Friday Major Andrew DeKever appared on the Bill Colley show to promote his book about Medal of Honor recipients. I include publisher’s details and allow proceeds from sales will benefit the DAV.

http://www.merriam-press.com/hererestsinhonoredglory.aspx

For those parents who may be concerned about who the district hires following the recent events that unfolded at Sussex Central High School, here is the process for hiring new employees as outlined to WGMD by School District Superintendent Susan Bunting: 

 1. He/she is fingerprinted either here or at the police station ­or provides a criminal background check that has been completed within the current school year

2. A state and federal background check is conducted by the Delaware State Police.

3. The employee must complete a Child Protection Registry, which is sent to Health/Human Services - A response is received within 1-2 weeks.

4. He/she completes benefit paperwork.

5. He/she signs an affidavit stating that he/she has no criminal convictions, no crime against a child, and no drug or alcohol abuse.

6. He/she signs a sexual harassment policy and telecommunications policy.

7. He/she signs an acknowledgement that if criminal background check shows any of the crimes listed in #5, that he/she will be immediately released.

8. The Department of Personnel or an IRSD representative personally checks all references.

She further adds:

 ”We have followed this procedure with all employees in the past and will continue to do so in the future.”

I do not find it plausible that a 38 year old man suddenly one day decides to become a sex-offender. This is, I believe, the nub of the scandal plaguing the Indian River School District. “We had no idea”, the defense from inside the hallowed halls, is also no more plausible.

This is the disconnect existing between parents and media on one side and administrators and school board members on the other. There is likely a history trailing the accused and the powerful folks at I.R. don’t understand why “We had no idea” isn’t flying. Time and again these people repeat they are bound by laws and cannot discuss pending litigation and personnel matters publicly. Yeah, the public gets it and the public understands. No one outside the hallowed halls can apparently see the public is looking for something else. “We had no idea”, isn’t cutting it.

How inopportune this occurs days before a school board election. Perhaps some memories will be recovered once the polls close.

As for Superintendent Bunting it’s high time some school board members started asking her some tough questions. She works at the pleasure of the board and public the board represents. All too often boards are subservient to the administration. It’s upside down.

Why? In my experience covering school boards when I worked as a reporter I can tell you the board is often a stepping stone for higher office. The public service aspect sounds fine but these offices are for building resumes and with the experience on the personal travelogue what board member seeking higher office would rock the boat. Need more proof? Check out the social club at Cape Henlopen.

Every time I hear educators and politicians blaming problems of their making I’m reminded these people are compounding mistakes. A spokesman for the Indian River School District this week told a WGMD reporter she couldn’t come to the meeting. He wasn’t speaking with a rookie. Then, possibly, he is. Maybe that’s the best $23,500 can buy. Or how about the board member at Indian River last month telling mild mannered Joe Ciccante he wasn’t worth her time because he works for WGMD? And who is this woman? A public servant trying to curry favor with school board employee Susan Bunting? If the buck doesn’t stop at the school board then it stops at the desk of the Superintendent. She must be very well connected in this community that not one member of the board has the “stones” to ask for an explanation and if the good Superintendent has been whitewashing a serious problem. No pun intended as I raise the next point. Was the accused granted a pass because of the color of his skin? I wouldn’t put it past the politically correct social engineers now dominating the education establishment. I would also suggest his departure shouldn’t be the last.

SUBTITLE: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY 

The Indian River School Board meeting in Executive Session tonight.

  

So, let’s just get right to it, the Indian River School Board met tonight in Dagsboro, and, as they warned WGMD News earlier in the day via e-mail… 

Tonight’s special meeting of the Indian River Board of Education was scheduled for the purpose of addressing the state budget crisis and its impact on our district. These discussions will take place in executive session, as will any discussion related to the situation at Sussex Central High School. There will not be a public comment session at this meeting. However, the board will host two public comment sessions at its next regular monthly meeting on May 27. 

…they went right into executive session.

Now, under the cirumstances, (you know, with Dana Goodman, the Sussex Central High School principal sitting in prison for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student), you’d think they would have taken the time to at least speak to the small group of parents who showed up.  

Incidentally, the parents didn’t want to comment on Sussex Central principal Dana Goodman, either. In fact, the only thing the parents had to say was that they were there to, “support our school and our administration,” whatever that means. They could certainly learn a lesson from the parents in the Cape Henlopen School District who take the board to task on a regular basis.

It was pretty obvious from my short interview before the meeting with Board President Charles Bireley that no one wanted to discuss Principal Dana Goodman. AUDIO For the record, he denied that the Board ever received a formal complaint from anyone about Dana Goodman. No letters, no e-mails. Just “rumors.”

Dr. Don Hattier was more forthcoming when I spoke with him on his way in, saying that if the charges against Goodman are true, “he’s gotta go.” AUDIO Holy cow, what an understatement.

Superintendent Susan Bunting said she was advised not to discuss the situation other than it being a “personnel” issue.

Is this the same Indian River School Board that fought a religious lawsuit tooth and nail? I guess maintaining the label “Easter Break” on a vacation was worth the lawsuit, while commenting on a principal who may have been boinking a student just isn’t worth the hassle.

Or maybe the Indian River School Board just cares about things that they think are popular. Apparently religion in schools is popular and protecting students from a possible sexual predator is not.

We’ll see, since they’re supposed to release a statement today.

And while I’m at it, I want to point out this comment from our blog:

It’s about time someone questioned the behaviour of the ‘victim’. 

Yeah, a 17 year old girl. I guess this commenter doesn’t think that adult male human beings have the ability to restrain themselves.

We send our kids to school for like 7 hours a day, and we have to be able to trust the teachers and administrators who come in contact with them. I don’t care if the girl left school at the end of the day to turn tricks, when she walks into Sussex Central High School, she should be out of bounds for any adult.  

Good grief. Did I actually have to take the time out of my day to explain that to some of you? 

As Uncle Ben said in Spiderman “Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.” We give a “great responsibility” to the schools we send our kids to, and when they fail us this miserably doors shouldn’t be closed to the public.

“Goodman has been principal at Sussex Central for just under two years and Indian River School District officials say his background check was clean.” Does it matter if one’s background check is clean? Obviously if someone applying for the position of school principal has a criminal history, this might get some people worried, but how do you know if there aren’t any hidden issues that might come to the surface later? Many parents are probably wondering–”Who can you trust?” I heard one on-air caller the other day say that District employees such as Goodman should get a psychiatric evaluation before getting hired. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

I went to the Delaware Republican Party’s Convention this weekend at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach and it was quite a treat. I think the best way to give you the feeling of the Convention is with pictures and audio, and maybe a story or two…(if you see someone’s name highlighted, click on it and you’ll get their audio)….

Priscilla Rakestraw (left) and Michele Rollins.I had to put this picture on the top of the page, because it’s my favorite picture from the entire event. It’s Priscilla Rakestraw, the State’s Republican National Committeewoman, and Michele Rollins, who I would love to see run for office someday soon. (I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t see Michele Rollins turning the State’s serious pollution problems into a joke by wading out into the bay and staring at her Keds, and she’d kick butt on healthcare.)


From left to right this is Clerk of the Peace George Parish and his wife Bunny, Charlotte Hastings and her husband, 41st District Representative Greg Hastings.

Friday night I sat with a table of fine Sussex Countians, right in between Judson Bennett and Representative Ben Ewing. The picture above was the good looking side of the table. I kind of noticed that there were a lot of people wearing “Tim Smith” stickers where I was sitting. Tim Smith won the vote in Sussex County over Christine O’Donnell 44-35, but it was the Northern part of the State that gave her the endorsement to run for the Senate against Joe Biden. Pretty interesting considering O’Donnell got the majority of her write-in votes in 2006 from Sussex. O’Donnell needed 60% of the vote and she got 60.7%. Smith said he would stick to his promise to not primary O’Donnell.


41st District Representative Greg Hastings and US Senate Candidate Christine O’Donnell.

The “Draft Bill Lee” movement was successful, with Judge William Lee receiving over 80% of the vote to win the endorsement from the Delaware State Republican Party to run for Governor over Mike Protack. Judge Lee was in Orlando on vacation with members of his family, and was expected to happily accept the honor.


“Brud” Lee, speaking to the Convention after his father was endorsed by the Party to run for Governor.   

“I’m sure he’ll be as honored as I feel, personally, that his ideals and his name is thought of in such high regard by republicans.” ~ Brud Lee, son of Judge Bill Lee 

 

State Senator Charlie Copeland accepting the Party’s endorsement for Lt. Governor.

Delaware Republican State Chairman, Terry Strine, stepped down as party head after losing his National Committeeman seat the previous night to Laird Stabler by a 40-35 vote. Tom Ross, a New Castle County Republican, will be taking Strine’s place in the top spot.


The new Delaware Republican Party Chairman, Tom Ross

I asked the new Party Chair if he was the fighter the Delaware Republican Party needed right now:   

“I have no problem fighting. Anyone that knows me would be glad to let you know that I’m not afraid to mix it up. But we’re going to run a very aggressive, vigorous campaign because quite frankly, in a nutshell, we’re right on the issues and the other side has broken this state.” ~ New Delaware State GOP Chair, Tom Ross 

 

4th Senatorial District Candidate Michael Fleming

And how could I not mention Michael Fleming, (aka “Michael Flemming”), who’s running for Charlie Copeland’s seat in the 4th Senatorial District? I went to college with Michael, and thankfully, people thought he was older than me. That’s really why I’m mentioning him, and he knows it.

“‘Cause I love Sussex Countians.” ~ Clerk of the Peace George Parish 

That was the quote that made the entire Convention totally worth it. 

Today it took me 18 minutes and 7 light cycles to get onto Route 1 in Lewes, I was about 20 cars back to start. On Tuesday my large, plain pizza from Pizza Villa was cold when I got home because you couldn’t turn left onto Route 1 from the Midway Shopping Center. My friend almost ran out of gas stuck in traffic and trying to find a gas station they could actually turn in to.

Why?

Because the Department of Transportation has Route 1 totally screwed up from the Nassau Bridge through Rehoboth Beach. One lane, each way. Two or three or four State Police cars in every intersection. No way to turn left into shopping centers. Blocked lanes, split lanes, lanes with no lines. What’s the deal?

This is a debacle. DELDOT’s inability to manage and control the Route 1 construction project is just another example of how poorly they operate. Do I need to even mention the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

Today is the kick off of the Delaware Republican Party’s Convention at the Bay Center in Dewey Beach. I can only imagine the smiles on GOPers faces as they drive through yet another dysfunctional state project. What a shame it doesn’t look like they’ll be able to take advantage of how badly the state’s been run for so many years.

Gas is too expensive to waste idling on Route 1 all day trying to turn left. But the worst part is this construction nightmare is supposed to end on May 22, just in time for the tourist season to kick in. No traffic rest for the Eastern Sussex County weary. 

Thanks Carolyn Wicks, head of DELDOT, I look forward to the day when you’re out, I wish it was today. You, and your little governor, too.

I had to take these pictures in downtown Milton yesterday. I almost caught a heron flying overhead, but it was just too fast. 

Yeah, it’s a turtle on a log, but it was bigger than it looks in the picture.

A goose sitting on its nest on the log next to the turtle.

Many of you might recall the controversy last month over Easter decorations. Many people were saying that Indian River School District superintendent Susan Bunting had told the teachers to take down all the Easter decorations, including ones that weren’t considered religious symbols. WGMD was then able to obtain comments from District spokesman Dave Maull saying, that at no time did she tell them to take down the Easter decorations, but rather “There would be no school-sponsored activities.” WGMD also received a statement from Dr. Susan Bunting about the celebration parties on March 20th, but made no mention of the Easter decorations. To hear report # 1 click here. To hear report # 2 click here.

Last night, a board member got up and spoke to the other members, but was mainly speaking to Dr. Bunting. Here are the exact quotes of what Board member Nina Lou Bunting said: She said that the issue regarding the Easter decorations was

“…Misconstrued by the talk show circuit, and in the confusion, there were several days of innuendoes, false statements, nasty, rude, and crude remarks, and other verbal assaults aimed against our superintendent, Susan Bunting. I was present when the board was apprised of the concerns of these holiday celebrations—these parties which might be interpreted as non-compliant with our new religion policy–a policy that was recently revised to meet state and federal law. Dr. Bunting was not an advocate of the necessary decisions. She merely relayed the concerns that have been raised, and the recommended resolution. Susan Bunting in this case was the messenger, and as sometimes happens, the messenger was shot. Susan, I want you to know how very sorry I am that you bore the brunt of this thing, and became a scapegoat for this district. It certainly wasn’t fair to you after all the time and energy you give, making this district one of the finest in the state. I consider it a travesty that you were treated as you were. I extend my apology for all you personally endured.”

WGMD tried to get Nina Lou Bunting to comment, but she refused, saying she wants nothing to do with WGMD. She said “They shouldn’t go on the air and talk about things they don’t know anything about,” and that, “They get everything all screwed up.”

WGMD was able to receive these comments from Indian River School District Board President, Charles Bireley who like District Spokesman Dave Maull, said that no—-she did not say for the teachers to remove all the Easter decorations. Here is what Charles Bireley told WGMD:  He also clarified exactly what the attorney had her pass on to the teachers: You can listen to that here. He basically says the attorney told Susan to tell them to exercise caution in handling the holiday parties and activities because of the recent decision on the lawsuit.

There was obviously a misunderstanding somewhere. On which side, I don’t know. You can listen to WGMD News report # 1 here and # 2 here.

Blogger Jason Scott at DelawareLiberal.net has put partisan politics aside to employ the biggest smackdown of the season on fellow Democrat, Delaware Senator Harris McDowell:

It is McDowell’s most recent attempt to use is position to create a six figure job for himself upon his exit from “public” service. It is sponsored by McDowell, Copeland, & Hall-Long and co-sponsored by Blevins, Simpson, Schooley, and Lofink - all of whom need to have their heads examined for getting into bed with the brazenly corrupt Harris McDowell. READ MORE HERE 

But as Scott pointed out in a previous post, Senator McDowell has been smacked down by a fellow Democrat before, and for similar reasons: 

Actually, one person did notice McDowell’s greedy machinations and that person did seem to mind. The story of that knowing and acting on the knowledge provides another layer to the sedimentary history of McDowell’s serial abuse of the public trust. In fact, it is a glittery and interesting layer of that dank history because Harris McDowell was rebuked for his greed and indiscretion in no uncertain terms. READ MORE HERE 

So who was that “one person?” It was none other than Governor Ruth Ann Minner. (Holy cow, alert the media).

The bottom line? It looks like some of Delaware’s so called “green” initiatives are being used to line some General ASSembly members’ pockets with green. That kind of law making can’t mean good things for the average Delawarean.

Maybe it’s time for some laws to come out of Dover that prohibit members of the General ASSembly from serving on any entity created by the General ASSembly. That way our Representatives and Senators can spend less time legislating their future careers, and more time figuring out how to run a state financially without having to pull text books out of the hands of children.