gossip” also reports that Walter Scott Spurling’s moving into Rodney Fitch’s empty seat is to make more space between himself and Danny Blanton, whom Spurling appears to have been ordered by Chairman Robert Queen to harass Blanton during School Board meetings. Robert A has personally observed Spurling harassing Blanton during school board meetings and Spurling moving away from Blanton during both the March 11 and April 8, 2024 School Board Meetings when, Rodney Fitch was absent. The School Board going into CLOSED SESSION with their lawyer to discuss “Personnel Matters” at these two meetings when Rodney Fitch was absent could easily have included potential disciplinary actions (such as censure or removal) against Rodney Fitch as they did back last May, 2023 against Danny Blanton and Ronnie Grigg for exercising their First Amendment Rights regarding the vandalism at Burns High School and the subsequent cover-up.
Now folks, I have said all that to say this: Rodney Fitch came to see Robert A at home this past Friday, April 19, 2024 at around 1:00 PM. Rodney Fitch had just read my last article published that very day regarding the School Board (minus Rodney Fitch who was absent) voting to approve fabricated and false legal documents. And the gossip report that Rodney Fitch was somehow removed from the CCS School Board. Rodney Fitch was as mad as an old wet hen! Rodney Fitch’s first statement to Robert A was “WHY DO YOU TELL LIES ONLY ABOUT ME??” Apparently conceding that everything else in the article was 100% true!!
When Robert A attempted to explain to Rodney Fitch that the statement that “there was gossip that “Rodney Fitch was banned from the School Board” was indeed TRUE because that was indeed what was being gossiped. According to the US Constitution and affirmed by many US Supreme Court Rulings, citizens have First Amendment Rights to Speak and people discussing “Public Figures,” such as Rodney Fitch, have the legal burden to PROVE the statement is false. Which, in this case, the statement “gossip says Rodney Fitch was banned from the School Board” is TRUE! Not necessary because the GOSSIP itself was 100% true, but because that was what the gossip going around was indeed saying. And, the fact that Rodney Fitch had indeed missed two monthly meetings in a row, and the other erratic incidents previously noted that Rodney Fitch had indeed gotten himself into indicated Fitch’s recent absences might indeed be grounds for his removal from the School Board.
Robert A also tried to inform Rodney Fitch that Robert A had serious doubts that a duly elected School Board Member could indeed be removed from office based only on what has been previously described and a future article by Robert A stating such would be forthcoming. Robert A even offered to Rodney Fitch the opportunity to tell his side of any part of any article Robert A published that he disagreed with and Robert A would publish it. Subject to fact checking. But Rodney Fitch was too hot under the collar to listen to that. Or much of anything else…
So, Robert A offers no apology to Rodney Fitch or anybody else for telling the truth. Robert A has, over the years, learned that refusing to talk to the public and refusing to answer questions from the public is a habit that Cleveland County Officials have quickly learned without exception. When they get that way, Robert A believes it is time to throw them out of office. Or throw them into the JAILHOUSE!!! By the Ballot Box OR the Jury Box. Whichever is appropriate!!! And, NO MORE COVERUPS!!
However, Rodney Fitch, between his diatribes and complaints made some noteworthy statements. Some of which are noted below:
“I am Duly Elected to the CCS School Board! I can’t be banned!! I will serve out my full term in Office!!!”
“I don’t have a Pickleball Girlfriend!! It was My idea to leave home!”
“All that stuff about the Shelby Library was made up. All I did was call the Shelby Police Department!”
Some of the stuff Rodney Fitch told Robert A about (the CCS School Board and certain other CC Governmental related things) were news to Robert A. Therefore, Robert A intends to check out those items for himself as soon as possible. Or as the opportunity arises. Robert A has come to believe that the graft and corruption in Cleveland County is just as bad here as anywhere else in North Carolina and the USA.
STAY TUNED!!