Teresa DeLoatch Bryant District 2 Representative Edgecombe County Board of Education Reflects on Service/Public Schools As She Is About To Exit Off The Board

Response: Bryant will be missed, she was always asking the right questions and challenging the system to do what she felt was in the best interest of the children.

BRYANT RELFECTS ON SERVICE/PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The past five years have been both challenging and interesting ones to say the least. All in all, however, I must say that it has truly been an honor to serve as the representative for District 2 on the Edgecombe County Board of Education.

Although I could never be accused of having a great love for children, I do have a great love and passion for ensuring that they are well-educated. This passion stems from the fact that I am a perfect example of the power of education in transforming lives. It is my heartfelt desire that every child in Edgecombe County be armed with a quality education when they graduate from high school no matter what career or educational path they choose thereafter.

Although I began writing this piece thinking I would do so from the perspective of a soon to be “former” board member, I ultimately concluded that writing the piece from the perspective of a parent might be enlightening and encouraging for the general public which has stood steadfast by our public school system in one role or another over the years.

One of the greatest responsibilities that I have as a parent is to ensure that my child receives a quality education. We started her educational career in private Christian school in Greensboro and continued that path when we first moved to Tarboro with her attending private Christian school in Rocky Mount. After I joined the school board in July of 2007, she enrolled at Stocks and spent a total of four years out of the five that I have served on the board in our public school system.

As many of you know, we chose to go back to private Christian school last year and I am so glad that we did because it taught me a lot. It taught me that my child knew and had been taught even more in our public school system than I would have ever thought. How did I find that out? Well, she competed and excelled in an environment where I could not have handpicked a more rigorous curriculum with children who had been in what I thought to be an idealistic environment since kindergarten. Another parent might attribute it exclusively to natural giftedness of the child or their own efforts but I am not so delusional. She competed and excelled because she had been taught and she had been taught well by those who toll in their respective roles in the Edgecombe County Public Schools. We are very blessed that for this school year she has been taught by some outstanding teachers in our public school system whose skills rival any of those that she has had before in private schools.

Accordingly, it is in this public forum that I take the opportunity to thank all of the teachers, administrators, classified and unclassified staff members in general with the Edgecombe County Public School System who have touched the life of my child and contributed to her growth as a student and citizen and who have done the same thing for so many other children.

The state of public education in North Carolina and our nation as a whole is a topic that we could debate on many pages of this newspaper. Yes, I am concerned daily about negative influences, behavior and all of the social ills that you hear about in the public schools. Of equal concern, however, is the prospect of my child leaving home and going off to college unprepared for many of the lessons that are learned in public school. Although I would hope that she would choose a respectable university such as NC State or Duke, there is another university that she has strong ties to and she could go there for goodness sake.

If I could erase all of the teachable moments that made me cringe when I have talked to her about them in her four years of being educated in our public school system, would I? Should I? The answer is no. I would not because I am preparing her for life. It is the truth that the decision to take a year off from public school was due in part to the issues previously mentioned but when I look at her peer group this year – how well they maintained – how much they obviously learned last year – I think to myself “did I do her a bigger favor or myself a bigger favor” by making the change.

Much is said about the role of the parent and parent activism in schools and in this context we often speak negatively about what we deem to be dysfunctional families and young parents’ involvement or lack thereof but the truth of the matter is that the activism of the parents who are married, who are educated, etc. should be a comparable matter of concern to the state of the traditional public school. We can all do more and should do more for our public school system and I challenge each of you to make your pledge now for what you will start doing in the fall for our schools.

In closing, I will say that which should come as no surprise to you. I am not an opponent of school choice. What I must also say, however, is that in my years of seeking out the best educational opportunity for my child, I have found no solution that stands out head and shoulders above any others. That goes for public schools, private schools, charter schools or home schools. They are all a mixed bag with both pros and cons and at any given time in a particular child’s educational career one may be a better solution than the other for the child and/or the parent.

This notwithstanding, I am proud to say that the Edgecombe County Public School System still has a great deal to offer, not only to the children who may not have the option of school choice, it has a great deal to offer those children who do.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.

Teresa DeLoatch Bryant

District 2 Representative

Edgecombe County Board of Education

See related:

Teresa DeLoatch Bryant

Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Chair Wanted The Board To Cut Their Budget Because They Were Asking Other Departments To Cut But Is It Really Necessary?

It was interesting that Ann Kent Board Chair was asking that the board cut professional training and travel expense because she felt the board asked other departments to cut and she felt it was only fair that they cut also.

Attorney Janice Davidson and Attorney Teresa D. Bryant questioned why Kent chose those cuts and then after much discussion they found out that some of the budget charged to the board is not all of their budget and consist of others. Once that was found out then it gave them a whole new outlook on looking at could the board cut themselves in other areas versus training and travel. Bryant asked why the board cuts not been looked at by those who did a study on all of the other cuts so therefore the board had not included themselves in the cuts.

The board cuts that Kent presented were not included in the present budget as presented but on the table for the board to vote up or down.

See video coming soon.

See related:

Breaking News: Edgecombe County Public Schools Voted To Close Roberson School The Home Of The Alternative School

Edgecombe County Public Schools

District 2 Board Member Teresa DeLoatch Bryant contacted the Daily Southerner to comment on the article "Schools Facing Budget Reductions."

District 2 Board Member Teresa DeLoatch Bryant contacted the Daily Southerner to comment on the article "Schools Facing Budget Reductions."  Ms. Bryant sought to clarify that what may be perceived by some as intense questioning by her on a subject is not an indication of what her position is on the subject.  While she does acknowledge that she engaged in such questioning at the board meeting, she wanted to note that she never indicated to anyone what her position is on the matter.  She does strongly believe that a recommendation to close the school should come hand in hand with a firm recommendation on how those students would be served if the school is closed. 

 

In addition, she wanted to clarify that she never thought that attendance or performance were irrelevant to an examination of whether the school should be closed.  In fact she thinks that this would be an illogical position for anyone to take when engaging in this analysis.  Instead, however, she stated that it is somewhat disingenuous to compare an alternative school to the traditional schools in these regards when we already know that many of the children who are being served by the alternative school have exhibited problems or deficiencies in various areas that will take time to improve.   

 

Simply looking at the numbers is too superficial of an analysis for her to make in the times that we are living in today when serious disciplinary and behavioral issues are rampant in schools.  Instead, however, she is concerned about how this will impact the students who attend the alternative school; the teachers and staff at the alternative school as well as how it will impact the teachers and students who are not in the alternative schools.

 

Reform or Retreat?  What will cost us more in the long run is the question that Ms. Bryant is pondering.

 

Response: Roberson School is in Bryant’s district. She should have concerns however the other board members should have concerns as well. See my other comments in the link below. But most of all look at the video of the meeting for yourself. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

 

See related:

 

Edgecombe considers closing alternative school – Rocky Mount Telegram 

 

Video/Pictures: Tarboro NC: Edgecombe County Public Schools March Meeting, Will They Close Roberson School And Cut Travel And Training Expense? How Does The Board Chair Get Away Without Attending The Mandatory 12 Hours of Training?

Bryant declines to seek re-election – The Daily Southerner

TARBORO — Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision. (More)

See related:

Teresa D. Byrant

Breaking News: Teresa DeLoatch Bryant District 2 Representative Edgecombe County Board of Education Will Not Seek Re-Election

To: The Residents of District 2 and the Community at Large

From: Teresa DeLoatch Bryant

District 2 Representative, Edgecombe County Board of Education

In light of the quickly approaching start of the candidate filing period, I wanted to formally announce that I will not run for reelection this year. My professional conflicts still exist and while the personal conflict that caused me to submit my resignation during the 2010-2011 school year does not, I cannot be certain that in four years time, that conflict will not arise again.

Accordingly, the responsible thing for me to do, particularly since I am now aware that an appointment process could be very contentious, is to find another way in which I can serve our school system. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve but I must say that I do look forward to holding only one title – the one I consider to be the most important in our quest to educate children – Teresa DeLoatch Bryant, Parent.

See related:

Teresa D. Byrant

Board Member Concerned About Closing The Achievement Gap

I want to comment on the issue of board engagement with their constituents because it is a good one. Speaking for myself only, I can tell you that I count active "public" engagement as my weakest area of service. Yes, I talk to my constituents on the phone. I text them. They text me. I email them. They email me. As in many other areas, sophisticated forms of impersonal communication are dominating the interaction between some public officials and their constituents. It does not help that I am not a person who likes to do anything for show but I hold a degree in Political Science from NC State and I know that in the political arena, sometimes that is required in order for people to know you are working for them and on the issues that affect them and it also can inspire them to want to do more. In my letter to the three candidates for appointment sent the day after the July board meeting thanking them for their interest in serving, I told them that I would be contacting them shortly regarding forming a "real" Advisory Council for our district, in the hopes to improve in this area. Public solicitation of others who might be interested in joining will also occur before the start of this school year.

I am still studying the data regarding the achievement gap in our district and I am anxiously awaiting reports from the professionals working with us from DPI regarding their independent evaluation of the causes of this phenomenon. I do know already, however, that both the causes of this problem and the solutions are multifaceted. The first thing that we need to do is to focus squarely on the issue and I plan to push for that focus this year. In order to be effective, our mindsets have to be on helping eliminate the problem and not on laying blame. When we have teachers or principals who are struggling, we help them with what they need in order for their students to succeed. We have to take the same approach to our parents/grandparents/guardians who may not be doing what they need to do in order for their children to succeed. It will take a great deal of work at the community level for us to accomplish this critical piece of the equation but we can do it.

Teresa DeLoatch Bryant
District 2 Representative

Note: The above is in response to: “Edgecombe County Public Schools The Real Problem Keeping Black Students @ 30% Behind Their White Counterparts (Closing the gap statistics for Edgecombe)”

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Edgecombe County Public Schools “BRYANT HAS NOT MADE ANY DECISION ABOUT 2012”

It has come to my attention that after reading Mr. Gray’s Letter to the Editor, some members of the public now believe that I have affirmatively decided to run for election in 2012 (because obviously that is the only way the voters will be able to address me). I have received a number of phone calls and messages regarding the same in less than a twenty-four (24) hour period.

I do not want the public to think that I am telling some people one thing and others another with regards to my intention to run. I have not told anyone that I have made a decision to run in 2012.

I provided a public response to Mr. Dancy’s question regarding what my intentions are in 2012 and I personally mailed that response along with a cover letter to all three candidates for appointment to the District 2 seat the week of our last board meeting. That response clearly indicated that I have not made any such decision.

Thanks so much for your continued support.

See related:

Gray: District 2 needs a black – Source: The Daily Southerner

Board Deadlocked On Appointment

Principals Hired For Princeville and Patillo Schools In Edgecombe County, See Resignations, New Hires, Transfers, Reduction in Force, Leave of Absence and Transfers/Reassignments For July 20, 2011

Edgecombe County Public Schools Resignations, New Hires, Transfers, Reduction in Force, Leave of Absence and Transfers/Reassignments For July 11, 2011

Edgecombe County Public Schools 3 Reminds Me Of The Princeville Town Council 3, “Racism And/Or Power Struggle”

Rev. Roy Gray Sr. stated in his letter to The Daily Southerner, titled: “Gray, district needs a black” that Edgecombe County Public Schools board members former board chair Evelyn Wilson, Dr. Evelyn Johnson both black and Keith Pittman (white) voted for him and former board vice chair Ann Kent, Janice Davidson and Faye Taylor (white) voted for Thomas Wayne Edison during the appointment. The vote was deadlocked at 2 meetings and that lead Attorney Teresa D. Bryant to rescind her resignation.

I have named Kent, Davidson and Taylor the Edgecombe County Public Schools 3. They remind me of the Princeville Town Council 3 because Commissioners Isabelle Purvis-Andrews, Calvin Sherrod and Mayor Priscilla Everette-Oates almost always votes together at every meeting. Commissioners Ann Howell and Gwendolyn Knight always vote together.

I find it too damn funny that the ECPS 3 would vote for Edison who did a very poor job during the interview process and his main concern was reducing classroom size. So therefore in my opinion I feel strongly that the ECPS 3 want the board to be lily white and they are not concerned about the black children and the issues they face in District 2. Edison couldn’t speak to the issues in District 2 as it relates to the black children so therefore the appointment should have been a no-brainer.

Attorney Teresa D. Bryant is black and was elected by the people. The district is a minority-majority black district and was set up that way to ensure black representation. The make up of the district is 57% black and 8 % non-white so therefore the ECPS 3 in my opinion showed just how racist they are. I say that because they know the history of the district as it relates to why some others and myself requested that a black person be appointed. If this was an election by the people and the people voted in a white person, then so be it but the appointment should have been handed to a black person. Keeping in mind that no white person ran against Bryant who was appointed to replace Dr. Florence A. Armstrong (black) so therefore this is another reason to appoint a black. Bryant ran during the election without any opposition.

If I was a board member and if District 2 was not a minority-majority black district, I would have looked at who ran during the previous election, the numbers and the race of the voters who voted in the previous election and how the candidates responded during the interview process. I will use the same candidates that were seeking the appointment, I would have ranked them in the following order Gray, Robinson and Edison. I have made it known that I am not a fan of Gray however I have stated during the appointment process that I would have had to choose Gray because I would have not allowed it to be personal. I would have voted for him however I would have hoped that Bryant would seek election during the upcoming election in 2012.

I have said over and over again that the ECPS 3 shows how much they care about the children of Edgecombe County and should makes one wonder how much they care about the black children in the county. They don’t want them to have a black voice on the board because they have a 4-3 majority but they wanted it to be a 5-2 majority.

I love it when not only some white folks come to the meetings with their personal agendas but when some black folks with personal agendas as well because I am there always there. My personal agenda is the same holding the board accountable for their actions because I want what is best for all children in the county. Because I attend the meetings regularly and stay to the end when those with the personal agenda comes and leave when their item on the agenda has been brought forth, I can talk about them with no problem be they white or black. I love it when whites and blacks come to the meeting with their agenda knowing that I am there always and they don’t mention their concerns to me but then think I suppose to support their agendas. I don’t roll like that because I don’t give a damn if they are white or black. I have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies only permanent interest.

So there you have it, this is my spill on the Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) 3.

I am Curmilus Butch Dancy II an effective community activist, The Political Agitator and The Watch Dog of the East however I know some others white and black have more names for me but that does not matter because I know who I am and whose I am and I don’t play. Time is too short and there is much work to be done.

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) 3

Princeville Town Council 3

Letter to editor: BRYANT SEEKS COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

BRYANT SEEKS COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

As many of you are likely aware by now, I will be serving out the remainder of my elected term as the District 2 representative on the Board of Education. The appointment process for the District 2 seat garnered a great deal of interest and activism from the community. I hope and pray that the issue of closing the indisputable achievement gap between black and white students in our school system will galvanize this community with the same fervor as the issue of a replacement for me has over the past several months.

I want to be clear that I am not completely satisfied with any of our subgroups’ progress and it is imperative that we find a way to improve at every level. This notwithstanding, minimizing the glaring disparity between the performance of Black students to White students must be a priority for us as a district and a community in order to fulfill our responsibility to the children and to improve our standing in the rankings.

Undoubtedly, a factor at play includes what is happening at the school level and there is commitment to identify and eliminate any and all barriers but the root of the cause of this disparity does not exclude what is happening at home and in the community. Will you please help us – whether it be with one child or many – with what is happening at home and in the community that may be hindering our children’s academic development?

Teresa DeLoatch Bryant

District 2

Board of Education

Note: Thank you for bringing this concern to the forefront. I am having flashbacks because I remember serving on the Closing the Achievement Gap Committee over the years but I was not invited and/or informed of meetings thereafter. However I have not heard anything about Closing the Achievement Gap for the past several years. I used to hear about it on the state level but I haven’t heard anything in the past several years either.

I too feel you on your concerns of other subgroups as well as I used to see the reports but I can’t remember the last time I have seen them. One subgroup I always here about is Free and Reduced Lunch. Oh well.

I used to get appointed to committees over the years but I guess some of the board members along with Diane LeFiles made sure that I was not on the committees because they didn’t want to have to deal with this Negro. I am not your average Negro and although I have no college degree, I have been blessed with dealing with this school board and the Edgecombe County Public Schools System as whole when it comes to issues at G. W. Carver Elementary, South Edgecombe Middle and SouthWest Edgecombe but not limited to. The minutes and my record speaks for itself.

Again thank you and I look forward to the response to dealing with Closing the Achievement Gap. Curmilus Dancy II – DCN Publisher

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Board Member Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Responds To Formal Meeting Called For Monday July 18, 2011 12:30 PM

Thank you Attorney Teresa D. Bryant for responding to my request in such a timely fashion. Thank you for sharing with me and my viewers your response.

The following is the response from Bryant, “It is my understanding the meeting will address closed session personnel matters only. I am on the trial calendar and will be unable to get away during the day for the meeting. I do know that there is a quorum but I have to direct all questions regarding how notice was given to the public of this meeting to Dr. Talley who handles this.” Teresa DeLoatch Bryant District 2

So again what is so important that this meeting must take place on Monday knowing that Attorney Bryant can not be present. Damn I have set in many of meetings whereby the board has tried to accommodate all the board members so they can be present. So why this meeting could not have been held later in the evening?

See related:

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Of Education Website Says They Are Having A Formal Meeting On Monday July 18 In The Middle Of The Day, But Why?

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Video – Edgecombe County Public Schools BOE Voted 3 – 3 For Appointment & Votes To Replace Chair & Vice Chair Monday, July 11, 2011

Attorney Teresa D. Bryant remains on the board and Evelyn Wilson and Ann Kent switch roles as chair and vice chair.

See all of the people who spoke during the public comments. Former Principal Rev. Raymond Privott comments were powerful but the board ignored his plea to do the right thing.

Wilson said she has heard so much negativity since May and that it was said she wanted power. She said someone in the room at the moment has stated it. Wilson said she was going to show them what power is. See Wilson’s comments for yourself.

Click on picture to view video (42 mins. 43 secs. total)

See related:

Tarboro NC – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Interview With The DCN In Response To The Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meeting On Last Night

Breaking News – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Has Rescinded Her Resignation

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Public Schools Voted Again 3 For Rev. Roy A. Gray And 3 For Thomas Wayne Edison, Here We Go Again

Edgecombe County Public Schools Resignations, New Hires, Transfers, Reduction in Force, Leave of Absence and Transfers/Reassignments For July 2011

Bryant to remain on Board of Education – Source: The Daily Southerner

TARBORO — Unable to decide on a representative for District 2, Attorney Teresa Bryant rescinded her resignation Monday night.

During the regular meeting of the Edgecombe County Board of Education, Bryant rescinded her resignation that had been extended until June 30 or when a new board member was appointed.

Note: See video coming in a few hours so you can see who all the speakers were and what really happened at the meeting. Curmilus Dancy II – DCN Publisher

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Tarboro NC – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Interview With The DCN In Response To The Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meeting On Last Night

The following was sent to Attorney Teresa D. Bryant in response to the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board meeting on last night. This was an exciting meeting. Due to the meeting ending around 11:20 PM I asked Attorney Bryant to please respond to The DCN in writing so that we could get home before 12:00 midnight.

Thank you Attorney Bryant for your timely response.

From The DCN

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Greetings:

Attorney Teresa D. Bryant last night you were not given the opportunity to address the legality of you be considered a remaining member on the board of education so therefore you were not allowed to vote. You attempted to address the issue since it was all about you but the board chair Evelyn Wilson opinion was that if you were allowed to respond that it would be a debate with the citizen so she did not think it was right and that the board’s policy is to respond in writing. As I stated during public comments I would love to hear your response.

Will you please share what your response to the legality of you not voting for a candidate to replace you?

I am very pleased with you rescinding your resignation and now you will continue to serve as a board member until the upcoming 2012 election. Was it difficult to consider rescinding your resignation and if so why?

Do you plan to seek re-election in 2012?

Do you have anything you would love to share about your tenure on the board that you have not covered?

Thank you for serving on the board and although you do not live in my district and I can’t vote for you, I am a proud supporter of you because I value what you bring to the board as an attorney. You know policy and procedures and that is what is needed. When policies and procedures are in order, other things will normally take care of itself. I have appreciated your work since you have been on the board because I strongly feel you have the best interest of all the children of Edgecombe County at heart and I look forward to you seeking re-election in 2012.

Response from Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Member

July 12, 2011

Dear Mr. Dancy,

First of all, let me say that I appreciate your interest in hearing from me on some issues that I have addressed herein.

Legality of My Voting on My Replacement: My legal opinion is that it would have been improper for me to vote on my replacement. I do not know that I can go so far as to say that it would have been illegal. As an attorney, I have read the words in the statute and in our policy – “remaining” members to refer to those who will be left on the Board after the vacancy. My analysis does not change simply because it so happens that I selected a date to resign that is after the selection date. I also believe that since I had indicated a potential interest in running for the seat in 2012 that it would have been a conflict of interest for me to hand-pick the person (or at least one of them) who I would likely compete with for the seat in the next election.

My Decision to Rescind: I was appointed to the Board in 2007. I recall there being five to seven diverse candidates who were considered and I was appointed by unanimous vote. It was a smooth and non-controversial process. I had no idea that things would go as they have with regards to an appointment to replace me.

I announced my resignation in February, 2011, giving what I thought would be ample time to field some strong candidates to replace me. During the June meeting when no majority decision was rendered, I amended my resignation to extend my time through July. When the same thing happened for a second month last night, I moved to rescind my resignation completely. It was a difficult decision but when I left the room for the vote to be taken on my replacement, I thought of the statement that Mr. Privott made in his impassioned public comments to the effect that “to know the work of the Board, you have to be on the Board” and what I thought about was the fact that what I knew from being on the Board was that the work of the Board had been greatly impeded by this appointment process.

It would have been easier for me to have remained silent and walk away. I had already mapped out plans (career and personal) to consume the time that I had previously spent on Board matters and as early as late last night when I got home from the meeting, I had to begin making a number of adjustments because I have decided to continue to serve. In summary, despite my shortcomings, I believe that having me represent the District is better than having no representation for the District at all and I also believe that my finishing out the term and putting to rest the issue of an appointment was the best thing to do so as not to further impair the work of the Board at a time when there is so much work to be done.

Election in 2012. Since I could not have predicted that I would still be on the Board this month, I think it extremely premature to say what I will or will not do in 2012. I can say that I certainly had planned and still plan to consider running in that election but beyond that, there is no insight I have to offer at this time.

Longevity of Service as an Officer. Prior to the vote on officers, I made a comment about this subject. Four consecutive terms is as many as I can personally vote for the same person to hold an office on this type of Board. I have studied the pros and cons of the same person holding an office for extended, consecutive time periods and even with as fine a leader as we have had, I think there needs to be a break in continuous service and for someone else to step up and lead. I voted for Janice Davidson for Chair and Dr. Evelyn Johnson for Vice-Chair.

My Child. We will enroll her in our school system in the fall. Whether she remains in our school system for the entire school year or returns to private Christian school will not be a decision that will be impacted by my role as a school board member but only by my role as a mother and co-parent who does not have exclusive say about major decisions that affect my child.

The Candidates. I want to thank all of the candidates for applying for the position and vigorously seeking the appointment. I am hopeful that they will be able to assist the District and the school system this year. I believe that they all have much to offer.

Breaking News – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Has Rescinded Her Resignation

The board unanimously voted to allow Attorney Teresa D. Bryant to continue to serve on the board throughout her tenure. This does my heart some good because I had begged Bryant to stay on although I respected her reasoning for resigning.

See related:

Attorney Teresa D. Bryant

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Public Schools Voted Again 3 For Rev. Roy A. Gray And 3 For Thomas Wayne Edison, Here We Go Again

It is sad that the board continues to vote along racial lines I would think however I don’t know that to be true and just a guess. There are only 2 black votes to 4 white votes so therefore 1 white person did the right thing assuming that the 2 blacks both voted for Rev. Roy A. Gray.

Next on the agenda it was time to vote for the board chair and vice chair. Evelyn Wilson current chair made a speech that she was going to give the chair position to Ann Kent current vice chair so the nick picking games can be cut out and it will not have to be displayed for the chair position. Wilson asked the other board members to just vote for Kent. You must see the video to get the full effect of Wilson’s speech. It was so juicy that I don’t know where to begin to talk about it.

After the election of the board chair Ann Kent was elected with 6 votes and Attorney Janice Davidson received 1 vote. Evelyn Wilson was elected as vice chair with 4 votes, Attorney Teresa D. Bryant received 1 vote, Dr. Evelyn Johnson received 1 vote and Attorney Janice Davidson received 1 vote.

The agenda was approved with items added and one being Attorney Teresa D. Bryant asking to be placed on the agenda as a item to rescind her resignation to be voted on later.

Well there you have folks. The board did just what I expected them to do tonight. All those who voted for Edison is just crazy as hell because he campaigned on reducing class sizes. He didn’t answer the questions at the June meeting when they interviewed him. Damn what world is he living in and those board members that supported him?

After tonight I don’t know where this school board is going? I thought I could kind of follow them but now I don’t know. But what I do know I am going to continue to attend the meetings to see where the hell they are going. I do know they want the board to be a 5 – 2 white majority when the district is a black majority.

Dr. Johnson asked the board when were they going to come together as one because they don’t discuss anything and just vote and that was not right.

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Folks in District 2 you better get out and vote in 2012 because you will have the final answer.