LEDGER COLUMNIST

For those of you out there who feel we're dog-piling on the Cherokee County School Board, this isn't going to be the same old rant. But it will be pretty critical of the board.

That's the most frustrating thing about all this. Every time there's a problem to report about with that body, it's a new one. If it isn't nepotism, it's strongarming employees to keep them from testifying at arbitration hearings. I was genuinely surprised when I heard what Dr. Bill James had to say in those audio recordings of the Fred Knowles hearing.

If your friend at work was in trouble with your boss, but you knew you should say something about the situation, would you?

If you're like most normal human beings, you're going to be a little reluctant to stand up to your boss, even if it is the right thing to do.

Greg Byars was in the same situation with his co-worker Fred Knowles. But he stood up and said he'd be at the hearing. So, what happens? Before he even takes the stand, Dr. James is on the mike telling Byars something along the lines of - 'I've been informed you may have taped me without my consent and that may be grounds for future disciplinary action. But I want to make sure you know, that discipline is in no way related to what you do or say at this hearing today.'

WHAT!?!?

You might as well have said, "Thanks for coming, just wanted to let you know we're going to fire you. And, if anyone else out there is thinking about standing up to me or the board, we WILL find some way to fire you, too. So, sit down and shut up!"

And now this: Triangle Construction shows up as a contractor on the list of pre-qualified companies that can bid on the new Gaffney High Stadium project. This firm was not on the list when I wrote my article about it for the July 5 edition of The Ledger. When we have a Gaffney High School that was almost FALLING DOWN because of shoddy construction work by a sub-par contractor, we've got to stay on top of this construction issue.

The purpose of pre-qualifying a contractor is, ostensibly, to make sure they'll do a good job. But, according to the school district's interpretation of South Carolina law, the board itself has the final say on how district money is spent.

Meaning, if they want to go with a contractor that has NOT been pre-qualified, they can do that. So, what's the point of pre-qualifying?

I think it's just a red herring to throw off the public. It makes it LOOK like the school board has taken steps to avoid another GHS fiasco, but the 'back door' is still there so they can make sure they award the project to the company they want. This 'final say' stance on the S.C. law, is nothing more than another 'cabbage leaf' policy.

It works like a big green leaf of cabbage growing in the ground - you can pick it up and shove almost anything under there knowing it will be covered.

This school district loves a good cabbage leaf policy. They used a similar tool to fire Fred Knowles for 'insubordination.' Again, you can shove almost anything you want under that term and it'll be covered.

So, what are we to do?

This November, pick the candidate you think is best qualified and vote for him or her. I know this is a mid-term election, and no presidential race is happening, but DON'T sit at home and trust others to make the decision. Maybe then the Cherokee County School Board will get a little education itself.

This is government for the people, by the people. And that's some good news.