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Spotsylvania School Board Appoints Chair Who Backed Burning Books, Fires Superintendent
Hat tip, Joe.My.God.
Book-Burner Named Head Of Virginia County School Board, Immediately Fires School Superintendent
January 11, 2022 Christianists, Republicans
{snip}
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY
Spotsylvania School Board Appoints Chair Who Backed Burning Books, Fires Superintendent
Kirk Twigg said he wanted to “see the books before we burn them so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.”
By Julie Carey, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief and Derrick Ward, News4 Reporter • Published January 10, 2022 • Updated on January 11, 2022 at 8:11 am
The Spotsylvania County School Board wasted no time Monday making its mark in the at-times contentious first meeting of the year, which included fiery jabs at the new chairman and squabbles between members. ... It began with a vote to name Livingston district member Kirk Twigg the new chair. Twigg supported banning and even burning some sexually explicit books from school libraries in November. His win gives conservatives a majority on the school board.
The move to appoint him drew the ire of the outgoing chair, Dawn Shelley, who delivered a scorching criticism of Twigg. ... "He has spoken about confidential [human resources] matters in open session. He is constantly using his AOL account to send and read emails throughout school board meetings. He wants to burn books," Shelley said.
Twigg’s first action as the new chair was to call an unscheduled closed-door session to make good on a promise to fire the well-regarded Superintendent Dr. Scott Baker, who had already signed an agreement to leave at the end of 2022.
... The board voted 4-3 in favor of ousting Baker over protests of the minority members who said the action was taken illegally. It is still unclear who will serve in that role while the search for a replacement begins.
"You have not stated any justification or ability to fill the position. You cannot even properly chair a meeting, but yet you're going to terminate a superintendent for no reason," Nicole Cole, a member from the Battlefield District, said. "How is this good for the students, the children of Spotsylvania County? How does this make sense? Spotsylvania citizens please recognize that you have not been given any valid reason."
{snip}
The next school board meeting is set for Jan. 25.
Spotsylvania School Board Appoints Chair Who Backed Burning Books, Fires Superintendent
Kirk Twigg said he wanted to “see the books before we burn them so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.”
By Julie Carey, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief and Derrick Ward, News4 Reporter • Published January 10, 2022 • Updated on January 11, 2022 at 8:11 am
The Spotsylvania County School Board wasted no time Monday making its mark in the at-times contentious first meeting of the year, which included fiery jabs at the new chairman and squabbles between members. ... It began with a vote to name Livingston district member Kirk Twigg the new chair. Twigg supported banning and even burning some sexually explicit books from school libraries in November. His win gives conservatives a majority on the school board.
The move to appoint him drew the ire of the outgoing chair, Dawn Shelley, who delivered a scorching criticism of Twigg. ... "He has spoken about confidential [human resources] matters in open session. He is constantly using his AOL account to send and read emails throughout school board meetings. He wants to burn books," Shelley said.
Twigg’s first action as the new chair was to call an unscheduled closed-door session to make good on a promise to fire the well-regarded Superintendent Dr. Scott Baker, who had already signed an agreement to leave at the end of 2022.
... The board voted 4-3 in favor of ousting Baker over protests of the minority members who said the action was taken illegally. It is still unclear who will serve in that role while the search for a replacement begins.
"You have not stated any justification or ability to fill the position. You cannot even properly chair a meeting, but yet you're going to terminate a superintendent for no reason," Nicole Cole, a member from the Battlefield District, said. "How is this good for the students, the children of Spotsylvania County? How does this make sense? Spotsylvania citizens please recognize that you have not been given any valid reason."
{snip}
The next school board meeting is set for Jan. 25.
Adele Uphaus-Conner Retweeted
#Breaking The new conservative majority on the Spotsylvania County School Board just fired well-regarded Supt. Scott Baker. The supt. had previously signed an agreement to leave at the end of the school year. The firing is being done without any cause given.
@nbcwashington
@nbcwashington
Link to tweet
ALERT | TOP STORY
Spotsylvania Superintendent fired without cause by new School Board
Adele Uphaus 18 hrs ago
The Spotsylvania County School Board fired Superintendent Scott Baker without cause during an unruly meeting Monday. ... The board voted to approve Baker's termination without cause after coming out of a closed session that may have violated Virginia's open meeting requirements.
Virginia Code states that no closed meeting shall be held unless the public body first approves a motion that states the subject matter and purpose of the meeting, as well as the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements.
"A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting," Virginia Code states.
The closed session, during which Baker's position was discussed, was the second closed session of the meeting and was not on the approved agenda. ... Board members did not vote on a motion to enter the second closed session, as is required by Virginia Code. ... Salem District representative Lorita Daniels asked for a legal opinion on whether the second closed session would violate the Freedom of Information Act, but Twigg did not respond to her request.
{snip}
Adele Uphaus–Conner: 540/735-1973
auphaus@freelancestar.com
@flsadele
Spotsylvania Superintendent fired without cause by new School Board
Adele Uphaus 18 hrs ago
The Spotsylvania County School Board fired Superintendent Scott Baker without cause during an unruly meeting Monday. ... The board voted to approve Baker's termination without cause after coming out of a closed session that may have violated Virginia's open meeting requirements.
Virginia Code states that no closed meeting shall be held unless the public body first approves a motion that states the subject matter and purpose of the meeting, as well as the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements.
"A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting," Virginia Code states.
The closed session, during which Baker's position was discussed, was the second closed session of the meeting and was not on the approved agenda. ... Board members did not vote on a motion to enter the second closed session, as is required by Virginia Code. ... Salem District representative Lorita Daniels asked for a legal opinion on whether the second closed session would violate the Freedom of Information Act, but Twigg did not respond to her request.
{snip}
Adele Uphaus–Conner: 540/735-1973
auphaus@freelancestar.com
@flsadele
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I'm sure these Germans were proud to "identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff".
Spotsylvania School Board's firing of superintendent raises questions
Adele Uphaus 6 hrs ago
Spotsylvania Superintendent Scott Baker, who was set to leave the system in June, was fired Monday.
FILE / PETER CIHELKA / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
Adele Uphaus
The Spotsylvania County School Board voted to fire Superintendent Scott Baker without cause during a contentious meeting Monday, leaving some on the board and in the crowd with unanswered questions.
The board voted to approve Baker’s termination without cause after coming out of a closed session that may have violated Virginia’s open meeting requirements. Virginia Code states that no closed meeting shall be held unless the public body first approves a motion that states the subject matter and purpose of the meeting, as well as the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements. ... “A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting,” Virginia Code states.
The closed session, during which Baker’s position was discussed, was the second closed session of the meeting and was not on the approved agenda. Board members did not vote on a motion to enter the second closed session, as is required by Virginia Code. ... Salem District School Board representative Lorita Daniels asked for a legal opinion on whether the second closed session would violate the Freedom of Information Act, but School Board Chairman Kurt Twigg did not respond to her request.
Baker was escorted from the building before the board returned from the second closed session.
{snip}
Adele Uphaus–Conner: 540/735-1973
auphaus@freelancestar.com
@flsadele
Adele Uphaus 6 hrs ago
Spotsylvania Superintendent Scott Baker, who was set to leave the system in June, was fired Monday.
FILE / PETER CIHELKA / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
Adele Uphaus
The Spotsylvania County School Board voted to fire Superintendent Scott Baker without cause during a contentious meeting Monday, leaving some on the board and in the crowd with unanswered questions.
The board voted to approve Baker’s termination without cause after coming out of a closed session that may have violated Virginia’s open meeting requirements. Virginia Code states that no closed meeting shall be held unless the public body first approves a motion that states the subject matter and purpose of the meeting, as well as the applicable exemption from open meeting requirements. ... “A general reference to the provisions of this chapter, the authorized exemptions from open meeting requirements, or the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting,” Virginia Code states.
The closed session, during which Baker’s position was discussed, was the second closed session of the meeting and was not on the approved agenda. Board members did not vote on a motion to enter the second closed session, as is required by Virginia Code. ... Salem District School Board representative Lorita Daniels asked for a legal opinion on whether the second closed session would violate the Freedom of Information Act, but School Board Chairman Kurt Twigg did not respond to her request.
Baker was escorted from the building before the board returned from the second closed session.
{snip}
Adele Uphaus–Conner: 540/735-1973
auphaus@freelancestar.com
@flsadele