First of all I know I found my calling back in 1993 when I officially became an advocate for all children black, brown, white and other in Edgecombe County Public Schools. The Student Body Association (SGA) lead by a White President called me to the school to help them resolve a staged walkout because a white male teacher had grabbed a black male around the neck in the hallway.
I know without a doubt that my purpose for being is to advocate for the children of Edgecombe County. I say that because my God is guiding my steps because he kept me away for one year. Tonight is the first meeting I have attended since the new board members were sworn in and the new superintendent was hired. I got to see everyone in action for the 1st time. I usually set up an appointment to meet with the new superintendent but I had not and met him for the first time on this past Saturday morning at the College Round Up.
I heard some folks talking before the meeting began tonight that they thought the superintendent had enough support to pass his restructuring plan but it would be close. Someone said they thought Dr. Evelyn Johnson was going to get stupid tonight and that it may be a 3-3 tie and it would be up to Evelyn Wilson board chair to break the tie.
Dr. Wayne Talley said the board has asked him to look at cuts in the central office every since he began his role as superintendent because the central office was top heavy. The cuts as presented are something that the past 3 superintendents tried to do so tonight’s presentation is not really new.
Well after the superintendent made his presentation to the board I knew Dr. Talley didn’t have the support.
First it was Attorney Teresa Bryant who had a problem with Dr. Talley’s presentation saying she wanted to know who was going to take Diane LeFiles role. Dr. Talley stressed that he was only presenting the roles but she wanted a name. She said since she didn’t have a name that she couldn’t vote on the proposal until she had a name. Well she knew names couldn’t be called during the open session and it was on the agenda to handle that in closed session. She said she needed more time. Dr. Talley asked her did she read her material because the names were there.
Attorney Bryant has moved her child back to a private school and announced her official retirement in June. She was appointed to the board when Dr. Florence A. Armstrong resigned her post. Bryant was elected thereafter.
Faye Taylor new board member and in my opinion a racist because of some things she has done over the years. She had some concerns about the money figures on the 5 yr. and 10 year plan from the state but Dr. Talley addressed them again because he had did so in his presentation. She said she thought it was about state cuts but Dr. Talley said it was not only about state cuts but dealing with the local monies also. She said she needed more time.
Dr. Evelyn Johnson had this eloquent speech and how she agreed with Bryant and Taylor not to rush to make a decision. As usual she did the spill that is about the children. She said in Edgecombe County the adults have always stood in the way and that we need to let this be about the children. She thanked everyone for coming but challenged them to help a child out to help with the literacy rate.
I have heard Dr. Johnson talk about what she felt like was waste at the central office but tonight she must had a memory lapse. But there just may be a reason for that but whatever the case it is not acceptable for me. Just maybe the people should have voted to keep former board member Charlie Cobb in I don’t know. I do believe he would have supported the presentation during the open session atleast.
Ann Kent began by standing up looking for her husband saying she promised him she was going to act like a lady but since he was not present she was going to say what she wanted to.
Kent questioned Dr. Talley’s motives but most of all she said she had talked to Rep. Joe Pat Tolson and he said the board was acting immature because the state had not made a decision yet. Well damn Kent obviously didn’t hear the same presentation that I heard because Dr. Talley said the state said there would be a 5% or a 10% cut so duh. Damn so what in the hell is Tolson talking about? Oh Kent went on and on. But she had to to this because she was representing the folks who attended the meeting tonight from a local church. I have a copy of an email that was sent to others and Ann Kent from former board member Kathy Winslow who sent out emails seeking support to join her in asking the board to delay the vote tonight. So again Kent is actively engaged in representing her friends of the board in times like these because I have been told about other emails and meetings that she has been a part of.
William Keith Pittman talked about being fair and he said when he was a coach he told his players that he would put the players in that he thought was the best players but they may not been the right players. He used North Carolina Tar heels coach Roy Williams as an example. He said Williams was playing another guard until he announced he would be leaving the team and Williams put in another guard. Pittman said if Williams had not put in the new guard the team would not be where they are today.
Pittman said he would do what he feels is right for the children. He said years ago a former superintendent came to him and told him he was making too much money and he had to go. He said he understood where he was coming from and he didn’t question him. He said the superintendent didn’t ask him what he thought, he told him what he was going to do. Pittman said Jay Randall came to him and said some people in the community was upset and Pittman said he will deal with them. Pittman said he told them not to go to the board because he understood. He said he was upset but the person that took his job did and great job and still doing a great job today. He said he recommended his replacement.
Pittman asked the people of Tarboro to give the new superintendent a chance. Meet with him and then come back and he would stand with them.
Bryant said the board had to cut some jobs within the last 2 years and nobody came to support those folks and she has a serious concern about that.
Bryant said if the board is here to act on people and trying to save their jobs then just say it and we can move forward but if it is about addressing positions then we need to have further discussions. I say you damn skippy it is about saving Diane LeFiles and Dr. Lana VanderLinden’s job because that is what the people came to speak on and it was spelled out in Kathy Winslow’s letter that went out over the weekend.
Bryant then echoed Pittman’s comments. She said give the man a chance and he will rise or fall on his own. Well damn again I am missing something because why she couldn’t take that route with voting on Dr. Talley’s presentation and then dealing with her concerns in closed session whereby she could call names. So evidently she couldn’t afford him that opportunity from open session to closed session.
Attorney Janice Davidson said she echoed what Attorney Bryant said and they she would rather go into closed session to find out more before voting.
Evelyn Wilson board chair said she thanked everyone for coming however they could trust that whatever is done tonight or anytime it would be decent and in order. She said the board will do whatever is right for the children and she would see to that. She said she challenged all those present to show up at the meetings and let the board know they have helped a student out in the county. She stressed the importance of doing what is right for the children.
The board went into closed session around 10:00 PM and they came out around 11:30 PM. The board voted to table the vote until Monday, March 21, 2011 6:30 PM. The meeting ended about 11:45 PM.
Well I am pissed because all of these folks who spoke out tonight and the board members were talking about it was about the children. Oh hell no. What I seen tonight is a prime example of a group of grown folks telling the children it is okay to disrespect those in authority such as Dr. Talley. You see all of these folks complained the superintendent didn’t come to them (community) with his proposal first. Well again I ask way they do that at? I repeat during restructuring employees are given options be laid off, resign, retire or be fired.
Note: I hope to get the video up of the meeting in the next couple of days.
Been a long day and night. I will read this again today and make necessary corrections.
See related:
School board looks at cutting central staff – Rocky Mount Telegram
Dr. Wayne Talley
My Address To Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meeting 3-14-11
Posted by Curmilus Dancy II (Butch) on March 14, 2011
Tonight we witnessed a group of white folks at their best. They came out in full force to support 2 staff members vs 1000’s of Edgecombe County Students. This shows how they want to change the way business is conducted. Why is it they always want to change the rules to benefit them and not everyone?
There were about 10 – 12 white speakers whom I was told by a white person that they were all basically from one church.
What we witnessed tonight was 10 – 12 bad examples for protocol, respect and discipline for conducting business.
I was the only person to speak in support of Dr. Talley’s presentation and the only black person. So maybe I am the one who set the bad example for showing respect to a man who was hired to run, yes run the Edgecombe County Public Schools System. The man is making around $141,000 a year and damn if he can’t evaluate and see what needs to be done for the betterment of the system then we don’t need him.
The following is what I prepared as I was waiting in my car outside the central office waiting to go in. I was the last speaker.
I need no applause to validate what I am about to say.
My name is Curmilus Dancy II. I live at 127 Midway Lane Tarboro NC.
I attended ECPS and I have a child in the middle school and 1 in her 2nd year at NCCU. I have served on the PTO, School Improvement Team (SIT), ECPS Board Advisory Committee and other.
I stand today in support of the restructuring plan that Dr. Talley will present to the board during closed session.
He should know better than anyone what needs to be done because that is his role. It is nothing new that the chief of any place of employment and/or organization he/she should evaluate and take actions that makes business sense.
Today we should be here supporting what is best for the children of Edgecombe County and I trust Dr. Talley’s presentation will address that.
I have worked on my present job for the past 24 years and they have never asked for our opinion but gave us options be laid off, resign, retire or be fired.
And then I said enough said.
The end.
See related:
Dr. Wayne Talley
Posted in Board meeting 3-14-11, Dr. Wayne Talley Former Superintendent Edgecombe County Public Schools, Edgecombe County Board of Education, Edgecombe County Politics, Public Comments | 4 Comments »