Giles Free Speech Zone

The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.

Monday, December 15, 2008

If There's Smoke Does There Have To Be Fire?

There seems to have been an ongoing problem at Southside concerning the possibility that some unknown person was smoking in the school in direct violation with state and school policy.
Now what started out as a simple matter of smelling smoke has grown into a war of words, lies, cyber-bulling, secret personnel files, and an attack against the person who first mentioned the smell of smoke.
It seems as with many other things in Giles County and especially in the school system undesirable information, like smoke is simply ignored until it becomes a huge fire.
A number of E-mails reveals that the principal tried to deal with the situation in an appropriate, simple and easy manner. The problem grew, I believe, with the overly paranoid response by the director of the Leaps and Bounds program.
Soon the problem moved up the chain to the Director of Schools office. How did the director deal with this situation? As I posted on another thread he reported to the School Board that the matter had been investigated and resolved, but can a matter be thoroughly investigated when not all the participants have been interviewed? Can a matter be resolved when the participants are still experiencing harassment, bullying, having separate personnel files kept on them, and being frustrated from appealing to a School Board that still lacks the resolve to actually direct the director?
What does a School Director do when they can't deal with a situation effectively?
I have attached a letter from the School Director revealing how he has chosen to deal with this situation. Notice the threatening tone and the untruth that the matter has been closed by the School Board. Keep in mind this is a letter to the person who has only asked that school policy be followed and that she be treated fairly instead of with disrespect by allowing unsubstantiated statements to those in authority to go unchallenged and to eliminate all secret files about her. So far, it seems, all negativity from authorities has been directed toward the person who first spoke out about the smell of smoke in the school and none has involved the teacher who is at the center of the violations and sender of slanderous e-mails. Allen Barrett

This is the letter sent by the director to Mrs Weisser. I could not cut and paste it so I had to re-type it but it is accurate word for word.
December 5, 2008

Mrs. Weisser,

The purpose of this correspondence is to stress the importance of bringing the issues of which you have complained to an end. This matter has been investigated, the employees who have knowledge of the events have been interviewed. A conclusion has been reached by the office of the Director of Schools and published to the Giles County Board of Education.

It is in the interest of the students and the faculty and staff of Southside Elementary School to have a harmonious environment. Continuing this matter is becoming a significant disruptive force at the school and its mission to educate students.

The school board has entertained this issue, and from all indications, the school board now considers this matter closed. Your continuing attempts to revive or keep the issues alive are hedging on insubordination and unprofessional conduct.

I have held you in high esteem, and have always appreciated your many contributions to the success of our school system. It is with both appreciation for your service, and a grave concern for the effects that this matter is having on the environment at Southside School that I request your prompt cooperation in bringing this matter to an immediate close.
Sincerely.
Tee Jackson