The Blog
C.M. Ambrose, Jr.
So it's been awhile, didn't have much to say and actually have been getting ready for a new season of the podcast, The Back Porch Experience's 2nd season which starts the first week of October. With that being said, here goes. I had never attended a committee meeting of the CPSB, so I decided to go after reading last weeks article by Crystal Stevenson on the top of the front page of the American Press. In the article Board Member Wayne Williams accuses the Superintendent of lying to board members and the public. In the article, Mr. Williams is quoted naming a school in reference to cheating.
When I asked about his reference to the particular school, Mr. Williams stated that he mentioned "No School By Name" that cheats and also stated that he was unaware that the press had been invited to such a small gathering of parents, or that Crystal Stevenson was a reporter. Beyond this dispute, all that's left are troubling issues raised by Mr. Williams. The first, the accusation that the Superintendent of the Calcasieu Parish Schools is "lying" to parents and citizens.From the article:
"In response to his suggestion that Lagrange High be torn down and a new school built, Williams said administrators told him the school system couldn't afford to build new schools. He presented a highlighted document to parents that he said proves the School Board set aside $12 million to build a school for K-5 in Morganfield, a development southeast of town."
There several other quotes attributed to Mr. Williams in the article including the References to "Junior Boy" as well as calling his fellow board members "incompetent". So I figured the next meeting would be interesting, it just happens to be a committee meeting, which is a good because it's generally a friendly audience with few if any parents in attendance so the board members are more relaxed. Anyway, that was my reasoning for attending the meeting. The meeting begins, roll call, all but 3 members were in attendance, the discussion begins about school fees, a grandfather/veteran spoke about the astronomical cost of fees for cheerleading and other activities. After responses from the board, this happened.
Eric Tarver Lashes out at the Board
The meeting got to a point where the discussion was about an amendment to existing regulations regarding travel. Visibly upset, Eric Tarver waited until everyone spoke, then he spoke to the board. The following is what Mr. Tarver said to the board and a couple of comments after prior to the vote.
Now after the vote which was counted and the results announced, Mt. Tarver visibly upset, gathered his belongings and walk straight out, speaking to no one. He was followed out but was gone. Many seemed to not notice, some ignored. It was never addressed after the recess. Several things stand out about "what" Mr. Tarver said. Which seems to confirm some of what Mr. Williams is quoted as saying. "Build more buildings" with money that was sold to taxpayers as teacher pay raises, not a one-time bonus or stipend. This and other issues brought up by Mr. Williams and inadvertently by other members of the school board will have to wait for the next article. If you haven't gone to a CPSB meeting, you probably should, it's an unbelievable experience and you can decide for yourself if Mr. Williams assertion is correct, as stated in the American Press article:
"He said his fellow School Board members are “incompetent.”
Note to Anyone listening, it's 2017, the CPSB meeting should be live streamed on their facebook page so all citizens could at least have the opportunity to see for themselves what's happening concerning their children, tax dollars, and what they are going to do about chronic failing schools. The cost of live streaming is minimal and takes nothing more than turning a camera on, then turning it off. Simple. It's called transparency.
Lastly, Mr. Williams, the subject of a front-page article last week, said one word in the entire 2 hours and 15 min meeting. That word, "Here" when the roll was called.
Next article: New Bond Issue and Mr. Williams accusations.
