Sunday, July 23, 2017

Dereliction of Duty.

The Board of Trustees for the Jackson Public School District is now short of a quorum.  WLBT reported:

Jackson Public Schools board member Dr. Richard Lind has announced his resignation from the Board of Trustees. Dr. Lind was appointed to the JPS School Board in 2014 by former Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber.

Board members Kimberly Campbell and Kodi Hobbs also resigned in recent months. Former Board President Beneta Burt's term ended on June 30th.

There are currently three sitting members on the board, Camille Stutts Simms, Rickey Jones and Jed Oppenheim. The full Board consists of seven members selected from each of the city's seven wards. Trustees who sit on the board are appointed by the mayor of Jackson and must be confirmed by the city council.

Interim JPS Superintendent, Dr. Frederick Murray said, "The work of the Board is extremely important, however, we don't anticipate the lack of a quorum hindering any of our work as we prepare for the new school year beginning August 8th. This will not impact our day to day operations."

Four members are required for a quorum. With only three members, the Board cannot vote on any matters or transact other business until a fourth board member is confirmed by the city.

According to the school district's website, leaders have made contact with the office of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and anticipate the nomination and confirmation of a new board member in early August.

Kingfish note: Ridiculous.  One Board member's term expired frankly, she will not be missed as she was the defender of everything wrong with JPS.  Ms.  Campbell was literally run off of the board. She was probably the strongest advocate for any reforms of JPS.  Can't have that, of course, in Jackson.  She was subjected to a smear campaign that trashed her worse than almost anyone in Jackson has had to endure.  No community leaders came to her defense, of course.  Two more members now quit- knowing that this will put the district into a bind.  Jackson leadership in action.

Make no mistake, the lack of a quorum presents problems.  The payment of claims dockets can't be approved.  Disciplinary actions of employees that require Board action can't be undertaken.  However, the lack of a quorum means parents can't appeal the discipline of their little hellions to the school board.  Some consolation. 

Pitiful. 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This article and commentary is on point,..right down to the "little hellions" comment. Again, pitiful..


Anonymous said...

Better check phone/email records of Aaron Banks (Ward 6 City Councilman). Sounds like he might have facilitated this...as Mr. Lind was representing Ward 6 but lived in Ward 4. JFP reported that a city council member contacted Mr Lind about resigning and getting a Ward 6 resident on the board. Inquiring minds would like to know.

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/jul/21/jps-board-forced-halt-work-after-fourth-member-lea/

Anonymous said...

No problem. Interim appointment Monday morning. Moving right along.....

PittPanther said...

Would like to hear more about the smear campaign against Ms Campbell. This is the first I've heard about that. Who were the ringleaders?

Anonymous said...

1:20pm, I think that most councilmen don't utilize their public phone or email addresses very much, unless some idiot happens to find it in the yellow pages.

Anonymous said...

@1:55

There's a Facebook live nut by the name of Napoleon Edwards who is paid to smear whomever if the price is right. He just got out of jail a couple of weeks ago for parole violation. The charge? Cyberbullying.

Anonymous said...

How difficult would it be to get a couple of JPS 3rd graders to say "uh huh" when soliciting their Proxy to form a Quorum? At least that's how it works in one organization I'm a member of.

Anonymous said...

4:00 - I didn't realize members of the Madison County Board of Supervisors read this blog.

Anonymous said...

Same question as @1:55, Kingfish enlighten us on this smear campaign. I'm all ears

Fr Paul Yerger said...

I read about this pitiful school board situation not long after reading this obit for Rowan Taylor. I recommend you read it:

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Rowan-Taylor&lc=7253&pid=186158492&mid=7493943

My late wife knew him through her work as Communications Director for United Way, of which he was a big supporter. My point is that this is the kind of person we used to have on our school board. Big businessmen, presidents of banks and corporations were willing to give of their time for things useful to the city without expecting any personal return.

Among other problems. most of our banks and big enterprises are now owned by out-of-state folks who don't know or care much about Jackson.

And this kind of political shenanigins certainly doesn't motivate honest people to serve on local boards.




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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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