LR5 school board needs a change. Make it happen on election day
It’s time for the controversies with the Lexington-Richland 5 school district’s Board of Trustees to end. Voters can put the distractions to rest by making a change to the board on election day.
A group of board members have proven they’re more interested in factionalism, getting their way and fighting criticism than they are ensuring the quality governance of LR5. Certain board members are thinking of themselves and their own petty power on the board more than kids in the district’s schools.
The district’s voters know the board members who have struck the matches and made LR5 a dumpster fire of a school board. Vote those members out.
The State put together a handy guide to the LR5 election with insights into all the candidates to help voters make their decision. The incumbents up for reelection are Nikki Gardner, Ken Loveless and Tifani Moore.
The LR5 board went out of control after certain members made the job of former superintendent Christina Melton a nightmare and all but forced her to resign last year.
Since then, secrecy, bullying and questionable ethics engendered and enacted by certain members have been reported on extensively this year. Here’s a quick run down.
Former member Ed White resigned because of intense hostility from the board.
The board became embroiled in lawsuits. One lawsuit, from The State’s Senior Editor Paul Osmundson, claimed the board met in secret when it should have met in public. The suit was dismissed in October, not on its merits, but because a court official didn’t schedule a hearing in time. The dismissal has been appealed.
Outgoing Chair Jan Hammond, who is not running for reelection, and Vice Chair Ken Loveless were accused of ethics violations, four of which are still pending for Loveless.
As part of a personal lawsuit, Loveless has subpoenaed 30 critics and members of the media. Who sues their own constituents instead of responding to criticism with an open ear?
The subpoenas led to a hostile public board meeting.
Maybe one of the harshest indictments of the board came from its own lawyer, who resigned in June. In a resignation letter, attorney Andrea White wrote that in more than 30 years of representing school boards, she had never been in a position like the one she faced with the LR5 board. White wrote that the board was “operating in a manner that is dysfunctional and not conducive to the well-functioning of the district.” She could not represent it “without compromising my integrity and professional reputation.”
You know about the board’s actions, so now it’s up to you to make a decision. Do you let unproductive and ineffective leadership continue, or do you make a change?
Maybe ask yourself this: If you were a board member, would you bring a superintendent to tears for her resignation? Would you create such a hostile atmosphere that another board member resigns? Would you file lawsuits or focus on bettering public education? Would you be responsible for a hostile public meeting or make sure meetings maintained decorum?
Another good question. Would you want your kids growing up to be adults who act like certain LR5 school board members?
Douse the dumpster fire, LR5 voters.