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NEWS

Tempers flare during school board meeting

Friday, July 30, 2010
(Updated 1:01 pm)
By J. Brian Ewing
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — The Guilford County Board of Education approved allocating $4 million more to Ragsdale High and to resubmit a request to purchase land for a new southeast area elementary school, but it didn't all go over smoothly.

A motion by board Chairman Alan Duncan clarifying the scope of the work at Ragsdale and setting aside up to $4 million for possible cost overruns enraged board member Paul Daniels.

Pounding on the dais, Daniels said he was “sandbagged” by Duncan and interim Chief Operations Officer Andy LaRowe and even made a motion to go into closed session to discuss LaRowe. No one seconded the motion.

“OK, folks, don't come to me when you get sandbagged by staff,” Daniels said after his motion failed.

The board later amended a call for closed session to include discussions about personnel.

Daniels, whose district includes Ragsdale, said he has agreed for weeks not to make a motion allocating additional funding for Ragsdale until more information could be gathered on what caused the bids for the project to come in more than $5 million over budget. Daniels said Duncan should have told him about the motion beforehand.

Daniels said he asked LaRowe and Duncan specifically about what needed to happen next to get the project under way earlier Thursday during a meeting about Ragsdale. He said both said they weren't sure.

Duncan apologized for not making Daniels aware of the motion beforehand but said he wasn't sure he was going to make it earlier in the day and spent most of the day writing it.

Daniels' outburst evoked support for Duncan and LaRowe from board members and direct criticism from at least one.

“Paul, we have a character education initiative here and we have a responsibility to model those characteristics,” board member Deena Hayes said.

The accusations provoked comment from Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green as well. Green has seldom spoke up when other staff members were criticized and questioned by board members, albeit never to the levels reached Thursday night.

“First of all, I think it's important that I defend Andy LaRowe. This gentleman has done a wonderful job with so many projects for this district, and it troubles me that I have to even defend him,” Green said.

Daniels apologized to Duncan and LaRowe after the closed session.

“Earlier this evening, I had an outburst,” Daniels said. “After a conversation with the chairman and superintendent, I realize I impugned wrongdoing that was untrue.”

The board-adopted outline for the scope of work at Ragsdale includes several items included in the architectural design for the remodeling that were not in original plans. Some Ragsdale parents feared that work would be scrapped when bids came in over budget.

An item that took a fraction of the time to approve was Duncan's motion to take the school board's request to purchase 45 acres for a new southeast-area elementary school back to the county commissioners.

Commissioners blocked the purchase last week after more than 200 southeast parents and residents packed the meeting room and lobbied to have the purchase stopped.

Opponents want the school built farther south and say if the school is built on the proposed site, it will eventually serve the Eastern High School community. District officials say the school will reduce crowding at Alamance, Sedalia and McLeansvile elementary schools, as it was always planned they would.

Board member Daniels, whose district includes the southeast area, and board member Darlene Garrett voted against taking the property back to commissioners. They voted against buying the land to begin with, as well.

The county commissioners are scheduled to meet again on Aug. 19.

The school board will also bring another nearly 45 acres to commissioners during the same meeting for the site of the new northern Greensboro area elementary school. The school board approved buying the land for $1.6 million.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Margaret Baxter (News & Record)

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goodtimes

July 30, 2010 - 9:12 am EDT

Unfortunately, we have parents with the mentality of a child raising children; attending schools managed by a board consisting of a bunch of children. They don't need a "character initiative", they need adult supervision, discipline and adult enrichment classes.

rightwingnemesis

July 31, 2010 - 4:33 pm EDT

There is a huge disconnect between the entrenched members of our school board and the reality of their constituents. While I respect Alan Duncan, I must note that he has let Kris Cooke, Darlene Garrett and Nancy Routh demean Paul Daniels every chance they get. So this episode does not surprise me. Sad part is Cooke and Garrett think they are smarter than Daniels because he is not eloquent when speaking. They are mistaken. Terribly mistaken. Daniels is very interested in doing what is right for the children and their parents and teachers. Unlike Garrett and Cooke he is not a narcissist, rather a humble public servant who is just trying to do right by his stakeholders. I have not always agreed with Paul Daniels but I respect him for being the real deal. I also do not doubt he was sandbagged by staff and by board leadership.

In contrast, I do not believe Jeff Belton would even know if he were being sandbagged. His intellectual depth is shallow and his understanding of education is sorely lacking.

Deena Hayes was right in her comments, but her comments just emboldened those who seek to minimize Paul Daniels.

Fran

July 30, 2010 - 9:20 am EDT

Sheesh. Does the N&R still employ editors? What a mess of an article.

General Greensboro

July 30, 2010 - 9:44 am EDT

We do have editors.

Could you be more specific? "Mess" is a bit vague.

GG

youvegottobekidding

July 30, 2010 - 10:25 am EDT

"Duncan apologized for not making Daniels aware of the motion beforehand but said he had he wasn't sure he was going to make it earlier in the day and spent most of the day writing it."

youvegottobekidding

July 30, 2010 - 10:30 am EDT

"The board-adopted outline for the scope of work at Ragsdale includes several items included in the architectural design for the remodeling but were not in original plans."

General Greensboro

July 30, 2010 - 10:36 am EDT

Thanks. I tweaked both sentences you flagged to make them both a little clearer.

If things still aren't clear and you want more info, e-mail the writer directly. Brian's e-mail address is at the end of the story.

GG

Fran

July 30, 2010 - 4:50 pm EDT

The Guilford County Board of Education approved allocating $4 million more to Ragsdale High and to resubmit a request to purchase land for a new southeast area elementary school,

Daniels said he asked LaRowe and Duncan specifically about what needed to happen next to get the project under way earlier Thursday during a meeting about Ragsdale.

Green has seldom spoke up when other staff members were criticized and questioned by board members, albeit never to the levels reached Thursday night.

An item that took a fraction of the time to approve was Duncan's motion to take the school board's request to purchase 45 acres for a new southeast-area elementary school back to the county commissioners.

District officials say the school will reduce crowding at Alamance, Sedalia and McLeansvile elementary schools, as it was always planned they would.

Board member Daniels, whose district includes the southeast area, and board member Darlene Garrett voted against taking the property back to commissioners.

The school board will also bring another nearly 45 acres to commissioners during the same meeting for the site of the new northern Greensboro area elementary school.

casper

July 30, 2010 - 9:52 am EDT

Obviously the school board doesn't understand who they work for, we can work toward making them understand a little better.

rightwingnemesis

July 31, 2010 - 4:36 pm EDT

Yes, you are so right there Casper. Note that the County Commissioners understood who they work for and they acted wisely and in a mature manner. The current school board has become what the Guilford County Commissioners used to be--a joke!

Garth

July 30, 2010 - 11:07 am EDT

Last I checked I represent the taxpayers of Guilford County, thus the saving of millions for 2/10ths of a mile outside a planned area appears intelligent, but then again anyone who who serves on a School Board truly deserves to have their sanity questioned.

rightwingnemesis

July 31, 2010 - 4:40 pm EDT

First of all, please spare us the patronizing. The board told stakeholders one thing then tried the bait and switch. Didn't work, did it? Looking forward to Ed Price taking his seat.

James45

August 1, 2010 - 12:58 am EDT

Ed Price?. Another (special interest group) on the board is not needed. What does an almost retired old man want to be on the school board for? I know what for, because of other interests that have nothing to do with children! We need people who have a vested interest in childrens education on the school board. People with children in schools. Not realtors, lawyers and NAACP members.

Citizen Slain

July 30, 2010 - 1:33 pm EDT

Call me picky but board meetings are supposed to ran by Roberts Rules of Order.
No one person makes a motion. A member of the board "moves" to do so and so, the Chair then states that so and so has moved to do so and so, and asks for a second, if their is a second then what was "moved" now becomes a "motion" before the board; the Chair can either one, call for discussion of the motion or two call for a vote on the motion.

So in the case here, who "moved" and who "seconded" what?

Brian Ewing

July 30, 2010 - 1:43 pm EDT

Citizen Slain,

I'm not sure what you're asking? Are you asking about the motion Paul Daniels made?

NotanotherSergio

July 30, 2010 - 2:04 pm EDT

Recall...

NotanotherSergioApril 12, 2010 - 7:12 pm EDT
With what's inevitably coming, you're about to find out just how "not good..."

~~~~~~~
The inevitable was Mr. LaRowe serving as interim...the result? I'll let you be the judge, Mr. Daniels; however I believe you may now know just how "not good" losing Mr. Bobadilla was. And to think, there's so much more to come as the 2008 Bond has so much left to do...

Brian Ewing

July 30, 2010 - 2:13 pm EDT

NotanotherSergio,

The issues with the Ragsdale bids came about before LaRowe took over and while there are plenty of folks who want to know who's to blame none of them are blaming LaRowe.

I, and board members, have asked was it the architect's fault, since they said the design could be built within budget, or was the construction manager's fault since it's his job to make sure things are within budget. Officials don't seem to have an answer yet but it sounds like they're looking and I wouldn't be surprised if after all is said and done there are some changes made.

The Construction Manager at Risk program on paper seems to be a good way to save money and keep things on track. In practice it's left lots of folks questioning that.

NotanotherSergio

July 30, 2010 - 3:50 pm EDT

Well, "none of them" should take a closer look.

fatboy1

July 30, 2010 - 7:21 pm EDT

Actually this is a continuation of the political move that Mo tried at the last GCC meeting to play with Perkins. This was to delay the vote until all the democrats on the board got back in town and fell in line. Finally Perkins picked up on it after Mo spoke very slowly while staring into his eyes, and made the motion to delay which failed for lack of a second. The school board also knows that the next commissioner's meeting is at 1 PM and the community cannot take off work to go fight this lunacy again. The extra time will also allow a few folks from McCleansville to show up in favor of the new found, shiny penny in there pocket much like Mr. Perkins found. Get a new school that you don't even need while SE Guilford continues to scrach.

Motion will pass 6 to 5 along party lines.

casper

July 31, 2010 - 12:00 pm EDT

I think and hope you are wrong. I know there will be atleast 200 people at this meeting regardless when its held. The way they are trying to back door the taxpayer on this leads me to believe someone is getting a nice kickback. If this passes we need a complete investigation into the money flow.........

revee

July 31, 2010 - 8:51 am EDT

Thank goodness for Paul Daniels and Garth Hebert on the School Board! At least they have the fortitude to ask the tough questions and hold the rest of the Board Members accountable. I don't know how most taxpayers feel but I, for one, am tired of being fed politically correct pablum by the rest of the board members as they proceed with their Taj Mahal building construction. Thank you, Paul and Garth, for representing EVERYONE.

rightwingnemesis

July 31, 2010 - 4:43 pm EDT

Paul Daniels asks tough questions because they need to asked and need to be answered. Unlike some who ask them to hear their own voice, Daniels does it because he feels a genuine desire to understand and work toward a common good. Some just want to be seen and heard.

James45

July 31, 2010 - 11:52 am EDT

Duncan shows is questionable character once again.
He is a special interest placement on the schoolboard by his law firm.

He is dirty, dirty, dirty.

rightwingnemesis

July 31, 2010 - 4:29 pm EDT

James45,
I disagree with your post. Mr. Duncan like Kris Cooke, Nancy Routh, and Darlene Garrett have been on that board too long. He is not dirty, but tired. We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber to serve, but I only wish he'd take a year or two off and then run again. There is too much familiarity among the old guard.

James45

August 1, 2010 - 12:31 pm EDT

Please dont put Alan Duncan in the same cateogory as nancy or Darlene. He is closer to Deena.
Dirty, dirty, dirty!!

jstaffordjr

July 31, 2010 - 5:31 pm EDT

I don't think we need a morals lecture from Deena Hayes.

ComeOnPeople

August 2, 2010 - 10:04 am EDT

We don't need anything from Deena Hayes except a quick exit!!!! And maybe she can take Amos Quick with her! They are 2 people elected for reasons of certain community numbers and yet they represent that community poorly. Maybe they should take some initiative to get involved in their communities to try and change things for the better starting with the parents. I'm sure every teacher, student, and parent who cares about their child would be greatly appreciative.

stafford5465

August 1, 2010 - 5:33 pm EDT

For ComeOnPeople:

My postings are signed. You should do the same. Calling people morans is more a reflection on you than me. You have a choice in life, you can see the cup half full or see it half empty. I have seen a lot of people come and go. People that call others morans generally don't last long. It is not enough to be critical, you need to help move the system to a new level. Regardless of what you post, I will never call you a moran and I hope you will have a better day soon.

ComeOnPeople

August 2, 2010 - 9:32 am EDT

Joe, here's the deal. If you would spend half the time campaigning as you do complaining, maybe you could take a seat on the school board and really make a difference. What bothers me is that you have an opion, mostly negative, about everything, but obviously think that your 3 minutes, which you normallly extend to 5 or 6, is going to change things. I say get in there. Make a difference. What you are doing is putting together half researched arguments that make no sense half the time and you waste precious time at board meetings. Like the complaint about students at Ragsdale getting an atrium. You said that "in your day" kids has to tough it out and it was a waste of money. That walkway to the atrium is for special needs children! And this last rant about "when are you gonna start redistricting". They dont' have the land needed yet! Do your research. Come up to the podium with valid and researched arguments. Or better yet run for the position and lets see if you are as smart as you think. My last name is Radford, by the way.

ComeOnPeople

August 2, 2010 - 10:10 am EDT

You are right about the name calling. I apologize.

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