So you want to know what I think?

I think it is outrageous. It is outrageous that Ms. Norman has the nerve to blame the public for the fact that our high schools were put on probation: “Who’s out there disrupting the board meetings? Who’s inciting the crowds? Who are out there (sic) making stands and making comments and accusations?” (On WSOC TV) Outrageous.

I think it is outrageous that she says: “We’ll see, we’ll see whether or not every member of the board . . . . is willing to work together” - the clear implication from the tone of her voice being that a couple of problematic board members (Sam and Buddy) may make this impossible. http://www.wsoctv.com/news/20682476/detail.html

If the board had listened to Sam and Buddy (or the public) in the first place, the schools would not have lost accreditation.

I continue to use the word “outrageous” because, at the moment, that word is the only word I can think of to avoid using the profane words in my mind.

There isn’t much in the SACS report that I haven’t covered on this blog in the last 6 months, or that my readers/commenters haven’t brought to attention. While that may feel a bit vindicating, it doesn’t solve the problem of a board majority defiant and in denial.

This is serious stuff. Between now and the election I am certain that more damage will be done. (By the board – not the public.)

But –

We cannot dwell on the anger.

We must elect people who have the temperament, tools and training to save our accreditation.

We must elect people who have been calling the board majority to task since the board majority chose the path to our school system’s destruction. We must not elect the board’s surrogates, or candidates who suddenly became visible (and visibly concerned? I haven’t seen that) in the first week of July (candidate filing date).

We must elect people who value students, respect teachers and school administrators and who recognize the rights of the public.

We must elect people who recognize the crucial relationship between our children’s futures, our county’s economic future and the accreditation of our high schools.

I humbly submit that those people are Sam, Buddy, Susan and I.