Facilities Chair Puts Ball In Commissioners' Court

Smith Continuing To Support Hite Plan Dr. Lynn Smith, chair of the Lee County Board of Education Facilities Committee, put the ball back into the court of the Board of Commissioners in a statement addressing the current water and mold situation at the school. A final report from the Health Department is targeted for Friday. The Epidemiology Branch of the state public health division has been consulted and is being called in for quantification of environmental or occupational threats to health from mold, mildew, and other environmental factors. (Click here to learn more about indoor air quality or here to download a special notice on mold in schools.) No date for conclusion of that study has been given. Dr. Smith said any action plan based on these reports would include these priorities: 1. Clean up of existing mold and mildew 2. Demolish The Foreign Language building and the Art Annex building and replace with pod classrooms 3. Implementation of the Hite Plan to accomplish Phase II of the renovation plan. The demolitions are currently scheduled for this summer, but some members of the board have discussed moving immediately to begin installation of the "pods" containing additional classrooms based on the final reports. He emphasized, however, ". . .without the support and financial backing of the Lee County Commissioners, we cannot possibly restore Lee County High School to the physical standards that our students, faculty, and citizens expect." It was a quick pass of the ball back to Commissioner Jamie Kelly who told the media this weekend that he sup­ports "renovation of every building on campus, rather than rebuilding the entire campus." (See previous post) There has been no proposal to rebuild the entire campus, but the so called "Hite Report" has been criticized by some for going beyond the minimum necessary to renovate the campus. The board of commissioners has shown little interest in the contents of the Hite report. Whatever his intentions, Kelly faces a formidable task even with a spot on the finance committee. Its chairman, Robert Reives, is still refusing to have a joint meeting of the finance committees of the two boards. The board of education's finance committee requested such a meeting 140 days ago. That is 12,096,000 seconds or 201,600 minutes or 3360 hours or 20 weeks. Perhaps Reives feels that supporters of the school have yet to wait long enough to appreciate his statement that "Now you people know how we felt about W.B. Wicker." The third commissioner on the finance committee, Linda Shook, has never supported any increased funds of any kind for the operation of the schools during her two years on the board and frequently questions the board of education's ability to manage its financial resources. Of course the commissioners are in deep political trouble over their handling of the LCHS issue, and the prospect of a slate of Republican commissioners with good relations with the Board of Education taking control of the commission from Reives may bring both Reives and Commissioner Jerry Lemmond around. P.S. In the audience at tonight's Board of Education meeting was the county's "expert" who was the project manager for the now discredited "Health and Security Report." Since no one on the board of education gives his report any credibility, it is hard to believe he was there by invitation. Of course when you are paid hourly at the rate of $2000 a week, there is always a good reason one can find to be "on the clock." Meanwhile the unemployment rate is 6.6% (higher than the national average) and the $20,000 paid for 10 weeks work compares to an annual wage of $35,663.

Board of Education To Discuss LCHS Situation Tonight

The Lee County Board of Education meets in a regular meeting tonight at 6 pm. At that time it will discuss the immediate issues relative to the report that mold has been found in seven buildings with other buildings remaining to be inspected. What impact Commissioner Jamie Kelly's remarks may have had on their plans may or may not be discussed. Stay tuned.--editor

The Meeting That Lead to The Health Department Report

County Manager Ray Crumpton arranged an 8:00 am meeting for August 28 to present the now discredited Health and Security Report (to see a list previous posts click here) to Interim Superintendent Gary Jackson to which Jackson, Tatum, and County Commissioner Chairman Bob Brown were also invited. It was the first such scheduled meeting on the LCHS situation sought by the county this year. Jackson accepted a copy for the schools. Tatum had a more pressing problem on his mind--mold in some of the buildings. The previous day, August 27, Dr. Lynn Smith, chair of the school board's facility committee, had made his own inspection of buildings at the high school in response to complaints about some classrooms. He had reported that he had found what appeared to him to be the presence of mold. Tatum suggested that the next step needed to be an immediate assessment of the the presence of mold since the Martin Health and Safety Report had been dismissive of the issue and could have serious instructional and legal consequences. Based on that information, Crumpton contacted the Health Department triggering the interim report on the conditions in at least seven of the buildings. Over recent years the Board of Education has given significant attention to the issue of mold with reports from both private consultants and experts from the state. The reports provide guidance on the likely health impact of various types of mold and measures for its prevention and removal. The last report was in May of this year which addressed a claim from a student. That report suggested that no mold was present in that area and provided ideas for reducing other potential allergens present in most classrooms. The potential for development of a serious mold problem resulting from leaks and standing water on the campus was frequently cited by speakers that appeared before the commissioners in comment sessions about the high school. According to almost every source, the key to mold control is moisture control. (learn more about mold by clicking here)

More Buildings Already Slated For Demolition

What Commissioner Jamie Kelly meant Saturday when he says he now sup­ports renovation of "every building on campus", rather than rebuilding the entire campus is not clear. One building on campus has already been demolished and two more are slated to be demolished this summer. Also unaddressed are the security concerns and instructional plans the Hite recommendations were designed to address. Also, no plan to rebuild the entire campus has ever been proposed. Over this past summer, the Science building was demolished and replaced with traditional mobile class rooms. Funds were appropriated by the commissioners to demolish The Foreign Language building (the original school) and the Art Annex building (the original library) this summer. The Hite Report documented that replacement of these buildings would be less expensive than renovations. The board of education plans to replace these two classrooms with mobile "pods." (To learn more about pods click here.) "Every building" would also include the auditorium which has the largest seating capacity in the county and reportedly has excellent acoustics. The estimate for its renovation is approximately $3 million. Mobile units are not a long term solution, but the only way the school board could quickly address structural concerns and provide instructional space until a new academic building could be constructed. With all the talk of "a new brand" for Lee County, a campus filled with mobile classrooms would hardly fit any "new brand" that might be created for Lee County.

Kelly Becomes Spokesman on LCHS Rennovations

New Findings, Political Fallout Signal Progress on Issue

With a preliminary report in hand from the Health Department received last Friday reporting, which the Sanford Herald summarized as follows:

According to a preliminary report, released Friday by the Lee County Health Department, the library, administration, foreign language, art annex and band art buildings showed “significant” issues, most related to water leaks and resulting mold or mildew. No major problems were found in the math building or five mobile units. There are seven buildings on cam­pus yet to be reviewed.

The report said recent rains (before this weekend's storm) allowed them to identify leaks in the buildings. There was a lot more to be learned from the report than what most parents of LCHS students have been trying to tell the commissioners for months.

Jamie Kelly Steps Up

Commissioner Jamie stepped forward to handle what has become a political nightmare for local democrats. With Ray Martin on record as saying the way he handled the issue of mold was "to look for it" and the Health Department's reporting of water leaks, the much criticized "Health and Security Study" for which the commissioners authorized $20,000 was fully discredited. Even Democrat candidates were already calling the report worthless. (See column posted here.) Finally, the light bulb went on. Ever since Robert Reives responded to the building needs of Lee County High School with the statement: "Now you people know how we felt about W.B. Wicker. " (emphasis added) and later ordered a commitment to fund the Hite plan pulled from a resolution on the use of the sales tax, the public perception has been growing that the commissioners where more interested in criticizing the Board of Education than fixing the problems at LCHS. Relations between the two boards have been strained, and commissioners had believed that voters would take their frustrations out on Board of Education Chair Bill Tatum. Instead, Tatum is back as chairman of the commission, and Commission Chairman Bob Brown was defeated in the primary. While Kelly's declaration that "he sup­ports renovation of every building on campus, rather than rebuilding the entire campus," falls short of the full goals of the Hite Report, his statement, along with current interim plans for the high school by the Board of Education, shows a significant narrowing of the gap between the commissioners and the board of education. Editor's note: (The next post will include the Board of Education reaction, current plans for the buildings, and its role in seeking of the study that led to the headlines.) Jamie Kelly's handling of the issue with the media and declaration of support for the renovations is, in itself, noteworthy. Not only does it take the focus off the failed report prepared by Martin, it also shows that he has begun to exert leadership on what has become a significant political issue. While Kelly will not officially confirm it, he wants to replace Bob Brown as board chairman and needs to elect at least 2 democrats to get the four votes he would need. Many in democrat circles expect that this is preliminary to a race for the District 51 House seat now held by Representative Jimmy Love who is not expected to run in 2010. Kelly's appearance on the scene may be to counter voter frustration with the current board of commissioners. ( In fairness to Kelly, he was also a major player in the Fair Tax Committee, the commissioner's last minute effort to secure passage of the sales tax.) The handling of the LCHS issue has frustrated many voters with the commissioners failing to address the Hite Report for more than 18 months but the handling of the issue has generally been by Finance Committee Chair Reives. Reives refused for months to meet with the Board of Education's Finance Committee during the preparation of the budget. Most initiatives for joint meeting have come from the school board. After pelting the school board for budget requests in different formats, the board abandoned the budgeting by purpose and line item sought by Commissioner Linda Shook. The similar indecision and floundering with enforcement of the county ban on smoking being enforced in the courthouse has only reinforced the perception of the current board as dysfunctional and under the control of Commissioner Robert Reives. The presence of Herb Hincks and other renovation sympathetic Republicans on the ballot gives voters the chance to return the reins of the commission to a leader who involved the community in a bi-partisan effort that lead to construction of Southern Lee High School and SanLee Middle School following failure of bond referendums. By stepping up now, Kelly not only shifts the debate but demonstrates a clearer commitment to LCHS on the part of a potential chair of the commissioners.

Jamie Kelly's Challenge

If Kelly's comments are designed to signal a new direction for the commission, Jamie Kelly faces two immediate challenges. One is to turn down the traditional rhetoric blaming the board of education for the condition of the nearly 60 year old school. It is, after all, the board of commissioners that provides the funds for maintenance, too. The largest challenge is to explain how he would propose to finance the renovation of the remaining buildings, indicate a schedule on which these renovations would take place, and relate them to the instructional objectives listed in the Hite Report. Involving the board of education would seem essential to completing this task. With less than 60 days to the election, backing up his words after two years on the commission is going to prove quite a challenge. But it is a challenge, if he meets, could go a long way toward saving his political plans.

Brewer Takes Hits On Defense of Status Quo

Comments on Blog Try Brewer's Patience

Steve Brewer must have been getting tired of some of the flak he was taking for his opposition to having an agenda for the Law and Finance Committee in advance on the Sanford City Blog. In one blog he wrote,

"If an agenda was sent out Monday morning electronically, it would be possible that a council member could read an editorial about how they should react to an idea, before even having a chance to hear from the city staff. That would not be beneficial to anyone."

These were the same kind of sentiments he expressed at Tuesday night's meeting. He voted against providing the agenda. His blog today was a reprint of the Herald article to correct a minor mistake in how the agenda's were put together. And the comments rolled in taking Steve to task. He responded to one comment, "It is very obvious that you do not have a clue. No one wants to keep anything from anyone." That individual responded, "

I haven’t a clue? Wow, lets let everyone get the facts at the same time? Maybe it is you sir that doesn’t have a clue.

As an example, I gave you a topic that had significant interest to me. The landmark status program presented by staff - Mr. Montgomery. So, if everyone was to get the information at the same time then why did Kate Rumley state on the record that David had told her this was on the agenda so she could attend and comment? Did staff call any of us over here who had something to say to that program? No he did not. So, your philosophy of everyone gets the info at the same time is just illogical.

As things got worse he said something incredible for an elected official who has already started his campaign, "The sad thing is that we are a government of representation. It is a shame that people have lost faith so much that they do not believe you are doing your job." No matter how much faith is lost in elected officials, having a government of representation is something for which our forefathers fought, and I am glad we have one. What is sad is to see an elected official blaming the people for the loss of that faith. The agenda issue isn't over. Stay tuned.

Post 1-Sanford City Council Sticks With Status Quo

Council Members Fear Public Questions

Last night the Sanford City Council was caught up again in a monumental debate about what ought to be a simple matter--publishing an agenda for the Law and Finance Committee. This time the debate meandered around how many meetings a month to have, whether to continue to have Law and Finance Committee meetings, what other cities might be doing. It was similar to the kind of fruitless 45 minute discussion the County Commissioner's had at their last meeting about the smoking ordinance. The term Law and Finance Committee is a misnomer. It is a kind of pre-meeting workshop at which the members can be briefed on issues that may come up at the following week's official council meeting. It is a chance for the staff and council members to discuss items, some of which make it to the official agenda and some of which don't. So why not have an agenda published the morning of the meeting as requested by Charles Taylor? "Well if we get it, then the press might get hold of it, and the public might find out about it and ask us about an issue on the agenda and we won't know any of the background on it." was the main argument. Interesting logic. Let's all stay in the dark together. It is not really so much that they don't want the public to know; it is they don't want to look uniformed about an issue. Sanford has long since grown beyond the point when the public ought to expect a council member to know something about every possible issue that might come up. What is wrong with saying, "That is just coming up tonight and I will get back to you."? Perhaps some people have worried about looking dumb too long. City Manager Hal Hegwer seems to want to hang on to the opportunity to being able to make last minute changes. One council member raised that issue saying that changing the agenda could start rumors or look like "monkey business." Let's all stay in the dark together again. There is the opposite view is that the more open you are the more the public will trust its government. Taylor's view on the other hand, supported by Mike Stone, is that he wants the public to know what might be coming up in case they have something to offer. The vote to keep the status quo was passed by a 5-2 vote, with council members Martin, Brewer, McNeil, Williams, and Mann out voting the new comers. Note: In response to a request from the e-Lee Dispatch, the City of Sanford for the first time published the full agenda packet just as available to council members on the web for distribution. City Manager Hal Hegwer, City Clerk Bonnie White, and County Attorney Susan C. Patterson have an attitude of full cooperation to public information requests. It is time for some issues to be examined at city hall and perhaps the council members will get over their fear of the public knowing something they don't. Stay tuned. PS See Second Post For Today Below

Post 2-Read Today's Column for More on the LCHS Study

Today's "Uncommon Sense" column in the Sanford Herald features an analysis of the Commissioner's "Health And Safety Study of Lee County High School" for the benefit of readers who may not have read the e-Lee Dispatch's introduction and three part in-depth commentary on the report. Even if you have read about it here, be sure to read the column. You may be surprised just who else is critical of the report. For those who may not have read the e-Lee Dispatch's introduction and three part in-depth commentary on the report, the links are listed below. The column and additional in-depth reporting will be posted tomorrow in the e-Lee Dispatch Plus. But don't wait. Go pick up a Herald. Report on Lee County High School Due Part 1. LCHS Report: The Political Agenda Part 2. LCHS Report: Project Management FailurePart 3. LCHS Report : Misrepresenting the Obvious Click here to download pdf file If you have difficulty downloading you can get a copy of the report by emailing the Clerk to the Board, "Gaynell Lee" . Her address is glee@leecountync.gov It is public information and should be sent in pdf form by email. She is always quite helpful.

Speculation Starting On 2010 Clerk's Race

Successors Lining Up for Ann Blakely's Job Editor's Note: You may also want to read Keith Clark's comments on Democrat Chairman's John Trabold's Letter to the Editor of August 29 on e-Lee Dispatch Plus. (Click here to read it, Also don't miss the column UnCommon Sense in Wednesday's Herald.) The 2008 election season is just getting underway and there is already talk of who may run to follow Ann Blakely as Lee County's Clerk of Court. All the supposition is based on the unsubstantiated speculation that Blakeley will have resigned or will not seek another term. For weeks rumors have been flying that Cameron Sharpe, newly elected school board member was interested in the post. There have been reports from numerous people that he had shared the information in confidence. He is a former parole officer, and so his background has some connection to the clerk's office and attorney's in the the county. Apparently in response to the spreading word about Sharpe's interest, Butch Johnson, who challenged Kevin Bryant in the sheriff's primary in 2006, is said to be considering the race. Often Clerk's of Court resign before their term ends in which case the chief judge in the district names a new clerk, supposedly giving that individual the advantage of incumbency. The clerk of court is one of the highest paying jobs in the county at approximately $80,000 although workers in the office get modest salaries that sometimes make recruiting them from other clerical jobs difficult. Sharpe's original intention in the last election was to to run on the Republican ticket but was unaware that he had to change his party registration at least 90 days prior to the election. He then filed in the non-partisan school board election where party affiliation is not an issue. As one would expect, the clerk is responsible for all clerical and record-keeping functions of the superior court and district court. However, the clerk also has numerous judicial functions: The clerk is judge of probate - that is, the clerk handles the probate of wills (proceedings to determine if a paper writing is a valid will) and the administration of estates of decedents, minors and incompetents. The clerk also hears a variety of special proceedings such as adoptions, incompetency determinations and partitions of land and is empowered to issue arrest and search warrants and to exercise the same powers as a magistrate with respect to taking pleas of guilty to minor littering, traffic, wildlife, boating, marine fisheries, alcoholic beverage, state park recreation and worthless-check offenses.