Mr Bedden ,now do you see the mentality of these local black idiots,why do you think they are on the board,Nobody else will hire them
Joe Scott sees himself as an ardent advocate, vigorously fighting for his constituents and all taxpayers.
But many of his fellow Richmond County school board members say they see him as an antagonist, holding back the work of the board and threatening to affect the children of the school system.
"It's just detrimental to continue on the same line," board member Helen Minchew said in a recent interview. "It's to the point where it's disrupting meetings."
Earlier this month, Mr. Scott walked out of a finance committee meeting, bringing its business to a close because without him there was no quorum. His departure came after a heated nine-minute exchange with Superintendent Dana Bedden during which a visibly flustered Dr. Bedden told the board member that he wasn't "making any sense."
The superintendent also accused him of playing "cloak and dagger" games, treating central office employees like gofers to fetch information for unknown reasons and then not being satisfied with it.
The exchange came at the same meeting at which Mr. Scott had already clashed with board members Alex Howard, Venus Cain and Jimmy Atkins.
And last week, Mr. Scott was the lone vote against a bid to abate asbestos at National Hills Elementary School -- a position that fellow board members said endangers children's health.
Mr. Scott contends all of his actions are for the benefit of children and taxpayers. For instance, an issue he brings up often is the need to merge National Hills Elementary with Garrett Elementary, about a half mile away. That would save $15 million, he said, and that is why he voted against asbestos abatement. Yet in 2006, he voted in favor of keeping both schools.
And he was the only vote against a money saving plan to merge Lamar and Milledge elementaries -- two schools almost as close as National Hills and Garrett.
Mr. Scott's pointed questions are nothing new. Previously, he has suggested the school board secretary and the stenographer who record the meetings intentionally alter minutes to make him look bad.
It would be an effort that apparently hasn't worked. Mr. Scott, a former educator and school principal who considers himself an outsider on the board, said he enjoys strong community support. In November, he was re-elected with 74 percent of the vote.
"They like what I'm doing because I'm not afraid to bring the truth out," Mr. Scott said. He then added with a laugh, "I'm Robin Hood. I rob from the rich and give to the poor."
The way he represents District 5, however, hasn't proven effective, board member Frank Dolan said.
"He's been so divisive that he's a moot point on the board," Mr. Dolan said.
Arguments between other board members and Mr. Scott are becoming more frequent, but he said he is doing the work of his constituents and not the work of "the eight," a term he uses to refer to the other board members, excluding Barbara Pulliam.
"The eight" are voting in their own best interest and not in the best interest of children and taxpayers, Mr. Scott said. "The eight" almost always vote together.
"It's about power," he said. "It's not about doing what's right."
Much of his disdain is focused at Mr. Howard.
"It appears that young man hates my guts," Mr. Scott said. "He has no idea of what is going on, no earthly idea of what is going on. He's just a piece of matter occupying space."
But even Mrs. Pulliam wonders about Mr. Scott's approach.
"I think that's just his personality, but I'm not saying it doesn't need to be improved," she said. "My grandmomma used to say 'It's not what you say. It's how you say it.' He says it in a confrontational way."
Mrs. Pulliam said she raises some of the same issues as Mr. Scott, but she doesn't draw the same reaction from members.
"It's the person they're going after rather than what is being said," she said. "Wrong becomes right when six or seven of them want it."
She has requested a retreat be held so that board members can resolve personal differences and move forward.
"They've got to agree to disagree," Mrs. Pulliam said. "If we all thought alike and voted alike, we would just need one person on the board and it would save a lot of money and time."
The disputes cause some in attendance at meetings to laugh.
"We don't want to be entertainers," Mrs. Minchew said. "We don't want people out there laughing."
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Mr Bedden ,now do you see the mentality of these local black idiots,why do you think they are on the board,Nobody else will hire them
This guy is a poster child for what is wrong with Augusta......
Mr. Scott is a stumbling block to the board. In these tough economic times, we have no time to waste listening to "grandstanders". Is he related to a former commissioner? Scott is either playing games or talking out of a paper hat. Bedden is correct. If you smell a rat then say so. It's time to work together.
WCR, What " Local Black idiots" are you referring to? I guess you are just an idiot.
Why would anyone expect anything other than what they are getting?
Joe Scott is probably the "best and brightest" they could come up with in his district.....and that explains what is wrong with Augusta. Looks like he attended the Marion Williams School of WHAT???? No doubt this is an RC commissioner in training. And I loved the walk out thing. The same tactic our black commissioners pull when they aren't intelligent enough to debate an issue or defend their position, or they have an undefendable position. Maybe Scott is attending the Betty Beard School Obstructionism and Blackmail down at Port Royal also. Yep, a commissioner in training for sure. What a joke this place is. The only good news here is that this was not a black/white confrontation. Now the blacks are starting to have to deal with the mentality that allows people like Joe Scott to get elected. Welcome to our world. I commend Dr. Bedden for saying what needed to be said to this old fool and forcing him to show his ignorace. I wish we had some white commissioners with the courage to do the same thing.
They can't get along so they think a retreat is in order to solve their personal differences. A retreat on taxpayers money? Wouldn't every married couple LOVE to take a retreat someone else pays for every time they argue? Sounds like the board better buy a few $5 dollar pizzas, lock themselves in the conference room, and retreat there until they solve their problems.
Situations like this support the statistics. Education in RC has continued to decline. Opportunities exist for only a very few (magnet schools). The rest are being "dumbed down" by the clowns at the BOE. Check the statistics -- the best and the brightest have left RC and live in Columbia or Aiken Counties. Just look at the Board and one knows why.
First, Why does this have to be a white to black thing? Dr. Bedden is also black and from what I can see was just as unprofessional, and disrespectful to a board member in the public's eye, and it is apparent that he has no respect for this man, and must know that the other board members will back him, otherwise, I don't think he would have spoke as he did. There in lies the problem, if Bedden has 8 or 9 board members in his back pocket, as did Larke, WE HAVE the same politics. I do think there is a problem on the board but its more of "you scratch mine, I'll vote your way"
But never mind that, why are we paying some company 50,000 + 50,000 more, to write grants when the county is broke? That is at least 3 teachers salaries. Correct me if I am wrong, is there anyway anyone can guarantee that a grant will be approved before they are written? I would like to see how much money was collected for the last 50,000 that was paid, a full disclosure is what is needed for this type of expenditure. OUTSOURCING! we are broke and spending an enormous amount on outsourcing... yet we are firing teachers because of a budget crunch. Where is the accountability for these expenditures?
One last question, why did Richmond Co. quickly release this video? perhaps to shut Mr. Scott up, destroy his credibility and continue to push things through as always? I find it funny, for a district that is so closed mouth on so many things that they would release this footage. Don't they know that if one person on the board looks bad all people on the board look bad? And why the personal attack on the character of Mr. Scott by Dr. Bedden? Isn't the board the superiors of the superintendent? I am just curious.
Go to the AC's sight and find the public salaries link. Very interesting. Columbia County teachers make significantly more than RC teachers. Much more. RC administrators make every bit as much as Columbia County education administrators and, in some cases, more. The teachers in RC have no incentive to improve. The administrators apparently feel they've "made it" and don't have to do any more work. Don't think there's a problem there? Think about Charles Larke's salary in the upper $200s and his retirement base of around $175k. And look what HE did.
Praise the Lord! For all of the Joe Scott haters, you are going to be the one who take him higher. if you review this video, you will find out that Mr. Scott was omly asking for CLARIFICATION on $50,000 of taxpayers dollars going to an unfamiliar company to most and all they could PROMISE to do was give a million dollar return. With the debt and deficit that we are already in, we can't afford to lose $5.00. The sayings are that custodial positions are being cut. That $50,000 coumd keep two custodians. Richmond County have many educated and knowledgable members who can perform the same job as these outside agencies. If you don't STAND UP FOR SOMETHING,you will FALL FOR ANYTHING. There were taxpayers who witnessed another board member state in a public meeting that,"We don't care about the teachers' needs, we only care about the students." That member was immediately rebuked and corrected. I am so proud of Mr. Scott for asking questions. The good old buddy system should DISSAPPEAR IMMEDIATELY AND STAY GONE! Time out for playing church. The covers will be pulled and my prayer is no one is found naked lest we continue in our sabbotage to wrong and mistreat God's people, especially the
After watching that video, it is very clear that Mr. Scott is either out of touch with what needs to be done, or he is simply grandstanding and bogging things down. Dr. Bedden handled it well, in my opinion, as he was trying to be very accomadating to Mr. Scott early on, and then, when he had enough of it, sat Mr. Scott down and let him know exactly what he thought. For Mr. Scott to walk out of the meeting shows his lack of respect for, not only Dr. Bedden and the rest of the board, but also for his own position on that board. It is Marion Williams all over again, folks. Why can't the people in this man's district see the type of people they are voting in to these positions?
Mr Scott schould not have walked out.But we as taxpayers should not be spending money on this outsourcing.
children. Board members are public elected officals. The Richmond County Board of Education should help to make TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FIRST PRODUCTIVE AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. I pray that God will bless everyone involved and bestow LOVE and not HATRED toward one another. I pray that everyone posted reap the harvest of their fruit. Thank you Mr. Scott for excusing yourself when you were being asked to do something that you were not in favor of. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the ends thereof are the ways of DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. "It is better to tie a MILLSTONE around your neck than to harm the LEAST of my little ones", saith the Lord. Where there is no LOVE, there is no PEACE. Man looks at the inward parts but GOS LOOKS AT THAT HEART. We will not get away with deeiving God's people. I don't care who or where you are. You SHALL reap what you sow. It is written.For all of these bible scholars who quote the word but don't live it, REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. Leave Scott alone. If another board member can offer to k--k h-s [filtered word] in an open board meeting and that member is still there, then he needs to be left alone as well unless there's a BUDDY BUDDYTHING
Mr. Scott, continue to voice your opinions - FREEDOM OF SPEECH and as far as black idiots goes, I guarantee you there is an equal amount of white idiots too. I don't think Dr. Bedden is for the black/white thing, at least I hope not. I am sure he is about the CHILDREN!
Maybe Mr Scott knows taxpayers money is being used for wasteful things.If so he should stand up and say so.Just like Bedden said.Dont hint around what your trying to find out.Just come out and say it.I've been trying to find out if our taxpaying money was used for those six free books and paper work.Certain students got them.Had a color picture of Dr.Bedden.Just looks like campaigning with taxpaying money.We dont need to waste money then cut the employees pay.
No, this is NOT a black/white thing and we should just ignore those people who are even mentioning it! As far as Mr. Scott is concerned, I agree with Dr. Bedden and Totsalot...Mr. Scott, be a man and come right and say what it is you want or are looking for! Don't waste the Board's time by hem-hawing around. By doing this, you've made yourself look like a fool. You are an educated man, but people don't recognize that and, instead, treat you like a blathering malcontent because of how you present yourself and represent your district. Walking out of that meeting shows what type of person you are. The only people who do that are the ones who can't take the heat and aren't getting their way. My children used to do that, but now they've grown up and know it's better to face matters head on rather than walking away from their responsibilities.
I don't believe in law suits. However, it is time we sue the BOE against giving them our tax money to throw away as is being done. If this man was a Principal, I feel bad for all of the teachers and students under his care. As for Dr. Bedden, I wouldn't put it past him to be looking for a new job because there is no way anyone with half a brain would remain around such stupidity. We could CLOSE ALL RCBOE schools, turn them over to private enterprise for less than what we are spending now and easily improve the graduation rate. Disgusting!!
Why sould Joe Scott be any different than any other Democrat. He is just like OBAMA except OBAMA is a Stumbling Block to the USA and the rest of the World just as Hitler Was, Lets Pray that OBAMA will get to speak face to face with Hitler Soon, rather than VIA Facebook.
Emotional outburst by either party, is that appropriate behavior? Isn't it better to remove yourself than to become more confrontational? Where were the other board members, one person leaving should not have cause such a shortage of board members that they could not vote? Emotional decision making, personal attacks or vendettas have no place in the board meeting nor by the superintendent. These are the people who leads the system and they can not control their emotional states of mind, how can they make unbiased decisions. The superintendent was clearly agitated and clearly was confrontational. The board member was clearly flustered by the accusations and retreated? Am I seeing this wrong? Should anyone be afraid to speak, which is clearly the case in Richmond Co. I think everyone especially those elected to the board of education needs to take a look in the mirror and honestly look at their missions and goals for the positions they hold, not blast blame or try to change someone else. Education or politics, which is it?
What purpose did all of that serve? Joe Scott is a distraction along the lines of Marion Williams, who was mentally outclassed, and walked out on the superintendent and the rest of the board when he was proven to be wrong. He has an axe to grind, it was obvious with his last statement where he wanted to know why Dr. Bedden questioned how he voted an issue. He is the one with the problem, but more correctly the 5th district has the issue, and yet they will get behind him and defend this moron, while their children get further and further behind, but thats ok, because the world needs people to work in the service industry, and we know just where to get them. Instead of championing Scott as standing up to the "man" who in this case happens to be black, they should be saying look at Dr. Bedden, he handled the incident properly, yes, PROPERLY, and his last statement before the idiot walked out says it all "do your homework" it applies to every student as well as board members. Joe Scott, leadership we can all use, as a poor example! and YOU voted for him. The rich get richer, and po stay po! You do it to yourselves.
It is obvious from the video that Mr Scott really wants to question the money but he is just questioning for the sake of questioning. I bet if somebody could print it out from that new fangled "DVD" and show it to him, he would have no idea what he was looking at but it sure makes him feel important to question......
I watched the video that was supplied by RCBOE and I am wondering what is the point. I'm also wondering why does the board have to pay $50,000.00 to an outside agency to do what the coordinators should be able to do. Why did Miss Stacy need help from an outside agency to help write a grant when people who are already employed with the board have written grants before? Who wrote the grant for the 21st century program, title 1 program, the teaching of American History grant, etc There are also teachers who have written and assisted in writing grants while they do an excellent job of educating students. Maybe you should save the $100,000.00 that you are paying the agency and send Miss Stacy and the other coordinators to a good grant writing staff development course it would be much cheaper. Maybe Miss Stacy is on the wrong bus. Mr. Scott is not stupid and is not ignorant he has been in the school system and just as anyone else who has been an educator knows it is not unreasonable to think that Miss Stacy and any other coordinator should be able to successfully write a grant for the system. Good Smoke screen Dr. Beddin
I think the point is pretty obvious. It shows you the pointless request made by someone that wants to look like they know what they are talking about. If you can't see that I don't think it will do you any good to watch again, maybe sponge bob is on.
George30909, you need to watch what you are suggesting. This man is the President of the United States and has nothing to do with Mr. Scott nor Dr. Bedden's situation. Now this is a prime example of an IDIOT!
Amen, Factfinder! ... another smoke screen to keep the public from focusing on what is truly important. Destroying the reputation of an individual instead of the outrageous spending by the board. This is so Richmond Co. kill its people for hidden agendas.
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