By Patricia Morris
Last night proved all that the GTPB NAACP has been proclaiming since 2004 that is happening wrong in the TPSS. Those in attendance sat in awe in seeing a circus of events leading up to Kolwe stating he would remove Mr. Carmon Moore as the principal of Hammond High School, despite the pleas of many to include students who wanted Mr. Moore to remain. That was Kolwe's choice; October will be our choice.
The good part is, the people of this parish now see it for what it is, and will have their say this October. It is time for change to happen in the TPSS, as well as on the school board.
What happened last night to Mr. Moore is wrong, and is what has happened to so many other employees in this school system over the years. Interestingly, many of the people who have had this same thing happen to them is now coming forward to join Mr. Moore in saying enough is enough. Kudos now go to Mr. Moore in demanding to know why Mark Kolwe, Ann Smith, Danny Ridgel, Al Link, Rose Dominguez, and Tank Genco voted the way they did, and wanting to know why this action was done to him, to include waiving his right to a 24-hour hearing to find out why, however, the superintendent did not say why this happened to Moore, but pointed a finger at his staff, namely, Thomas Bellavia, Melissa Stilley, Lionel Jackson and Bret Schnadelbach in saying their conclusion and totals rendered in reports was his reason for doing what he did to Moore, yet offered no specifics of what their reports revealed, other than some things normal in all schools. Does Kolwe not think for himself and stand behind others when he knows he is wrong? Did not the outpouring of support for Mr. Moore mean anything to him? Obviously not. We have our suppositions as to why this happened to Mr. Moore, as well as others, but that is a blog for another day in the near future. Why is the interviewing for a principal of Hammond High allegedly going to be held at the High School, as opposed to where all others are held in the Central Office. Will Lynell Higgenbotham sit in on this one or not?
It is time to put the interest of the students first, as well as the employees in supporting positive change happening. Let's do a recap. 1) We have a superintendent who pulled strings to become a superintendent who is not an educator against BESE's state requirements, and look at where it has gotten this school system, at the bottom; 2) We have two board members who have been brought up on ethics charges and each was fined, 3) We have others who rubber stamp what their superintendent says, whether it is right or wrong, and 4) A school system full of employees who now wonder if this is done to Carmon Moore, what will now happen to them. The answer to this problem is simple; elect new board members who have a heart and a genuine concern for what is happening in this school system that is wrong, and who will put an educator at the helm in this school system.
Other principals and administrators should be concerned now, lest this same thing happens to them.
The fear evoked in the employees by the superintendent is simply unreal, but to quote one of the speakers from a board meeting held last month, "whatever goes on in the dark, will come to light," and certainly this is happening now. I add to that in part, "...whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..." No longer will individuals such as Al Link be able to blame the NAACP and the Deseg Case on what is done wrong by this school system. No longer will the taxpaying citizens of this parish be misled into thinking what is best for their children is being looked after from now five of eight school board members, whose interest is to do as they are told, even if it is unethical and wrong. As I watched Kolwe state, "Mr. Moore was supposed to meet with me today at 10, but cancelled," is an indication of Kolwe's tyrant manner of doing things at the ninth hour, to include he and Al Link orchestrating keeping communities and black pastors (a few of them) apart from the NAACP. This too, is a blog for another day in the near future.
Change can and must happen in October. Otherwise, we go around this mulberry bush for yet another four years. Can we as citizens, parents of children in this school system, and taxpayers allow this to happen. The answer is an emphatic NO!!!!
Finally, thank you Sandra, Sonya and Eric in taking the stance you did in not voting in the circus held last night to oust Mr. Moore. You have no idea as to how much this is appreciated from your constituients, and other citizens across Tangipahoa Parish, and before it is said Moore's teachers did not support him, they are afraid to openly do so. Kolwe might allegedly retaliate. No one should have to work under these fearful circumstances. It is problematic enough to work without getting the assistance needed from the central office. Kolwe and five others on the board MUST be replaced. This is the only way to turn this problem into a positive direction.