4 days notice for rezoning
Cherokee County Schools has voted to rezone the kids without letting the parents know they were even discussing this, much less voting on this subject. They tried to hide that they were voting on rezoning kids by putting the word “facilities” on the agenda. This violates Code 2330. I have more info below.
According to Code 2330, “Each board member will receive a copy of the proposed agenda four days prior to the meeting, and the proposed agenda will be available for public inspection and/or distribution when it is distributed to the board members.
At the meeting, the board may, by a majority vote, add an item that is not on the proposed agenda before the agenda is adopted. After the agenda has been adopted, a two-thirds vote is required to add an item to the agenda. Any new policy or budgetary items presented as an addendum to the published agenda are not subject to action at the same meeting.”
You can find this code published at chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://4.files.edl.io/ b2c1/07/19/19/122430-5df2babc-2098-4c49-92fc-ff2aabdc2cd3.pdf.
This code requires the public and board members to be notified of what will be voted on a minimum of four days prior to the event. They never published the agenda on their website, and the agenda that was sent out to the board members is attached. The word “facilities” is what they put on the agenda to cover rezoning our kids.
Definition of facility:
1. A place, amenity or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.
2. An ability to do or learn something well and easily; a natural aptitude.
Where in the facility definition does it explain the action of “rezoning children?”
We have created a website to share all this information and also started a petition. You can get more info at cherokeecountyschools.org.
Michelle Peters, Murphy
No second chance here
When President Donald Trump took the oath of office in 2016, he swore to defend the U.S. Constitution and the country. He lied.
On Jan. 6, 2021, despite that being his clear duty, he refused to do it.
Why should he get a second chance to take the oath of office?
We have not just a law, but a prohibition in our Constitution that forbids him taking the oath again.
David Jockusch, Peachtree
Voters learn with mistakes
On Tuesday, March 5, voters will have the opportunity to tell Commissioners Jan Griggs and Randy Phillips, “You’re fired!”
Alan Bryant (Republican) is running to unseat Griggs in District 5.
Justin Hyde (Republican) is running to unseat Phillips in District 2.
Dissension, secrecy and infighting between Griggs and Phillips have shown voters it is past time for new leaders.
Cherokee County is in a downward spiral, as commissioners have no reasonable solutions on how to solve this county’s financial woes. Commissioners will not follow their own decorum and policies, ignoring citizens’ concerns. Cherokee County is run by dictatorship.
The primary to remove Phillips and Griggs is scheduled for March 5. Early voting begins Feb. 15.
Our new commissioners will be chosen March 5, as all are Republican and no general election is needed.
If voters cannot learn from their mistakes, and we continue making wrong choices in re-electing Griggs and Phillips, I guess voters will deserve the coming avalanche.
Darrin Wright, Murphy
Adopt a dog, back shelter
On Sunday, Jan. 7, there appeared on our porch a dirty, disheveled, female Shih Tzu with a bad cough. We bathed her, fed her and took her to a veterinarian to see if she were chipped. She was not. We advertised that we had her on a local website. So far, we have received no response.
We are elderly and unable/unwilling to keep this little dog. So, following protocol, we took her to the Valley River Humane Society’s animal shelter in Marble on Friday, Jan. 12.
She is quite an elegant little lady, has a sweet disposition and is as bright as a new penny, but she does need medical care. If you are interested, please seek her there, and a great good deed will have been done.
We are so thankful for the humane society facility and commend our local government for their support for the animal shelter. We would encourage their greater generosity.
Jane Hembree, Murphy
School move bad decision
It is inexcusable for the Cherokee County Board of Education to act in the way they did in the Jan. 18 meeting.
1. To bring up a change to some of the schools and vote on it without any discussion, and the way they voted for it, looks like collusion on the part of the “yes” votes.
2. Having looked at their savings numbers, whoever came up with them needs to go back to school. Flip-flopping students as they plan will actually cost more money, not less.
3. When you are looking to save money, sometimes it is better to do nothing than to do something that will hurt the schools or the students.
4. It may not be your school this time, but the way they manipulated this vote, you may be next. I believe this is their way of breaking it down to where they upset fewer people at a time, but get all that they want long term.
We can only speculate their true intentions, as they apparently planned this prior to the meeting and sprung it on the unsuspecting school board members as well as parents and students.
John Midkiff, Hiwassee Dam