Final Smoke and Fire-Chamber President Plays Role In School Board Selection

Board of Education Members Say Chamber Executive Sought to Oust Tatum As Chairman

The final installment of "Where There Is Smoke There Is Fire" was held until after the Lee County School Board selected a chairman. In this case, Bill Tatum was re-elected. It was noted in this series that information was being held so as to not influence the outcome of some events. In this case it was the election for school board chair.

Once false notion is that the member of the school board who gets the most votes should be chairman. That was a view quickly advanced by Richard Littiken, County GOP Chairman, since Dr. Lynn Smith is a registered Republican. (Interestingly, Dr. Smith says he wants nothing to do with Littiken.) The facts show that Frank Thompson has led the ballot in the two most recent elections and was Tatum's strongest supporter for chair in those elections.

Shortly after the school board election, Lee County Chamber President Bob Joyce began a series of meetings with certain members of the Lee County School Board. All heard the same message--the problem with communication with the commissioners was Board Chairman Bill Tatum and Tatum needed to go. Shawn Williams played a supporting role at one point trying to line up votes for himself. At least one board member felt it was strongly intimated that the commissioners would be more generous with the school board's budget if Tatum were not re-elected.

Joyce describes his role differently--as a series of discussions about how to improve communication between the school board and the commissioners. Bill Tatum was just one issue discussed. He indicated that members of the chamber board were concerned about communication between the two boards--especially Lee County High School. As a private organization, he declined to disclose any minutes addressing that subject.

Some of those school board members with whom he spoke felt he had been recruited for this task by a commissioner. As noted, Joyce denies this. After the attempt of three commissioners to dominate the selection of the CCCC president, it does not seem entirely implausible. (see previous post click here) It fits the pattern--just another attempt to place the blame for failure--poor communications with the board of education--some place other than the commissioners led by Robert Reives.

Joyce did not want to characterize the commissioners on the record.

This is the same Robert Reives who has ignored an April 23rd request from board of education chairman Bill Tatum for a joint meeting of the finance committees of the two boards. It is 84 days, or 2 months, 7,257,600 seconds, 120,960 minutes, 2016 hours, or 12 weeks.
Perhaps Reives can argue that since the election he has been hoping for a new finance committee. But now that is done. The schools face inadequate funds for diesel fuel, the commissioners want a new budget format, and other issues that need addressing. Perhaps Robert Reives will stop playing power politics with our children's education and meet in a recorded session with the school finance committee.

Bob Joyce's activities appeared to abruptly stop when several members of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were contacted about the conversations. They may have stopped, however, because Joyce was not getting anywhere with the Board members.