Sources report that the reports of the potential closing of elementary schools in and around Kings Mountain have lit up telephone lines and Facebook pages with controversy and opposition. Mainly with FALSE allegations that school board member Danny Blanton was to blame for it all. I smell a rat. I smell the scent of a devious scheme that the Rogue Republicans: Wes Westmoreland, Dennis Bailey, Robert “Luke” Queen Kevin Whisnant, David Allen, Ron Humphries, and a few others are to blame for the mostly false narrative that is being spread around Kings Mountain and Cleveland County.
What I am hearing now is that Luke Queen will not include the closing of elementary schools in and around Kings Mountain in the Agenda for the January 10th School Board Meeting. That the Rogue Republicans are searching for the identities of those that “leaked” this story in order to do some retaliation. That the school board consultant’s reports actually did indeed list the Kings Mountain Elementary Schools previously noted with a recommendation to shut some down. That Kings Mountain folks are mostly “up in the air” (and pissed-off) over the word of the potential closings of the previously noted KM Elementary Schools. That KM resident and School Board member Ron Humphries is falsely telling influential KM folks that the whole story is false and Danny Blanton is to blame. That Kevin Whisnant is posting on Facebook that the influential KM folks that are truthfully telling all their Facebook friends that the school closing story is false and the consultant reports did NOT call for KM school closings. And, Danny Blanton is the culprit behind this controversy. And, on and on with lies and false allegations.
As for me, my conclusion is the Rogue Republicans have gotten caught up early in a sinister plan up to actually close certain Kings Mountain Elementary Schools (West, in particular for its close proximity to the new Catawba Casino), With the end goal of corruptly and financially benefitting certain individuals, Perhaps, in some fashion, including themselves. And the elementary school kids’ education be damned.
However, as William Shakespeare once said, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” and Patrick Henry said this about the secret Constitution Convention meetings, ”I smelt a rat.” Since such shady dealings and corrupt politics as noted by William Shakespeare, Patrick Henry and now, me, only reflect hundreds and even thousands of years of mankind’s history; you have to realize this story will not end at the January 10, 2022 School Board meeting. Actually, it is only in the middle stages of a beginning. Therefore, I will reserve the right to tell the rest of my conclusions and opinions at a later date. But I assure you that it is on MY LIST of THINGS TO DO-IN 2022!!!
In the meantime, let’s all come out to the January 10th School Board Meeting, sign up for Citizens Participation and DEMAND an agenda item on every school board meeting agenda for at least the next 3 years where citizens can offer their advice and recommendations on old school closing and new school construction. AND, get answers from the School Board and CCS Administration.
PS: Reliable sources also report that the School Board/Supt. Fisher is bringing John Yarbro out of retirement to act as the CCS Construction Manager for the “oversight” of the New Auditoriums at Burns and Crest High Schools. Although Yarbro has exactly ZERO Education, training, qualifications and good experience as a competent Construction Manager. And the auditorium’s construction “projected costs” are already pushing 25% over budget with a reduction of auditorium project scope that is also around 25%. In other words, we will be paying much more and we will be getting much less. Which is historically CCS’s standard business for Burns and Crest facilities.