Present Dr. Witherspoon With A Counter-Offer

19 December 2009

Dr. Craig Witherspoon has actually done his best work between job searches. My fear is some Hot-Shot coming in after him and dismantling and destroying all the good work he has done. Our group has been working closely with Dr. Witherspoon and we see vast improvement in our school system. This young man has a doctorate in his field. He is at the top of his game in Edgecombe County. It would be sad to see Dr. Witherspoon go. He has some really good programs in the works. His PBS program needs strong TOP leadership. He is providing that. Now we will find out what type of school board we have. We want Edgecombe County to move forward so we have to act accordingly. We must present Dr. Witherspoon with a counter-offer and stop sticking our heads in the sand every time we are in a crisis. All superintendent appointments SHOULD come from outside the system for obvious reasons.

When I was young I changed jobs so many times I lost count. The reasoning was simple,—- more money. I understood that and so did my prospective employers. My last employer was so big I could change jobs within the company. I hope any young person who is really good at what he or she does will not be happy with the first job offer. ALWAYS be a job seeker until you find what you really like to do. Make sure you have a job when you go seeking.

It would be sad to see Dr. Witherspoon go. There will not be another Dr. Witherspoon to come along any time soon. So, get busy Board of Education, with that counter-offer. Counter-offers do work sometimes, if lucky. If not, then Birmingham is the big winner. Those students will be getting the best. I think it is a win-win situation, really.

Richard Parker Columnist
Voice of Many

See related:

Make Counter Offer To Witherspoon

Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris

Dr. Craig Witherspoon Superintendent

 

Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris Continues To Speak Out

Commissioner Viola Harris you have been agitated by The Political Agitator. LMBAO

Commissioner Harris picture from video of a candidates forum in October recorded by The DCN

Why should you feel sorry because this is not the first time we have bumped heads? Oh hell no do not go there about you have not done anything to me personally because you hired me over the phone to video your husband’s initial sermon and the day of you spoke to me and didn’t say a thing. You called me a couple of days later about the video and I said it was someone else there videoing so I thought you had hired them.

When I stopped by your former employer the Rocky Mount Telegram you put the money in an envelope and when I got down the road I found out you had shortchanged me. We had a heated discussion about that. But over the years I have talked to you and it has not come up again. But you Mrs. Holier than thou shortchanged me and then had a damn attitude when I questioned you. I let it go because first of all I should have gotten my money as soon as I got to the church but I have always tried to give my people the benefit of the doubt that they would do just what they said they would do and pay me. LMBAO

I am glad you are proud that you were raised here. Hell I was raised here too but I be damn if that gives me the right to tell folks if they don’t like living here whether they were born here or moved here to get on a train and leave. Again how ignant.

Dr. Barber along countless others are on my mailing list and you know for yourself that when I post something on my blog it goes to my FACEBOOK page. I was so damn glad, but yet shocked when you asked to be a friend on FACEBOOK a couple of weeks ago. I had told folks that I was glad you asked for the invite because I would not have asked you. However I would have dug out your card to get your email address to make sure you got my message in response to you.

I don’t know how in the hell you came up with me being Dr. Barber’s "protege." I looked up the word "protege" in webster and this is what I found, "One who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence." Sorry but not so. I trained myself because attending meetings with many Safe Negroes over the years within the local NAACP, Democratic Party, community organizations and other who claimed they wanted to make a difference in the area but I found out they really didn’t. Mr. William Hobbs and his wife Mrs. Gardenia Hobbs would be the persons whom would be the one. Mr. Hobbs and I was on the N.E.E.D. Inc. Nash Edgecombe Economic Development Inc. board where he served as the treasurer and I was the vice president. Also when I was the interim Edgecombe County Democratic Party Chair he was the Nash County chair and his wife was his secretary. Because of his guidance I was able to chair the Democratic Party smoothly because Mr. Hobbs and his wife educated me about politics. Although I have much respect for Dr. Barber, I have always leaned on elderly folks with some sense and willingness to work with young folks for my guidance. You see Dr. Barber and I are almost the same age 47 however the Hobbs are in the 70′s. So Commissioner Harris don’t try to speak for me because I have never printed nor spoke that I was Dr. Barber’s "protege."

You say wouldn’t Dr. Barber be proud of his "protege?" Well I have never considered myself as his "protege" and as good as I know him from working with him closely for 2 years when I served as the NC NAACP State Conference of Branches Press and Publicity Chair that I don’t think that no such thing has ever crossed his mind. First of all I am an agitator and he is not to a certain degree. I say things that others are afraid to say publicly but will say behind closed doors. He is limited to what he can say and do and a couple of folks within the NAACP had a problem with me because I said what the hell I wanted to say because I was unbought and unbossed then as well as today. I have no limits unlike Dr. Barber. So my friend you have me confused with someone else.

I never have and never will look to anyone as being their "protoge." I have worked to hard doing my homework and I don’t have to rely on anyone as it relates to politics. I know all of them and I know what they are capable of and that is why I will challenge any of them. I will never forget being in a meeting with Angela Bryant and several politicians and community leaders back years ago when she said that politicians needed a Curmilus Dancy to challenge them. She was responding to Ms. Helen Gay who had made a comment that she had a problem with me.

Commissioner Harris you and everyone who knows me know that I have always spoke my mind since I joined the Democratic Party, the NAACP and other organizations that we both have served in offices together. You know I was speaking out long before Dr. Barber became President of the NC NAACP State Conference of Branches President. I love his passion for civil rights and speaking truth to power however again you and everyone who knows me know that I have always expressed my opinion and have challenged many boards and commissions in Edgecombe County all by myself and the minutes at the meetings that is public record speak to that.

You say, "It seems that Mr. Dancy has a problem with anyone who doesn’t think exactly the way he does." Oh hell no my friend, I am different from you and countless others because I will tell you and others face to face how I feel about issues and people. I know who think like me however they do not say it publicly and I am speaking what they are saying and what I said in the original post, hell some others said the same but they are not going to tell you and I will. LMBAO

I am glad you say you think for yourself however you know me and you know when I address you and the Edgecombe County Commissioners you can not say that at anytime I had a group of folks with me. If you don’t remember I can play the video back because that is why I video for folks like you who may get amnesia. LOL Futhermore you have seen me in action in the Democratic Party, NAACP, School Board and countless other meetings in action speaking truth to power.

Yes you are a Safe Negro and you will wear that title until I see you in make a change. You have been on that list for quite sometime my friend.

You say you didn’t bash Dr. Witherspoon and you have nothing against him personally. Damn the more you speak your opinion you show me just how ignant you are. I don’t have to repeat myself from my original post. You voiced your opinion and so did I when I responded to your letter.

I have no problem with whom you support however I am voicing my opinion about the person that you support. I will not repeat what I have said about her in my previous post and during the time the board sought input from the community about hiring a superintendent 3 years ago.

Commissioner Harris you say, "You were just as proud as anyone else to have Dr. Witherspoon serve us but not if he really doesn’t want to be here where he still has a lot of work to do." Again that is Dr. Witherspoon has some control of how long he wants to stay here so you nor I have a damn say in his personal decision. How damn ignant. You say he still have a lot of work to do, well hell as long as he stays here be it 3 more years or until he decided to retire, he would still have a lot of work to do. The work will always being continous because time changes and people change.

You say, "As far as Mr. Higgs goes, I did not vote to leave him on the Human Relations Commission. Wrong answer. Did you speak out about your fellow commissioners voting to keep him on the commission?

Commissioner Harris you, “I have not voiced an opinion about Mr. Knight’s situation because it was private business within the county but I did not agree that the county should have to pay for the dispute between Higgs and Knight or the controversy between yourself and Higgs." Wrong answer again because there is nothing private about none of this. This was done in the Edgecombe County Board of Elections meetings that are public. Futhermore although Rev. Higgs was the one whom initiated the mess, it was the 2 white women the Elections Board chair and member that carried out the mess. The black male on the board voted against Higgs mess. So don’t try to make it an all Higgs thingy. Why in the hell do you say the county should not have to pay when the 2 women on the board were lead to believe they were doing the right thing by the county attorney. And then came the Edgecombe County Judge whom voted along with the 2 board members and the attorney to carry out Higgs mess. But then the NC Court of Appeals ruled in Knight’s favor. Now going back to it being private, hell it was all over the 2 local newspapers The Daily Southerner and The Rocky Mount Telegram along with WHIG TV. Some TV stations such as WRAL also did some reporting on the issue. So again you continue to show your ignance.

Commissioner Harris you call holding Higgs accountable for his actions while he did all of this while serving as an Edgecombe County Democratic Party Precinct Vice Chair and also 1st Vice Chair of the Edgecombe County Democratic Party Executive Committee a personal vendetta. How damn ignant. You signed off on the county paying for Higgs dispute because you said nothing because you didn’t speak out as you are doing now with Dr. Witherspoon. You have been going to the Princeville Town Meetings speaking out and you do not live in Princeville. But you can pick and choose your battles especially when you are playing it safe. You see you are afraid of Higgs and that dates back to when he used to harass you and other women black and white while (we) served on the Edgecombe County Democratic Party Executive Committee. I was the only man who stood up to him dating back to the 90′s when he disrespected you and the others. So was that a personal vendetta then when I was challenging Higgs for disrespecting you and the other women while the other men said nothing. LMBAO

You say, "You thought my blog was to promote peace, encouragement among others, but you see it’s a way for me to voice my opinion and isn’t it wonderful that we all live in America where you can actually have YOUR OWN OPINION."

So obviously you have some serious issues because at no time have I stated nor printed anywhere that my blog was created for which you thought. If you had clicked on "About" on my blog you would have known what my blog is about. Also if you had clicked on "Disclaimer" you would have known what my blog is about. I am going to simplify it more in depth for you since you don’t get it. My blog is is to agitate and I do a damn good job of it. This paragraph shows the difference between you and I and that is you don’t get your facts straight before running off at the mouth because damn I make it clear what my blog is all about. LMBAO

Curmilus Dancy II – DCN Publisher

Note: The above is in response to Commissioner Viola Harris response.

I am very sorry that Mr. Dancy feels such "disgust" for me but that doesn’t mean a thing to me because I know I haven’t done anything to him personally or professionally. What I do for this county is because I’m proud to have been raised here. I would really like to Dr. Barber to read this blog. Wouldn’t he be "proud" of his protege. It seems that Mr. Dancy has a problem with anyone who doesn’t think exactly the way he does. But I’m glad to say that I think for myself. If he calls thinking for one’s self and doing what one can for others as a "SAFE NEGRO" then let me remain safe. I didn’t bash Dr. Witherspoon and have nothing against him personally. I just voiced my opinion. Yes, I support VanderLinden because I believe in people staying with their profession hoping for an opportunity to move up. I was just as proud as anyone else to have Dr. Witherspoon serve us but not if he really doesn’t want to be here where he still has a lot of work to do. As far as Mr. Higgs goes, I did not vote to leave him on the Human Relations Commission. I have not voiced an opinion about Mr. Knight’s situation because it was private business within the county but I did not agree that the county should have to pay for the dispute between Higgs and Knight or the controversy between yourself and Higgs. Personal vendettas are not my forte. I thought you blog was to promote peace, encouragement among others, but I see it’s a way for you to voice your opinion and isn’t it wonderful that we all live in America where you can actually have YOUR OWN OPINION.

Viola Harris

See related:

In response to Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris, ECC lastest Safe Negro response to Dr. Witherspoon Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools being chosen to take over Birmingham School System

Edgecombe County Public Schools

This is what I said back in May 2008 and the same stands today

In response to Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris, ECC lastest Safe Negro response to Dr. Witherspoon Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools being chosen to take over Birmingham School System

Monday December 21, 2009

Commissioner Harris picture from video of Candidates Forums held in October recorded by The DCN.

First of all I want to say I know Viola Harris on a personal note.

I find Commissioner Harris’ letter to the editor “Witherspoon show us he doesn’t want to be here” dated Thursday December 17 to be somewhat comical especially coming from a person who is not a people’s person.

Just like she said she became more angrier as she read about Dr. Witherspoon applying for another job last year, I  was angry also as I read her letter. I have been angry since hearing about the letter on Friday December 18 but didn’t get to read the letter until I stopped by the Daily Southerner this morning Monday December 21.

Commissioner Harris you asked a question, “Does Dr. Witherspoon care about the art of teaching and training young people to be successful or going after who can pay the most bucks?” Well damn Commissioner Harris my question to you is, will he not be doing such but touching more than 3 times the amount of children  7,000 to 27,000 than he is now? How in the hell can you be angry with a man for wanting to continue to do what he does on a broader level and also making more money in the process which will be the norm since it will be more children and more schools. Damn along with the money comes more responsibility. Commissioner Harris although you are not one of my favorite folks, I did give you a little more credit than that.

In my opinion Dr. Witherspoon do not owe me an explanation why he is leaving because that is a personnel matter and you being a county commissioner and serve on various boards should know that better than most people. Those of us who know better know that we will not really find out why he wants to leave Edgecombe County. I attended the meetings around the county during the process of hiring a new Superintendent when Dr. Witherspoon was hired speaking out that I wanted to see a qualified black male, I repeat a qualified black male come into the county. I said that because it was so many white females in the system and I thought that would do away with some of the good ole boy mess. Some were afraid of him being hired and some never accepted him and never will if he stayed on. But you see that was/is a good thing.

Frankly Commissioner Harris I don’t give a damn why Dr. Witherspoon wants to leave. I know as a fact he was voted in and the vote was not unanimous unlike the vote in Birmingham. The majority of the time it is more than likely that a board will vote unanimous when hiring someone on that level so therefore it was clear there were some issues when he was hired. Board member Ann Kent was vocal about not hiring him up until the time he was hired.

Many folks in the know, know of the secret meetings that were being held and the letters trying to get the board to hire Dr. Lana VanderLinden. Since your comments in your letter, I am assuming that you may have been a part of that group that worked so hard trying to get her in 3 years ago.

Commissioner Harris I am glad to know you supported Dr. VanderLinden so therefore I will remind those whom you represent in your commissioner district during your next election they should remember this letter to the editor bashing Dr. Witherspoon. However the only problem is, I wish I lived in your district so that I could really campaign against you but I will be doing all that I can to make sure you are not re-elected.

Commissioner Harris you know for yourself that Edgecombe County is known for the good ole boys being in control. I believe I have heard you say on more than one occasion our children goes off to school and do not want to come back to Edgecombe County. If I am wrong I stand to be corrected. However I know you know this to be true. I do not think your children live here however I stand to be corrected again.

Dr. Witherspoon has the right to apply for any job anywhere he chooses and you nor I don’t have a say in the matter. How damn ignant (I know how to spell the word) can you be.

I be damn Commissioner Harris who in the hell left you as the Queen B . .  of Edgecombe County? Who are you to tell someone if they do not like Edgecombe County they should take the first train out. Dr. Witherspoon is like most folks, he didn’t take a train in so he will drive himself out the same way he came in.

Dr. Witherspoon didn’t have to bring his family here. Have you questioned those who work in Edgecombe County but do not live here. Hell if you want to question anything, why don’t you question why our board chair (black) and has served on the board for 15 plus years never had a child in the Edgecombe County Public Schools system? Have you asked why nearly half of the board member do not have children in the system?

Commissioner Harris I can’t believe you question Dr. Witherspoon’s loyalty.

Commissioner Harris I am glad to know that you supported Dr. Lana VanderLinden which is your choice. However I do have a problem with you supporting her when you are aware of the situation that happened at Tarboro High with the some grades when a black female (Glenn Hart’s daughter) was being cheated out of being Valedictorian and they tried to make a white female Dewey Hudson’s daughter the Valedictorian. But then again you have arrived so maybe you have forgotten. I also know of a black child whom was told she must have some white in her because she didn’t act like the other black students.

I was against Dr. VanderLinden then I will be against her in the future is she should apply. I will speak out against Dr. VinderLinden just like I did during the hiring of Dr. Witherspoon.

I do agree with you that, “People need to remember that we have people already in place who have been waiting for their opportunity to lead.” However just because they are waiting for the opportunity does not mean they are the one. Again how ignant can you be.

I also agree with you that, “Loyalty and dedication are still great assets.” How in the hell can you make it appear that Dr. Witherspoon has not been loyal and dedicated to the children of Edgecombe County? Being loyal and dedicated while holding an office from day one until the day one leaves is what counts. In my opinion Dr. Witherspoon has been all of that and in order for the board to renew his contract in 2009 until 2013 although he applied for a job in 2008, it is obvious they had no problem with his loyalty and dedication to the children of Education. I say to the children because they have no option but to go to school but the staff have options to go seek other employment. I know as a fact that many staff members didn’t like him and earlier I mentioned that was the reason why I wanted a black male.

I can say that Dr. Witherspoon has been loyal and dedicated to the children because the group Many Voices has carried several concerns to him and he responded as he said he would and the changes were made.

Now talk about Edgecombe County, loyalty and dedication. Why in the hell would an outsider want to come to Edgecombe County when the Edgecombe County Commissioners is loyal and dedicated to crooks in the county.

Commissioner Harris you have spoken for several folks in Edgecombe County that I am much aware of that share your opinion. One being this newspaper The Daily Southerner Editor Terry Smith who was very vocal during the hiring of Dr. Witherspoon was so glad to post your letter that he put your damn picture with your letter. You must feel special.

Commissioner Harris I have not seen or heard you speak out about the lawsuit when the county had to pay Rocky Mount City Councilman/NAACP President Rev. Andre Knight attorney fees because of Rev. Roosevelt Higgs and 2 former white female Board of Elections members whom tried to have him removed from the council. But instead you and the other black Edgecombe County Commissioners reappointed Rev. Higgs back on the Edgecombe County Human Relations Commission and now he is the chair. I addressed the board and the Edgecombe County Planning Department did atleast 2 presentations before commissioners showing that he didn’t live where he says he lived and how the cited him for illegal activity on the lot that has no living housing. You know that Rev. Higgs is a known criminal most recent I had to take him to court and he was found guilty of harassing me and then during the same time he was found guilty of assaulting his niece. However you have been much familiar with this crook because you have served on boards with him since the early 90’s that I know of when I became active in politics.

I have sent several emails to The Daily Southerner Editor Terry Smith and the other local newspaper (where I was told they let you go) about the county having to pay the attorney fees but they have not done a story on that. So you are helping them the local newspapers to discredit 2 brothers whom are not criminals but they are a part of promoting the brother with the criminal activity.

So Commissioner Harris I ask how in the hell can you allow Rev. Higgs to not only be a member but chair the Human Relations Commission when they are suppose to be about keeping harmony in the county? He has disrespected the County Commissioners and the Democratic Party whereby you are a member also on many occasions and you all continue to promote him.

Commissioner Harris you and other Safe Negroes in my opinion are the reason why Dr. Witherspoon is leaving. He is trying to do some positive things but having to deal with Safe Negroes whom do not support him but support criminals and I don’t say that loosely. And then you expect him to teach the children right from wrong when you and your fellow colleagues are promoting wrong.

Commissioner Harris thank you for this letter because you are a confirmation for what I have been talking about as it relates to Safe Negroes in Edgecombe County. This is why I say I will challenge any of you because I know all of you and what you stand for. I wish the others would write their letter also.

Commissioner Harris I am looking forward to meeting up with you during the public meetings to speak out about the hiring of the new Superintendent.

Note: I find it so damn funny that your letter is not online at The Daily Southerner letter to the editor column.

Curmilus Dancy II
The Political Agitator
An Effective Grassroots Community Activist

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

This is what I said back in May 2008 and the same stands today

Note: Updated Tuesday December 22, 2009 1:28 AM.