Today's lead editorial in the Post and Courier, "School Board Too Quick to Act, But Give New Leader Support," separates easily into three topics: (1) the CCSD school board's willful violation of the Freedom of Information act; (2) its unseemly rush to name Nancy McGinley superintendent; and (3) the P & C's desire to lionize new member Toya Hampton Green's take on the results.Regarding the first topic, the editorial simply puts into words what onlookers sensed but could not crystallize--no public discussion of the process that would have quelled the community's feelings of a rush to judgment in the selection of Nancy McGinley as the new superintendent. Why? The board wants to project a united front; it knew such haste would be controversial and would elicit criticism. It believed it could take its chances with minor violations of the law.
On the second topic, Nancy Cook simply out-maneuvered board members-- Green, Jordan, and Douglas--into voting NOT to interview McGinley by ruling (in executive session apparently) that, if the interview measure carried, they would be unable to vote to name her as interim. Slick, that one.
Topic three is Toya Hampton Green. Much of the information in the editorial came straight from Green, whom the P & C touts as providing good advice to the disgruntled. Originally endorsed by the P & C, Green straddles an interesting position in that she has insulted the District 20 constituent board (the district where she lives) by stating that she wasn't elected to represent them but the district as a whole; her child's number was selected in the Buist Academy lottery (this miracle occurs for every CCSD board member having a child who applies); and, before going into practice with her husband, she represented CCSD for a major law firm.
Now, Green is an experienced lawyer. I for one refuse to believe that she couldn't figure out what Cook was up to with her ruling. If Green had voted to interview McGinley, the motion would have passed.
Machiavellian, isn't it?
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20 comments:
I hope Green can live with the results of her political ambition. Her child is the first REAL downtown African American child to get into the Buist kindergarten in how many years? Enjoy the Rolls Royce of public education while the rest of your African American constituents in District 20 are stuck with however little your school board can get away with giving them.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who realizes how manipulative Nancy Cook can be...
How scary it is to recognize she is a counselor!
I always thought Gregg was the sole user of hypnosis skills. Evidently Nancy and Toya have some crystals as well...
What a sick group of people...maybe Nancy could offer "group therapy sessions" for them all.
Speaking of the Freedom of Information Act, the Post and Courier could do a whole story of CCSD's abuse of that legislation alone. It could be bigger than the school bus saga. They know the violations exist, so why not write about them?
Oh, that's right, their writers are hanging out with kids at the bus stop while they're waiting for the bus. Yeah, reading about what kids talk about at a bus stop is front page news.
Ewww...if I think about it too much the irony and "play on words" is way too creepy for me.
Doesn't Dr. G-J enjoy using some comment about "getting on the bus"?
Machiavellian has two meanings from what I understand. On the negative side we can define it as "corrupt government." On the more positive side we can define it as "politic genius." What do you think?
All I DO know is Mr. Gregg "corrupt" Meyers is NOT a political genius.
Come on people! Show a little appreciation. If it wasn't for Gregg Meyers and Nancy Cook we might not even have the special magnet schools for the elite of Charleston. After all his hard work Gregg deserves to help out other attorneys get a private school education for free.
I know someone out there must have answers to the following questions. How much money was spent on Ms. Green's campaign last year? What is she paid to sit on the board? Does she have to report her child's spot at Buist to the ethics commission as a gift from a political supporter?
Toya Green didn't have to be on the school board to get her kid into Buist. She and her husband are both lawyers and closely connected to Joe Riley. The child was already a shoe in. Has an attorney ever been unable to get their kid into Buist?
Political campaign contributions and gifts to politicians and political committees are (or should be) a matter of public record under the SC Campaign Ethics rules. Check with the SC Ethics Commission for what Toya Hampton Green has reported. Check also for who paid what to her campaign or to the B-Team. If what you see isn't shown on the public list (it can be accessed through the state's web site, I believe), then you might want to consider filing an inquiry about whatever you think is missing or a complaint if you think something is being hidden. While you're at it, check on what some of the biggest contract holders for services issued by CCSD gave. You might want to see if First Student or the new bus contract holder gave anything to either individual or group campaigns. Don't forget that the Chamber of Commerce receives a hefty annual contribution from CCSD, did they report their support under State Ethics Commission rules? This could get really sticky for lawyers like Green and Meyers. If you don't ask on your own, then don't expect anyone else to tell on them for you.
I know we always seem to come back to Buist...but why? Is it because nothing is being done? Are we obsessed? Or are we just fed up with the politics of this town? I wish someone would report these attorneys to the BAR. Surely there's an ethical violation there, right? Mr. Kefalos, should you LIE about where you live to get your child into a public school? You took a spot from a LEGAL resident of downtown. You GET that, don't you? Oh, I know...you "PAY LOTS" of taxes and you coach soccer...you're a "good" guy. You just feel entitled, as do all of your other so-called friends.
Who can we contact that cares? Would the Governor care if we told him about his brother's in-laws?
I'm sick of this crap and I'm ready for someone to DO something about it. Is any one out there ready to DO something?
It would be funny to make a chart connnecting the Buist kindergarten class from last year to Gregg Meyers. There is a similar game with the actor Kevin Bacon. This would be a lot easier though.
I suppose it comes back to Buist because you want to believe in the school board. Many of you have discovered that they have used public funds to support a private school for themselves and their cronies for many years. If they would do this what else have they done? They have ignored every school downtown (Burke, Fraser, James Simmons, Memminger, Sanders Clyde, James Simmons and Mitchell)and these schools have all been left to fend for themselves--with the exception of charitable handouts from churches, community volunteers and corporate help. If you like charts how about a chart showing what Buist gets from CCSD and what those other downtown schools get? Where does the Title 1 money go? Is that going to Buist too? Nothing would surprise me at this point.
The game should be called "Three Degrees of Separation from Greg Meyers" and the only rule is that money is the documented connection. What did the Chamber pay to the Meyers-Simons-Green-Jordan campaign? Don't forget that the first 3 names are lawyers (and/or lawyer's spouses). Meyers, Simons and now Green had/have a kid in Buist. Simons' husband's law firm earned millions of dollars by handling CCSD's building bond issues. And there's so much more. Ethical considerations have been pushed so far out of the picture cheating and padding pockets with public money is now considered normal. This school enviromment may be keeping our kids ignorant but they are not stupid. The kids here must eventually know they are being cheated. Why else would an otherwise student in Horry County be able to get a far better education in those public schools? Follow the money trail and you can find those who are stealing from our kids and our community. How 'bout it Mayor Riley? Do you support the status quo among our city's public schools?
At least in Machiavelli's "The Prince" the power of the leader was sustained by the ability of the city-state that he ruled to also excell. How sustainable is a ruler when his kingdom is rotting from within? How strong is a community where there is no committment to educate the masses to the highest levels?
Love the comments two above. Why is this not in the Post and Courier?
Why is this not quoted in the P&C? Because we live in a punitive environment. If one openly finds fault with the powers that control our lives, then one risks becoming labeled an outcast. This is exactly why intelligent blacks in Charleston will not openly oppose Joe Darby, Dot Scott, Robert Ford or their shills like Toya Green. They are afraid of retribution. The same is true for the white community. There is a personal price to pay if the established business and political network is questioned. Babbie has said it already, if it's not tourism or real estate related, it's a low priority to the P&C editorial staff and ownership. What ever happened to real leadership in this community? We had courageous leaders once (both white and black). If this city is to succeed, it will be because people have found the courage to speak out again for what sustains our quality of life...and it ain't an endless supply of first-time tourists or urban sprawl to points far beyond the horizon.
If you really want to check the character and leadership abilities of Nancy McGinley, I'd suggest that someone on behalf of District 20 or a parents group needs to serve her with a complete FOIA request on her first full day as the new superintendent. The request should probably include most of what has been covered here in the last few months. She should also take the initiative to meet with these people BEFORE this request is made. She knows full well of their frustrations, now she needs to show some understanding and consideration that her current boss has not.
I want to believe in the separation of politics between the Post and Courier and this mess. But how can we? Our schools stink and Diette is writing an article about the Washout and Bus stops.
Diette, if you're listening...we don't give a rat's ass where the future Super surfs and plays tennis! We want equal education in our downtown schools!
Write an article about Kefalos, Langsam, Seinsheimer, and Meyers and then we'll believe you're not bias.
One more thing (while I'm venting and on a roll) - who the hell are these 10,000 people the NAACP and their masses represent? That's the 2nd time you've printed that BS. Why, Diette??? Why???
Any chance you went to an integrated public school? What qualifies YOU to be an educational reporter???
To the 11:41 am poster -
why not write a letter to the State Ethics Commission...please?
If you just ask them to do an opinion (formal or informal), I think they can protect their source...just fyi..
Can you tell I've been on their website today?
Why doesn't someone FOIA Cook's district credit card for her lunches and dinners she is providing her friends Slick one that one
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