Cannon explodes at meeting
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 6, 2015 1:46 PM
Dwight Cannon
In an otherwise nondescript school board meeting Monday night -- passing a handful of policies and fewer than a dozen contracts and some student recognitions -- one board member erupted several times over items being added to the agenda after it had been approved.
By session's end, virtually everyone at the table had been on the receiving end of Dwight Cannon's barbs, including the superintendent and finance officer.
Rumblings started when a proclamation for "Parent Involvement Month" was introduced by Superintendent Dr. Mike Dunsmore.
Cannon took issue with the lengthy message not being read in its entirety, citing "personal privilege" and suggesting the public needed to hear the message. Dunsmore obliged.
Then Tommy's Road Elementary School Principal Wendy Hooks gave the board an update about the school's recent receipt of a $10,000 grant for learning kits in the computer program. Cannon complained.
"I want the record to show that we went off the agenda," he said.
Finance Officer Beverly Boltinhouse presented a smattering of contracts, including an alternate bid for asphalt at Spring Creek Elementary and two for Smart Find, a substitute teacher calling system.
The bid from Barnhill Contracting was for $135,665, more than $10,000 higher than the original one accepted from Asphalt Services for $124,000. Mrs. Boltinhouse said Barnhill was approached after Asphalt Services backed out. When asked about the possibility of lowering its bid, Barnhill reportedly said fluctuating costs of asphalt made that difficult, but would make the $135,665 the "maximum" it could cost.
Cannon said he had a problem voting on it and preferred something more specific.
Board member Arnold Flowers, chairman of the finance committee, made several attempts to explain the committee's findings before giving up.
"I don't know how to answer your question, so I'm going to just quit trying," he said.
"Well, that's the best thing to do if you can't answer it," Cannon said.
After discussion wrapped up, though, he revisited the comment.
"My question wasn't directed to the chairman of the finance committee so I really take, I really resent that comment about, 'I quit trying,'" Cannon said. "You should have quit trying before you started."
Board Chairman Chris West hastily redirected the comments back to the task at hand.
Mrs. Boltinhouse continued with the contract list, explaining that the proposed program to secure substitute teachers would cost $12,350 from local funds and $9,000 from Title 2 funds.
Board member Jennifer Strickland said she was impressed with the program presented but was concerned about the price tag and had requested a cost-benefit analysis.
Mrs. Boltinhouse said principals had been polled. Of the responses received, she said eight had indicated teachers found their own substitutes, three said bookkeepers spend two hours a week on the task and seven others said the process takes no time or up to an hour.
Board member Pat Burden said she did not understand why all schools did not respond.
"It's hard to do a cost analysis when we've got 33 schools and how many schools responded?" Chairman West asked.
"18 responded," Ms. Burden said.
"So that means that there's 15 that don't need substitutes? If nothing else we at least need a comparison," West said. "Unless those other schools just don't need substitutes. I find that hard to believe."
Troubled by the disparity, West said he felt they could not make an informed decision about whether the program was worth the money.
"I would say that we pull (the contracts) if you can. I'm not trying to call any school out but if you will re-send it out again and tell them that it was an issue tonight because we were depending on the information to make a decision," he said. "Obviously it's going to delay the process 30 days but there again had we had the information, we could have voted on it if we knew how much it would save."
Cannon agreed, recommending that other companies also be included to compare programs providing the service. Mrs. Strickland made a motion to remove Smart Find until more information could be obtained.
The superintendent introduced another topic that was not on the agenda, inviting Mrs. Boltinhouse to explain what turned out to be enrolling employees for a flex benefits package.
"This came in late," Dunsmore said.
"Mr. Superintendent, this just came in while we were in closed session?" Cannon asked.
When told it had been in recent weeks, Cannon reacted, his voice becoming louder.
"I don't care how sensitive and time sensitive it is, I have a serious issue," he said. "I'm going to be forced to vote on something that I have not really perused. And I don't appreciate it.
"And I'm not trying to campaign because I ain't running for anything else in this school system. But I have a problem with rubber stamping a document that comes in after I walk out of closed session. And I just said we're bringing things on the agenda. What is the use of going through, voting on an agenda, when we've already added two things to it."
Flowers suggested they allow Mrs. Boltinhouse to make her presentation.
"She can explain until the cows come home," Cannon said. "It really won't help me to understand when you're dealing with a serious contract dealing with benefits."
"Well, I think it's fair, so Mrs. Boltinhouse," Flowers began, before being cut off by Cannon.
"Well, just because you think it doesn't mean it's overruled that it's fair," Cannon said.
West tried to regain control, encouraging Mrs. Boltinhouse to continue. She explained that the flex benefits was to sign employees up for the coming year.
"Mrs. Boltinhouse, didn't you just do this? I mean this sounds so familiar," Cannon interrupted.
She replied that the request came down from the state, and in May there had been another aspect of the plan. Board member Rick Pridgen also attempted to clarify the two different pieces, with Cannon replying that he appreciated the explanation.
West then asked for a motion to put the item on the agenda.
"Well, whoop-de-doo!" Cannon exclaimed. "Discussion is over. Now we add it to the agenda!"
"Let me just say something, and Dr. Cannon, I hear you loud and clear," West began.
"But see, if I bring up an issue," Cannon began.
"Let me finish. I've got the floor," West said.
"Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair," Cannon said, continuing to talk over the chairman. West persisted and told Cannon he could speak after West said his piece.
West explained that there had been a mistake made and the board could either move past it or talk about it.
The item was added to the agenda, after which Cannon maintained he wanted the record to show that the board had approved the agenda, only to keep adding items throughout the meeting.
West said he understood Cannon's concerns about consistency, saying he would gladly take the blame.
"And I will also, as long as I'm chairman, decide whether we put something on the agenda if this happens again," he said.
"Well, wait a minute," Cannon interrupted, launching into a filibuster about all members being allowed to add items to the agenda. "No chairman has any right to add anything to this agenda, any more right than any board member. We have the same considerations."
West attempted to contain the situation, apologizing to Cannon for any confusion.
"As long as you're on the board, that's what you said, as long as you're the board chair," Cannon said. "And as long as I'm a board member, when I want to add something I will add it, too."
West asked the board to put it to a vote, to put the flex benefits contract on the agenda.
The vote passed -- only Cannon did not raise his hand, which counts as a "yes," making it 7-0.