Friday, April 13, 2012

Board members: Vote-swap story is false

If you've been reading comments on recent posts,  you've seen Keith Hurley's theory about a deal among school board members to name Heath Morrison as superintendent in exchange for a vote to launch some type of busing for integration next year.

Hogwash,  the board members say.  Hurley seems to be the only one putting his name to the rumor,  but I've heard it from others so it's probably worth addressing.

Richard McElrath,  the member who is allegedly throwing his support to Morrison in exchange for his busing plan,  says there's no such plan and he hasn't made a choice for superintendent,  let alone brokered a deal with other members.

"I would never vote for busing,"  McElrath added.  "Busing was the worst thing we ever did."

Tim Morgan,  Rhonda Lennon and Amelia Stinson-Wesley,  whom Hurley casts as seeking McElrath's support for Reno, Nev., superintendent Morrison,  say the tale is completely fabricated. (I haven't reached Eric Davis, who's also on Hurley's list.)

"That moves beyond ridiculous to the sublime. I haven't been part of a conspiracy like that. That's just crazy,"  said Stinson-Wesley, the board's newest member.  She has never run a political campaign  (she was appointed to fill Morgan's seat when he was elected at large)  and seemed shocked to be the target of such a rumor.

Morgan and Lennon seemed less surprised that Hurley,  who was defeated in the 2011 at-large election,  would circulate the story,  but found it particularly unbelievable.  Both said they've had no vote-swapping conversations with McElrath.

"That is the kookiest stuff I've ever heard," Lennon said.

"There has been no discussion about trading votes for policy decisions,"  said Morgan.

Hurley said today he got the story from a board member who isn't part of the deal.  "The ones that are involved aren't going to tell you,"  he said.

I'm not naive enough to think there are no behind-the-scenes deals hidden from reporters.  But this one doesn't ring true.  McElrath makes no secret of his concern about racially and economically segregated schools,  but he has consistently said the solution is to change housing patterns, not to bus kids.  I don't know much about Stinson-Wesley's philosophy,  but I have a hard time imagining Lennon, Morgan and Davis entering into any deal that would involve a shift from neighborhood schools to busing.

And changing student assignment is an extraordinarily complex effort.  Even shifting a boundary takes months and involves public hearings.  The idea that members could cut a quickie deal to reshape the entire philosophy and put a new plan in place for next year ... well,  I'm going to have to quote former board member Larry Gauvreau: It blinks reality.

67 comments:

Rev. Mike said...

Remember this someday when you find yourself wondering why we can't seem to elect a Republican majority to a single governing board in this county.

Anonymous said...

Note the date... it IS Friday the 13th... strange things happening.

Anonymous said...

So if Heath in and offered the votes would be exposed. Since when does Rhonda speak anyhow? Did Tim speak for her or did it come from her? Who is this Stinson anyhow did the PTA let her out for dinner? If one of them votes for Cash its a travesty. I feel Morrison 6-3 or 5-4 worst case with the trade done. Ann should get more respect and a fair shot as she has as much experience as Heath in a larger district , but it just wont happen.

Anonymous said...

Rhonda, I think the "kookiest thing" I have heard this year is you running to a elevator when the fire alarm goes off. Take the stairs it may do you some good girl. Really thats some fast thinking on your feet. Shows the mind processing a little slow to me.

Kristi said...

What's with anonymous people continuously taking personal shots at Rhonda Lennon? You don't like her politics? Fine. Say that you disagree. State your opinion. Why make it a personal attack? It makes you MUCH less effective in getting your stance across.

Anonymous said...

So it is no secret that the public does not respect Rhonda..after all she shows the community no respect with her disdain for them atg BOE meetings...it is time for her to return to the trailer park she came from!

BolynMcClung said...

HERE'S AN EVENT I WITNESSED BETWEEN ERIC DAVIS AND KEITH HURLEY THAT INVOLVES SIMILAR CMS CONSTITUENTS.

Back when Eric Davis, as board chair, was meeting constantly with Harding HS community, Eric called a night meeting for Harding parents. Sort of a meeting where the purpose was to build trust and Eric pretty much knew he was going to take some heat. Richard McElrath was there, not as a participating board member but just observing.

CMS security blocked the media but Keith was able to get in; so was I. Ann Helms didn't get in. She stood outside alternately on the cellphone clarifying open meeting law and talking with the CMS police chief.

While I don't remember the topic, Keith spoke up about something that really angered Eric. Eric, in front of the crowd, told Keith, "you know that's not true, Keith." Keith didn't respond. Fortunately it didn't hurt the meeting but it didn't help either.

What bugged me is that Eric was there willing to take the lumps and Keith wasn't helping. Even the parents were showing some willingness to understand.

At this point, one very public experience tells me Keith Hurley was challenged and didn't have the facts to backup something in front of a crowd that is very similar to one that would be like this compromise he is suggesting.

Let's see if he has a smoking gun or is just blowing smoke again.


Bolyn McClung
Pineville

Anonymous said...

Bolyn, Let me correct your history for you a tad. I was at the Harding meeting along with dozens of other parents to CMS students when the illegal meeting took place. The night Eric lost his temper was at Myers Park High about 6-7 weeks later when he commented on his departure bonus/review given to Pete Gorman. Eric lost his focus in public in front of a 12 year old student thats on him. I would not dismantle him in front of kids like that very unprofessional. That will all come out if he runs for re-election when his time comes. You need any other facts or timelines you have my email. Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

Seems like the smoke hurts. Go in the corner grab the puck or the man. Really Bolyn comments about me not willing to debate Eric Davis were have you been? Evidently these must have been at meeting you missed or just forgot. When Heath comes to town I will have the Cubans and the Caymus along with 15-1 odds. Keith W.Hurley

AnswerMan said...

Keith- Gorman did not get a departure bonus. Yet another of you fabrications. If I remember your schtick, you got upset that Gorman saved teacher jobs by cutting operational expense. And when the grass got 2 feet high at your kid's school you felt like it was a personal insult, so you rode you John Deere straight to a crushing defeat in the Board election. And there were lots of other conspiracy theories along the way. Apparently this is the coda. Thanks for the local color.

Anonymous said...

Gorman didn't need a bonus...he raided the CMS Parent University Cookie jar to the tune of $90K a year....that is some chocolate chip of a bonus...ask LuEllen Richards

Anonymous said...

Gorman took an annual bonus from Parent University...didn't need departure bonus. $90K a year tip...not bad

Anonymous said...

Didn't I read not long ago that Richard was enthralled with the latest Obama DOJ directive on busing and felt someone needed to stand up for the white kids who were becoming so "isolated" in CMS now.

Anyway Richard and others, you better hope the economy slumps a little more. If it does not, the rest of the white families will be moving or taking extra jobs to get their kids into other schools.

Hint, SC Legislature just introduced a bill to allow "open" enrollment into other county schools than the one they are in now.

Anyway, while CMS tries to keep cajoling Kojo and they never will because there will always be something else he wants, the suburban support will continue to crumble. The uptown power brokers can keep blowing smoke at all the outsiders but it will be like the emporer's clothes.

Anonymous said...

Oh Keith, how could you come up with this stuff?

Also Ann's post illustrates that busing is dead and not coming back. If Richard is so against busing, who is for it? Yes, there are a few liberal wackos who speak nostagically about busing, but the idea doesn't have public support. It's dead, so quit the conspiracy theories and move on.

Anonymous said...

Answerman- Gorman was allowed to stay on after he quit by the BOE 60 days so he could get the 5 year pension. Amongst other bonus treatments he received. He also did such a fine job with CMS that we won his coveted Broad prize. Look at system today its crashed great job. He also lied numerous times that he was not leaving the system. Crow will be tough to eat when dinner is server.

Christine Mast said...

Bolyn,

I, too, was at the Myers Park HS meeting for the Supt. search. I was in the classroom with you and Keith and Eric and Richard. It was the breakout session in a classroom with one of the moderators for the evening. Richard was in the row closest to the door, Eric was in the next row, I was in the 3rd row, Keith was in the 4th row, and your were one or two rows away from Keith. Your story happened there, not at Harding High. And yes, it was tense because of the topic of the question and answer.

BolynMcClung said...

TO: Keith

Yes, I had the location wrong.

But, same deal. You didn't respond to the challenge.

Bolyn
April 14, 2012

PS. To all those that read the blog. This is why using your name is important. I was wrong. Keith got to challenge it. Same for Christine and others who use your names. Thanks.

BolynMcClung said...

TO: Keith

Yes, I had the location wrong.

But, same deal. You didn't respond to the challenge.

Bolyn
April 14, 2012

PS. To all those that read the blog. This is why using your name is important. I was wrong. Keith got to challenge it. Same for Christine and others who use your names. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Bolyn...you miss the point....no one really cares. You are the BOE puppet and we all know it. You want a public pay check.

BolynMcClung said...

PUPPET?

No doubt, I like the board of education form of government. But puppet: no!

I wouldn't support taxing authority and would like a stronger superintendent.

In 2005 I voted against the school bonds but probably wouldn't vote against a budget because of a view things I didn't like in it.

The list could go on.

It would be impossible to be a puppet of any school board. No greater factions exist.

But the point in participating in the discussion is to get the best and strongest school board. For all my disagreements with the way it is being run right now, it is still does a good job of delivering education. But it will never be good enough.

Bolyn McClung
Pineville

AnswerMan said...

If someone really believes that Gorman or his wife got any compensation through Parent University, they should produce some sort of evidence so the Board can investigate what could be a felony. Otherwise-drop the wild accusations that are untrue and only undermine trust in people who are working hard for kids.

Anonymous said...

Bolyn as I stated in response to your incorrect hypothesis I did not argue with Eric that night in the open meeting , because a child was present. When a grown up in this case Eric loses his temper in public as a professional I don't respond or give him the sugar. He was responding to my statement that Peter Gorman did a poor job at best during his short stint. I also stated that Eric and a few others looked lost since Pete was gone and had nobody to feed them. All facts I still support and have documented. This will all be presented in the district 5 race coming soon. I also will have the crow for some to eat when Heath comes to town. Keith W. Hurley

Anonymous said...

The cover up is deep layered. There is no trust...too many lies.

Anonymous said...

Board needs to conduct investigation.

Ann Doss Helms said...

I'm with AnswerMan on PU. People have been saying for years that Sue Gorman was a paid staffer for Parent University. She's never been on any CMS payroll that we've requested and printed. If you've got any kind of evidence beyond rumor that the Gormans got money from PU, please come forth with it. I'd be glad to investigate if there are any specifics.

Anonymous said...

Some comments have suggested that Dr. Cash lacked energy. That is doublespeak for "he wasn't grinning and skinning and trying to charm me". I saw a deeply sad man who has recently experienced the impending death of a loved one and its aftermath. He looked like a man who looked death in the face and understands that life is too short and and the time is near when the United States will have to admit that we have failed another generation of kids educationally. We do not have time for learning on the job in this community and we don't have the time nor the energy for someone entrenched in the system to begin to change what they helped create.
In Dr. Cash I saw a man who values truth, honesty and integrity. Most of all, I felt his humanity, his compassion for all human beings, and his commitment to making things right for children. Until you feel and acknowledge the pain someone feels, you cannot help heal it.
Charlotte is not ready for Dr. Cash because we have been unwilling to look each other in the eye and acknowledge the pain of the other, whether white, black, hispanic, native american or asian. To discover the pain, we must talk to each other with open minds and open hearts. We have shown an unwillingness to do so. While I believe Dr. Cash embodies what Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools need, I do not think that we are who he deserves. So, although I hope he is chosen, I understand why he would not come.

Ann Doss Helms said...

1:24, that's one of the most thoughtful and well written comments I've seen in awhile. Wish I knew who you were and had been able to quote you in today's story; I didn't get many people who were speaking for Cash.

Anonymous said...

If you want to see an exact replication of the Broad Virus, including a Parent University, check the links below. We know what happens after the 3 year honeymoon is over. I am sure that's why Pete told Heath to get out now. Csn you believe his contract has an option to leave one year early without penalty. Were he and his friend Pete, along with Broad, Gates, etc. planning this transfer of power a while ago?

http://nevadatrends.com/heath%20morrison.html
http://www.sparkstribune-bignickel.com/view/full_story/14862103/article-Budget-cuts--employee-talks-usher-in-new-school-

year?instance=home_news_bullets
http://www.rgj.com/article/20120312/NEWS02/303120024/Washoe-schools-chief-proposes-plan-close-40-million-gap

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20090613/NEWS/906139998
6 years after graduating with a B.A. in Government, has an M S in Educational Administration, any teaching experience?

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20110412/NEWS/110419985

Anonymous said...

ADH...have you spoken to the prison named earlier, this LuEllen Richards. Someone seems to think she knows something. I wonder who she is and what her job was?

Anonymous said...

Person not prison...crappy autocorrect.

Anonymous said...

Or freudian slip...

Christine Mast said...

http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/Finance/Pages/ContactInformation.aspx

Lu Ellen Richard
Executive Director of Accounting
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 980-343-6210
Fax: 980-343-7407
Courier Number: 836
Email: luellen.richard

Anonymous said...

Christine , Can you post Bolyn's CMS title and contact data? His ofice is probably down the hall from Eli Broads and around the corner from Ericka's. That last one he has separated from after the first few meetings. Probably half way between the GOV center and the Chamber check the bus station. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Ann,
I will acknowledge the elephant in the room. Take Dr. Cash's education, credentials and experience and embody them in a white male or female. We would be clamoring for him or her to come to Charlotte.
All of the attacks on Dr. Cash, including the most vile one for the behavior of someone else, were all about smearing this man and letting everyone know that he is black. I don't know if you grew up in the south, but the cacophony of noise and remarks are all too familiar when a strong black male is a candidate for anything. He also criticized black churches for not doing much of anything to keep kids off the street.

To know what is happening in Memphis schools is to also know that he angered the black power structure which controlled the schools' money and they stupidly gave up their charter to thwart his reform efforts.

That's why you do not have the black Charlotte elites speaking up for him. Their children are in private, magnet or charter schools, they do not live in the hood, and they surely can't afford to anger their powerful bosses and contacts. On top of that, they are afraid of someone who is going to speak truth to them about their lack of will to help the children in this county.

My mamma always told me that the person trying to please everybody is a person who ends up pleasing nobody. When doing what is best for all children is the focus, then you are doing your job as an educator. Tough decisions will definitely anger some body, but the duty to children is a solemn one. Fulfilling that duty is worth taking a few personal hits.

Anonymous said...

Ann, I would agree that 1:24's comments are well written. However, those comments do not explain what Dr. Cash said or has done that made 1:24 see "a man who values truth, honesty and integrity". Nor do we know what he said that let 1:24 feel "his humanity, his compassion for all human beings, and his commitment to making things right for children." 1:24 writes very lofty words but there is no substance there to persuade me that Dr. Cash is a better candidate than the other two. Also, I am not at all certain this community is as unworthy as 1:24 seems to feel it is.
Sharon Starks

Anonymous said...

I don't believe Parent University is an entity of CMS, it was grant funded I think. Why would Pete's wife have been on CMS' payroll? Just like Project Lift advertised its non cms positions on website, couldn't Parent University have done the same?

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh, 2:50. We've all been waiting for it to begin. Thanks for getting the ball rolling.

Anonymous said...

Keith Hurley wants to be on the school board and doesn't know the difference between "where" and "were". That ought to be good for the children.

Anonymous said...

Listen and watch Dr. Cash here:


http://cms-k12-nc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=1045

Anonymous said...

4:05 It's Keith W. Hurley and you can go to my website to leave your name you coward. It's simple keithhurley.com all my leadership positions and board names are listed for you to attend.

Anonymous said...

Eric, Rhonda, Joyce, Tim, Richard and Tom:
Peter Gorman is still playing you all as stupid, when are you going to wake up. Broad, Spangler, Gates and now News Corp are salivating at the prospect of Morrison becoming the superintendent. Need some new technology? Need some apps for them? Gotta get my piece of that education money!

Anonymous said...

LuEllen is in charge. Of grant funds {public and private} distribution. May include separate non profits set up under quiet names

Anonymous said...

First of all let us clarify something right now! Rhonda Lennon barely helps her own district and is incapable of forming a conspiracy let alone an opinion!

Anonymous said...

Rhonda, sit back, be quiet and stop jockeying for another position later in the future. You are the equivalent of Vilma Leake.

Anonymous said...

Read both comments below this story if you are looking for explanations and objectivity. The story explains why the power structure turned on Dr. Cash and why teachers and principals are angry.


http://www.memphisflyer.com/CityBeat/archives/2012/04/11/so-long-kriner-cash

Anonymous said...

For a system that still cannot tell the difference between a illegal meeting and a public one a little busing is no issue. You can tie busing to FRL and sure Judge Manning will shut it down in a few years. Nobody said Richard was smart. If the Timmy (snake) Morgan is willing to sell out the district he lives in you think he wont take Richard down a road for a little smoke? Its a power trip and its in response to Ericka getting the chair TM wanted. Ericka has thrown the venom towards Eric,Rhonda,PTA lady add it up folks.

Anonymous said...

5:30 That crew of the BOE would not know if they were being played if St. Peter took them to the side of a bridge and told them to jump. Lets see 3 candidates 3 Broadies ? They know Ann wont leave , because of her mother being in town. She helps take care of her so its a safe play they know that. Broadie 1 or Broadie 2. You pick Mr. Memphis and we run to Fort Mill. That choice could undermine Mecklenburg County for long time to come. We would be talking about closing another 15-20 schools. The economic impact would present huge challenges. You would make one man happy that would be Kojo not sure its worth it. Welcome to Heath buy a condo at 230 South Tryon one block north of Chamber play like a nice boy. Dont forget to send your 2 kids to CCDS over on Carmel Rd if you care at all about their educational future. Mayor Foxx can show you the way to CCDS no issues.

Anonymous said...

10:12, you expressed the why Heath Morrison is going to be our new superintendent beautifully. Everyone needs to know that it is not because Cash is unqualified, but simply because too many black people would be holding the power spots in CMS. That's why the phrases such as "turning us into another Atlanta" are used. Code speak for "Black Mayor, Black chair of the County Commission, black school board chair.....enough is enough!

I worry about the children and the teachers. I pray that Morrison
has some bridge building skills and will care about all children in this community. If he does not recognize the need to diversify his executive staff and their underlings so that he can have someone to help him understand the perspectives of different communities in this town, he won't last long.
If he continues letting staff and administrators bully and intimidate employees,especially veteran teachers and principals, schools will not improve. Morrison must embrace and listen to people on the front lines so that CMS can realize internally what it is celebrated for externally.

Anonymous said...

11:30 - Thank you and no offense to the 3 candidates I think we were robbed by our search firm. For such a "coveted national position" and one of the highest paid in the country I am disapointed in the quality of the 3 selected. Cash states I cannot work for anyone I feel is below me and its a max 5 year job. Sorry we dont need that. I am aware of the national average for that positon , but we dont need the negative going in. I like Ann , but she has not experience at the top helm I think that separates her from Heath in this equation. I also think she will stay and finish her career with CMS. I also think she will play nicely with Heath. Thats a professional compliment too her since most would not since it culd be deemed a power struggle. Our current board of Ed could learn alot from her in the professional department. Ann truely cares about children learning and progress.

Anonymous said...

Bob Morgan , Can you call the Chamber client who did the search and get us a voucher back? Some 3-4 years we will be able to use the voucher. If your busy maybe Natalie can reach out to them did she set that deal up? Better yet is she a taxpayer in Mecklenburg yet? Sponsored by Project LIFT , Eli and Bill !

Wiley Coyote said...

McElrath.....

Here are some quotes in reverse order, with the last quoting McElrath about Charlotte's 1971 busing issue.

It seems he was for busing before he was against it. Yet, even today, he still rants about "segregation" without any valid idea(s) as to how to solve his issue............

McElrath argued that students consigned to mostly black schools in impoverished neighborhoods face bleak academic prospects.

“The people who have always been at the bottom are still going to be at the bottom,” said McElrath. The vote signals that “the standard for CMS is segregation, and if you value diversity you can go to a magnet…if you’re lucky.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's `I, I, I, me, me, me,"' said Richard McElrath, a retired teacher and founder of Parents United for Education. In his view, Huntersville's hunger for more schools or its own district would consign children of the poor -- black and now also Hispanic -- to increasing isolation in the city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1971, Charlotte was home to a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that allowed districts to use mandatory busing and student assignment based on race to integrate schools.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools drew national attention for producing racially balanced schools with broad community support.

Much as it did in Louisville, mandatory busing evolved into a desegregation plan that used satellite attendance zones and magnet schools.

"There were some critics, but generally people felt that we needed to do this, that it was the right thing to do," said Scott McCully, the district's director of student assignment.

It wasn't perfect; higher-end classes in many schools lacked minorities and academic achievement gaps persisted.

But the plan fostered tolerance and helped disperse poor students, said Richard McElrath, a former math teacher and founder of People United for Education, an advocacy group.

Anonymous said...

Wiley , You mean its possible Richard wants minority students bused to the better white schools? Since those white schools have better air,teachers & bricks. We all know what you just supported with his qoutes , but he seems to forget when questioned. This time he is going to sell the FRL with reducing those students via busing them to schools with lower FRL percentages. It will come out and the others who want Morrison to prove a point will play Richard like a fool. Its the new " common core" by CMS.

Anonymous said...

I hope some of you went to church and had a moment of prayer today. What a nasty bunch making personal attacks.....if you don't like someones politics then disagree. But attacking and all this nasty commentary from anonymous posters is just ridiculous.

Wiley Coyote said...

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
...An anonymous poster attacking anonymous posters....

Now that's comedy!

Anonymous said...

And in Keith Hurley's response he uses a fragmented sentence: "It's simple keithhurley.com all my leadership positions and board names are listed for you to attend."

Keep digging Keith as it is gloriously fascinating.

Anonymous said...

I think it's ridiculous that an anonymous poster would assume everyone on this blog is Christian.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

1776...not the year, but the play or the movie. I would like to see everyone who thinks that everything can get done in the light of day (transparency) without negotiations or compromises be assigned to view it. It was UUGGLLYY, down and dirty, but without it there would have been no Declaration of Independence or Constitution that we hold dear. I personally do not know if anything untoward took place as rumored. But I do know that I personally am tired of cameras everywhere when I need to pick my nose or scratch my ....... If there is any mischief afoot I am confident that AH is on it.

Ann Doss Helms said...

Paul Holden, executive director of Parent U, says the notion that Pete or Sue Gorman got any money from Parent U (which is funded by grants) is "completely false." However, he only started in August, so I've got messages in to Lu Ellen and to the PIO asking them to check one more time whether either Gorman got any money in any form.

Sharon, hope it's understood that my comment isn't an endorsement of Dr. Cash (or anyone else). I just wasn't hearing many such thought-out comments on Dr. Cash while trying calling and grabbing people after the sessions.

Wiley Coyote said...

Anon 9:59...

My comment is in no way a knock on Ann, but at times, she has limited information due to the very nature of her being a reporter and when CMS decides it wants to give her info.

We've seen CMS give access to others, where the press is not allowed. Ann is "on it" when CMS violates the open meeting laws but at the time can't do anything about it.

We've also seen where a student was given the same information Ann requested weeks earlier so in a sense, Ann was "scooped".

BolynMcClung said...

TO WC 10:51

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. ANN, LIMITED INFORMATION?

In the newspaper business there are two types of news:

1. All the news fit to print
2. Print all the news that fits.

The value of a free press is the willingness to sacrifice being first for being right. That's what we have in our education reporters.

A blog has the opposite standards. It does allows the printing of anything that fits and being heard is more important than being right. I recently fell into that trap. It hurts.

As for that "scooped" thing. When the informatin is available, is only half the battle. The other half of verifying it is what makes is news.

It takes time. I like solid news; not soggy news.

Bolyn McClung
Pineville

Wiley Coyote said...

Bolyn,

Part of your problem is putting the cart before the horse.

Did you even comprehend what I posted? If the answer is no, then welcome to the world the rest of us are in trying to decipher the majority of your posts.

Ann said this: I'm not naive enough to think there are no behind-the-scenes deals hidden from reporters.

There have also been two recent occasions where reportes were kept out of meetings but the public or select individuals let in, thus the open meetings law debate.

Also, just refresh your memory, here is the link to the MArch 2011 story where Ann requested information from CMS, only to be outdone by a journalism student from Myers Park:

Normally I'm not keen on admitting that another journalist has gotten ahead of me, but I'll make an exception when the reporter is a high-school student.

Read more here: http://obsyourschools.blogspot.com/2011/03/smart-student-journalism.html#storylink=cpy

Anonymous said...

Wiley, We all know by now that CMS revolves around Bolyn a non-parent obsessed with sucking up. If the story did not start or come from him its not valid. If you have documented data (which 99% of the time you do) then he shoots it down. Thats a child playing a game. In Pineville he most likely gets the news a little slower than we do in Charlotte. He is old and bald plus lacks hobbies. I am just glad we blocked him from being on the board when his idol Timmy set him a place at the table. He is just trying to be a Bill Anderson Lite type.

Anonymous said...

Re: a blog's standards--Not only is "being heard more important than being right", but apparently being rude and completely disrespectful of others and their opinions is another standard as well.

Anonymous said...

To stand corrected Ann my false story is confirmed as today Heath Morrison is picked to lead. I have the shirts and hats being printed welcoming Heath Morrison Broad to CMS at the moment. They will be on my website keithhurley.com at the end of this week. A large picture of a crow is in the upper right hand corner for some reason. Keith W. Hurley

Ann Doss Helms said...

Keith, if you'd predicted something unpredictable -- say, that they'd scrap them all and choose a specific person -- and it had come true, I'd say dang, he was right! But I don't think the fact that they chose one of the three finalists proves much. Remember, others were saying the fix was in for Clark (she's an insider) or Cash (he's the minority candidate) as well. A good conspiracy theory can never be proven false; I'm just not convinced this one has proven true. Now, when Eric, Rhonda and Tim vote for busing I'll take a big bite of crow!

Anonymous said...

Ann , Be careful you know I am about accountability and you made a promise. I am glad its behind the community after a year is wasted with no direction. Heath has a task and hopefully he is up for it. Seems our search firm owes us a rebate for Dr. Cash as that was a wasteful trip to Charlotte. I hope Ann Clark and Morrison can work together to grow CMS.