In the case of the two Republican members of the Guilford County Board of Education who are suing the seven Democratic members of the board, the two, along with Michael Logan – the Guilford County Schools teacher who was chosen by the Guilford County Republican Party to fill the District 3 vacancy on the board – have released a statement regarding the lawsuit.
The statement, which is signed by the three plaintiffs, Crissy Pratt, Linda Welborn and Logan, reads as follows: “We believe that local governments and boards, specifically the Guilford County School Board, should operate with transparency to both the public and to their own members. We believe that despite any political differences, it is our civic duty to work together for the best of our constituents. We also believe that a board should follow the laws set in place by the NC Legislature.”
The three brought the lawsuit against the seven Democratic members of the school board in their official capacity as board members. The plaintiffs argue that the seven violated North Carolina open meetings laws because of telephone conversations that they say constituted a meeting when the plan was hatched to seat Bill Goebel as the District 3 representative rather than Logan.
The lawsuit does not ask specifically that Goebel be replaced by Logan on the board. However, since the plaintiffs are arguing that the appointment of Goebel was done in a closed session that violated North Carolina’s open meetings laws, the remedy would be to declare that action null and void, which would allow the local Republican Party 30 days from the date of the decision to put up their candidate of choice, in accordance with current law. That candidate is expected to be Logan if the three win the lawsuit.
The press release continues: “Therefore, Crissy Pratt (Guilford County Schools board member, District 2), Linda Welborn (GCS board member District 4), and Michael Logan (Guilford County GOP appointee for GCS District 3) have filed a complaint in the Guilford County Superior Court for violations of NC Open Meetings law surrounding the District 3 vacancy. We trust that the courts will evaluate the evidence fairly and that justice will prevail. We remain committed to serving the students, parents, and staff of GCS with transparency, kindness, accountability, and fairness.”
Amen.
The Guilford County School Board is anything but transparent. Case in point, the new proposed school at Boylston Rd and S. Bunker Hill Rd which has been in the planned location for a long while unbeknown to the community. Case in point, water and sewer were installed to the location well over a year ago, maybe two. The lines are stubbed at the location. In July 2022 a new airport overlay was disseminated showing the location being in zone 4, meaning that the area would be okay for a school. On information and belief, the negotiated price for the land is $90,000-$100,000 per acre. There is an ample supply of land well under this amount, including nearby Cude Rd with a recent asking price of $70,000 per acre. For some reason unknown to the public, the City of High Point and the Guilford County School Board are hellbent on a location in the middle of a rural area that is not safe for drivers and is being built, not for the local community, but to transport students from outside the area. Since the school will not serve the local community, then the school could be built at another location better equipped to handle the traffic and the other challenges of building a school on land that is not flat and is located in the Deep River watershed.
The community did not ask for the school and does not want the school. Population growth in the area does not call for a new school. The school board reports that Southwest E. and Southwest MS are overcrowded. If so, why would taxpayer money be used to build a new school because one school is presently overcrowded but is adequate in additional space like a ballfield, athletic field, and parking? A new school would include these additional spaces but are not necessary since they are available at Southwest schools.
Public education is in for some big changes. There is more homeschooling. There will be more charter schools.
Parents are working very hard to afford private school. Parents found themselves in position to need to make changes. It was pushed upon them by inadequate public schools.
Now the school board along with the City of High Point want to build a new school in a community that does not need or want the school. Three government entities are working hard against the community: Guilford County School Board, the City of High Point that has worked to set the stage for the school and the Guilford County Commissioners. It is difficult for a community to fight against three government entities.
One last thought. The land becomes tax-exempt if purchased by the school board. We do not need more land off the tax rolls especially when a new school in our community is not needed or wanted.