Please Prove CCS is NOT BROKE!!!
HOW are YOU going to “FIX” the 13 CCS Failing Schools??
Forwarded to the Public by Robert A
To: Dr. Stephen Fisher, Joel Shores, Aaron Bridges and CCS School Board:
At the January 13, 2025 CCS School Board Meeting Vice Chairman Aaron Bridges made a statement that despite what some in Cleveland County say, Cleveland County Schools “is not “broke”. Apparently in response to my article earlier in that Cleveland County AND Cleveland County Schools ARE broke and provided clear reasoning to support that belief and opinion.
Mr. Bridges’ statement was made despite commentary earlier in that very same January 13, 2025 School Board Meeting that some listings available to the School Board members of necessary CCS repairs and other facilities work that totaled $129 Million$ (as I recall) and, according to MY calculations, that work would take between 86 to 129 years to pay off. Not counting any more work found to be necessary during those 89 to 129 years.
Also Note that School Board Member Walter Scott Spurling, also made comments-during this same time and same conversation-that the listing of necessary work was on CCS Records and was a “Public Record that was available to the Public. Unfortunately, I have searched the CCS internet Home Page and could NOT find these public records.
Unfortunately, as CCS School Board Chairman Joel Shores appeared to be trying to shut-down this very important discussion on a critical subject, someone, I believe it was Chairman Joel Shores, made the statement that “if all the work doesn’t get done, so what?” Note that there was more than usual background noise in the CCS School Board Meeting room that evening. Also, the microphones were especially troublesome and some discussion was especially hard to hear.
In conclusion, I am very disappointed in the lack of concern the Cleveland County Board of Education seems to have for the truth of the matter as well as the overall disdain for the taxpayers, citizens and school children of Cleveland County. Also, it certainly appears that Mr. Aaron Bridges was 100% wrong with his statement that CCS was NOT BROKE.
But, to be fair, I am requesting the following information from the CCS School Board under the Public Records of North Carolina as stated below:
The document under question at the January 13, 2025 School Board Meeting as noted herein.
Any other supporting information, calculations, “figuring,” etc. that was used to estimate the amounts of funds necessary to perform that particular task.
Also, I believe the taxpayers of Cleveland County would like to have good information that would enhance their confidence in local government agencies here in Cleveland County, Especially the CCS School Board. Therefore, I am offering each and every CCS School Board Member the opportunity to explain, in particular terms and positions, to the Citizens of Cleveland County how they will work to better explain how the aging fleet of CCS Schools will be cost effectively and properly maintained and operated over the many years to come. Also, to explain how each of you will advocate and work to FIX the 13 failing CCS Schools? (Please consider this last item as YOUR position for reelection in 2026 or 2028.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Williams
CC Citizen and Taxpayer
