Gilmer County Board of Education Meeting Monday - 08.20.12

AGENDA
Gilmer County Board of Education
Gilmer County High School Media Center
Monday, August 20, 2012 - 6:00 PM

I.  CALL TO ORDER ­- Roll Call by President, William Simmons

II.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Superintendent’s Designee

III.  SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

IV.  BOARD REPORTS – Board Members

            A.  CGCC: (6-19-2012 & 7-17-2012) Mrs. Starkey

            B.  RESA:  (8.12.12) Dr. Simmons

V.  CONSENT AGEND

            A.  Minutes – July 02, 2012

            B.  Personnel

            C.  Budget Supplements & Transfers

            D.  Accounts Payable

            E.  Policies for Approval

                    a.  Policy 5118 Intra-County Student Transfer

                    b.  First Reading (Comments until August 23, 2012)

            F.  School Based Health Agreement

            G.  Student Transfers

            H.  Use of School Facilities

            I.  Excess Levy Order

VI.  SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS – Mr. Blankenship

            A.  Board Goals

VII.  DELEGATIONS*

VIII.  FUTURE MEETINGS

IX.  ADJOURNMENT

* “Speakers are asked to express themselves in a civil manner, with due respect for the dignity and privacy of others who may be affected by your comments.  While it is not our intent to stifle public comment, speakers should be aware that if your statements violate the rights of others under the law of defamation or invasion of privacy, you may be held legally responsible.  If you are unsure of the legal ramifications of what you are about to say, we urge you to consult first with your legal advisor.”

That last paragraph is sure to scare people into silence.

Notice that paragraph wasn’t on the meeting posted for 7-2-2012.  Designed to stifle?  Yes.  Isn’t this a public meeting?  Now they tell the public what they can speak to? Makes me question if we still live in a democracy When you take a political job your private life becomes public knowledge.  Superintendent Blankenship already has an “answer no questions” agenda in place.  Why even bother to have the meetings if attendees can’t say what’s on their mind?  Why not just sign the checks as usual and email a copy since the Board has no say? No fuss, no muss,it will save on the electric bills and keep the popularity poll intact.

Mr. Blankenship, you are a politically appointed yes man put in place by political appointees.  There was no posting for your job. You were hand picked. Gilmer County citizens have not been treated with dignity by you or your bosses. Your actions as Superintendent which impact the public checkbook have no entitlement to privacy. Perhaps you should rethink your tactic of threatening people with legal action. Short of name calling or threats of physical violence, can’t think of much the public doesn’t have the right to say or ask at a public meeting of that board as long as it’s relevant.People have a right to know what your plans are when it comes to the children and the education they pay for and you are the only one who knows those plans. No one should be expected to just lay down and let you walk all over them. If you can’t take the heat…

   
In regards to the last paragraph:

So is this the polite way of telling people who come to the meeting “ to keep still or else”??? 

If it is not their intent to “stifle public comments” what exactly is it??? 

Is it not a given fact that if ANYTHING should be said (heaven forbid) against the way our school system is being run by this administration that it would be defamation and they could be held legally responsible???  Shhhhh !!!

Please consult your legal adviser “FIRST” to make sure what you are about to say is ok with the BOE and that it will not offend anyone in any way. Are you kidding us?????  So much for truth and freedom of speech. 

However, we are now being given the time date and place of the BOE Meeting.  That is a plus + compared to what we have been given in the past.  The meeting is open to all of us.  Just “ KEEP QUIET” when you get there.

Nothing has changed since the take over, except its in the open, now who is in control.

Its the Marple Empire set established by the Senator Manchin dynasty, thrust forward by the Gilmer Cube Club.

Names of a few of the players have changed.  Simmonds who left(?) GSC has resurfaced as a likely player.

Blankenship was booted and he too has made the limelight.  The Butcher woman, who apparently `lost` her job at the college is back at the public spotlight.

The back scratchers that make up a portion of the Crooked County Crooks are on the move as usual.  These people have no idea what they are doing to Gilmer County.  Do they even care?

Hmmm…let me think…this is the U.S. right? We still have freedom of speech, right? Folks, don’t let the defamation and libel crap scare you, especially if your comments have to do with elected officials or their appointees. Unless someone utters a complete untruth with malicious intent…nothing they can do.
It is truly a sad day when the state can takeover anything without any due process….it is absolutely un-American. Only in West Virginia! Why does the legislature allow this to happen?

Russia has Vladimir Putin and Gilmer County Ron Blankenship. Putin just put three members of punk band Pussy Riot in jail. Looks like Blankenship trying to do the same.

RIF all the experience and replace to lower benefit and salary cost when statistics prove 46% of new teachers will leave the field in the first five years.  Demand they teach a “virtual” classroom technique after one class and no courses offered at GSC to support it.  Eliminate spelling from the curriculum saying the kids will pick it up along the way?
This is how you improve our situation?  You may threaten but will not be able to hide the degradation of our system. Now you want us to vote an excess levy for books they can’t teach from plus maintenance and utilities for one building.

Anyone know how many members are on the Board of Education?  If you read the paper only one name gets any mention. Other opinions don’t seem to get any press. Also, has anyone seen a legal notice of the open Board of Ed seat in the paper?  Did someone file as a Board candidate or as independent for County Commission? Maybe I missed it but seems there’s nothing coming out of the Courthouse and the Clerk’s office these days. Meetings just get posted on the door if not put on here.  I guess we just don’t follow any laws in Gilmer County anymore.

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