Why Does Muscle Shoals Need New Astro Turf?

 

From a Muscle Shoals reader:

(We did check, and if the school installed Astro Turf brand artificial grass, it should be expected to last 20-25 years.)

Goodness me, Muscle Shoals City School Board has once again followed right along with the follies of Basden and Holden by replacing the Astro-Turf on the football field.
When was the astro-turf originally put down - something like 8 or 9 years ago?

How many tracks are going to be replaced at the taxpayers expense - yet the TAXPAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE TRACKS - some bogus excuse that we are destructive.

Good job Holdy, Bassssdy, and the Boardy. Most of you came from There to Here and just dumbed things down, and STILL DON'T HAVE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

More money thrown to Basden while ACT SCORES DIPPED 1.2 POINTS - THE MOST OF ALL SCHOOLS IN THE SHOALS. KUDOS TO WATERLOO WHO RAISED THEIR SCORES and LEXINGTON FOR STAYING THE SAME. Maybe - just maybe, if you would spend more time and attention to academics that affect NATIONAL TESTING (not the cooked books in Muscle Shoals Schools), we may see our children out of the "F" category in ACT testing.

A BOARD THAT IS A RUBBER STAMP IS A WORTHLESS GROUP OF SEAT WARMERS. AND YOU WANT MORE MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYERS????? YOU ALL NEED TO GO HOME.

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This is Jake, described as a Hound mix. He's four years old, with weight unknown. He's waiting for his fur-ever family at the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services in the Florence Industrial Park:

Muscle Shoals BOE Doesn't Want Its Own Field

 

Muscle Shoals Superintendent Chad (OG) Holden

A pithy commentary from one of our favorite readers:

The Muscle Shoals BOE two years ago spent, being the Board of Education, $1 million to fix all the area around the track at the football field at the high school. They also spent $2 million this past year to retrograde and redo the fake grass at the stadium and inside at the practice field. This is money the Board of Education spent, so you wonder:  a baseball and softball field probably at its best  costs $1 million. Why can't they have their own baseball and softball field so that they're not kicking private citizens off of those fields for their high school use?

So Muscle Shoals spent three million dollars on its stadium facilities, but won't spend one cent on a baseball field? What is wrong with this picture?

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Speaking of high school football, what does this mean?

We doubt Hines' initial story is true, but ideally Mars Hill should address these posts.

Where is the Leadership of the Muscle Shoals Board of Education?

 

From a reader:

In light of the current situation surrounding MS baseball coach Blake Beck, one has to wonder: are the people in charge of the Muscle Shoals City School system taking this seriously? According to The Times Daily, the superintendent, Dr. Chad Holden, has said the situation is being "addressed". What exactly does that mean, Dr. Holden? The leader of the MSHS baseball program has at least twice now, very publicly, acted out in an aggressive manner toward a city employee. The most recent incident escalated to the point of alleged physical contact with the Park and Rec director and his wife. Where is the leadership of the Board of Education? Is the administration at the MSCS system asleep at the wheel?

 
Dr. Holden and the BOE would be wise to look back a few short years ago to 2015. A MSHS football coach was charged with, and plead guilty to, domestic violence assault. Then superintendent, Dr. Brian Lindsey, took swift action and suspended said coach from both teaching and coaching duties immediately. Lindsey was quoted in the Times Daily as saying, "We don't condone or approve of domestic violence, and we want to be proactive and we took steps immediately". While the individual was a tenured teacher, and thus protected from an outright dismissal, according to Dr. Lindsey, he was "no longer part of the coaching staff". This is what leadership looks like, Dr. Holden. Is the best you have to offer concerned parents of Muscle Shoals students that the situation is being "addressed"?

The football coach mentioned above was described as "an exemplary employee, with an impeccable record". And yet, the leadership at MSCS had the wisdom to remove him from coaching young student athletes when it was necessary. Will the current administration show the same wisdom as it relates to the baseball coach? Parents and citizens of Muscle Shoals, you need to make sure that your Board of Education members know your feelings on this. Contact your City Council representatives. Contact the Mayor's office. DEMAND accountability from your "public servants". Ensure that moving forward, MSHS baseball has a leader that exhibits "Class. Character. Excellence."

Look Who Doesn't Want an Elected School Board

Thank you, Andrew Sorrell:

...a campaign promise I made in 2018...was to allow Muscle Shoals residents the ability to choose the method of seating their city school board.

Say what, Ferrell Southern?

As a school board, we've done about as well as we could do right now. This was not brought on by our stakeholders. If it's not broke, why fix it?

Say what, Chad O.G. Holden?

...said he can't see the need for an elected board when the appointed board has served the school system well for years.

Can we find a candidate who quotes Kipling by heart?

Trust Me; I'm The O.G.

Muscle Shoals Ain't Got No Smart Lawyerin' People?

Apparently, if a school board in North Alabama is being sued, they hire the firm of Lanier-Ford in Huntsville to represent them...if they know what's good for them. Here's an example of one case handled by associate Taylor Brooks:

Ex parte Boaz City Board. of Education, 82 So.3d 660 (Ala. 2011). A kindergarten teacher, who allegedly was struck with paddle by a superintendent, brought action against the school board, the board’s members, and the superintendent, asserting claims of defamation and assault and battery. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school board and school board members, finding that the school board and board members were entitled to absolute immunity under the Alabama Constitution.

Comforting to know that a school superintendent has the right to hit a teacher with a paddle, isn't it? We notice this is the Boaz system, where one of the two remaining Muscle Shoals candidates is from.

Brooks will be helping in the selection of the grand prize winner on Monday. Is that due to Muscle Shoals not having a single decent attorney or the board thinking a law suit is a possibility? 

Our psychic prediction is that Chad O.G. Holden will be the hands down winner. Interested parties, or those simply wanting a mild chuckle, should make a point to catch the virtual board of education meeting Monday at noon. 

The True O.G. Says "Let The Good Times Roll!"

Take Note, Muscle Shoals City Council

Best way to describe the Muscle Shoals City School Board selection process for Superintendent is:

You have an important contest and you're looking around for something you have in your collection and settle on what you consider the best of what you have. You arrive at the contest and see that your competition spent time and money to get the best and most impressive items to fight to win.

WINNERS know you have to get out of the worn and dated items you have and look outside your small little existence to better opportunities

MS School Board knows the problems that will follow Holden wherever he goes. Holden is a proven follower. He does as he is told by Lindsey and Basden for he sees that as his means to step over qualified people. After all, what better person to follow Lindsey than one that will continue the business as usual - spending millions on travel, play time, stacking people on people, and not to forget, the little "wink wink" relationships that plague this little Peyton Place in the School System - Yes, even in the same building where Holden tends to now and desperately tries to cover up till Lindsey can get him out of there. Holden is the perfect person that will guarantee Lindsey to continue calling the plays and secure the status quo. 

NO TRACK - NO TAX?  Remember that vote? 

Remember Holden chastising the public and talking down to us little feeble minded uneducated people as he elevated himself to expert financial guru in his young life. How Holden went on and on in his tirade on how we didn't understand finances? The people of M.S. understand the smoke and mirror politics and the games they are playing at the expense of our children's education.

Holden lacks maturity, wisdom, professionalism, discernment, knowledge, leadership, respect and more important, the lack of support from the majority of the staff and citizens of Muscle Shoals. 

Think 82% NO VOTE wasn't enough of a mandate to Lindsey, Basden, and the City Council? Try that one again and see what the MANDATE ON HOLDEN will be.

Get Ready - we see Lockhard, Noles, and ole what's his name that can't keep a job sent packing come election time. Hall will probably be re-elected, but he won't have the others to blame if things don't change drastically with the new council, so we will see what he is made of when we get those others out of the way. 

Take Note Candidates for M.S. City Council and Mayor - You better do what is right. First matter of business would be to call for resignation of School Board and appoint some that can made independent decisions best for our children, and get the spending under control. Quit the unnecessary traveling vacations and budget responsibly - same to the Council!!!!

We, the Citizens, are FED UP. You have one chance - If the School Board screws up the hire for a new superintendent, you better send them all home and start with a new slate - with instructions to clean up the school system and return it to the citizens and the children!!!!!

SAY NO TO PUPPET CHADWICK O.G. HOLDEN

SAY YES TO A NEW COUNCIL AND OPEN THE CITIZEN'S TRACK

Muscle Shoals Parents: Time to Pay Attention!

Attention Muscle Shoals Parents: Do you know what your school board is planning in two days? If you don't, it's time to ask questions.

On Tuesday, the board of education will narrow down a field of seven applicants for superintendent to three finalists. While Muscle Shoals is a smaller system than Limestone County, the latter recently has a short list of five for its similar opening.

We've received quite a bit of mail that the fix is already in. Is that surprising? Didn't you know the game was rigged when Mr. Blake Jarmon was given the bum's rush by this same board?

From a reader: Insiders say Lindsey told the board they are to hire Chadwick Holden so they can move the pawns around in the administrative playground.

Sent from another reader:

This may make the Lauderdale board election look subdued!

Citizens Ask for Elected Muscle Shoals School Board

The following was presented to Muscle Shoals council member Chris Hall on December 29th. There will be further developments at Tuesday's council meeting:

Councilman Hall;

During the meeting where the fate of Mr. Jarmon was discussed, you publicly expressed frustration regarding the activities of Muscle Shoals BOE and the Administration. I too, am frustrated. Beyond the question of Mr. Jarmon’s abilities, qualifications and performance, this sensitive personnel matter and subsequent investigation of abuse seems to have been bungled from the start.

I speak for many of your constituents and we have the sense our school board has become too familiar with the school administration. As many of your constituents have pointed out, due to that familiarity, objective decision making has become suspect. Now, I fear, that group-think mentality extends to city government.

When the subject of additional taxes was proposed, in light of recent events, many wonder if any part of the system which proposed those taxes can be trusted. It seemed bold and tone-deaf to even propose such a thing. The MSCBOE and BOE Administration seem increasingly out of control.

I hope you will review the attached draft resolution and act accordingly to bring sanity back to the MSBOE.

RESOLUTION OF THE MUSCLE SHOALS CITY COUNCIL

WHEREAS due to recent actions of the appointed Muscle Shoals City Board of Education have caused the citizens of Muscle Shoals to lose faith and trust in the current appointed board,

AND WHEREAS the city council is powerless to amend, reverse or otherwise affect effective governance of said board,

BE IT RESOLVED:

If the majority of electors voting vote in favor of changing to an elected board, an elected board of education for the City of Muscle Shoals shall be established.  The board shall be called the Muscle Shoals City Board of Education.  The board shall be composed of five members, at large by a majority of the qualified electors voting who reside in the city.

A member shall reside within the city limits of Muscle Shoals during the entire term of office.  If a member leaves the city, that position on the board shall be considered vacant and shall be filled pursuant to Section 45-39A-12.05.

A candidate for each place on the board of education shall be at least 21 years of age, a registered voter, a resident of the City of Muscle Shoals for at least six months immediately preceding the deadline date for qualifying as a candidate, and shall not be an employee of the board or have a record of conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude.  Each candidate shall pay a qualifying fee in an amount equal to that paid for candidates for general municipal elections.

(a) The Muscle Shoals City Council shall take necessary steps to ensure that this part complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

(b) The Muscle Shoals City Council shall call an election to elect the initial members of the board of education.  This election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in February 2018.  The initial runoff election, if necessary, shall be held three weeks later on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

(c) The initial election and the initial runoff election, if necessary, and all subsequent elections held pursuant to this part shall be conducted, the vote canvassed, and the results declared in the same manner as provided for other general municipal elections, unless otherwise required in this part.

(d) The initial elected members of the board of education shall assume office on the first Monday in June 2018, and shall serve initial terms of two years.  Thereafter, terms of office shall be four years, coinciding with general municipal elections.

(a) Upon the assumption of office of the initially elected members of the board of education, the Muscle Shoals City Board of Education as provided in this part shall be constituted and the terms, powers, duties, responsibilities, and emoluments of office of the prior members of the board of education shall end.

(b)(1) Upon assumption of office of the initial elected members of the board of education, these members shall have the powers, authority, duties, and responsibilities as are otherwise provided by law for members of city boards of education as set forth in Chapter 11, commencing with Section 16-11-1 of Title 16.

(2) At the first meeting after the board takes office, and every year thereafter, the board shall by majority vote of those voting, select a chair and vice chair from among its members.  The vice chair shall preside over meetings of the board in the absence of the chair.

(3) All property, records, supplies, and equipment of the prior board of education shall be vested in the board created by this part.

(c) The establishment of the board of education as provided in this part shall not affect or impair any of the following:

(1) Existing rights or privileges of employees of the board including, but not limited to, employment, personnel, salary, and retirement rights and privileges.

(2) Existing contractual obligations of the board of education.

(3) Existing civil and criminal actions.

A vacancy on the board of education shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the remaining members of the board of education for the unexpired term.  The remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy within 45 days after the vacancy occurs from qualified candidates who apply for the position on the board.  If the vacancy is not filled by the remaining members of the board of education within 45 days, the city superintendent of education shall notify the State Superintendent of Education who shall fill the vacancy by appointment.  A person filling a vacancy on the board shall reside in the City of Muscle Shoals.

The compensation for each member of the board of education shall be in an amount as provided by state law, payable from city school system funds.

An annual audit of the financial records of the city school system and of the board of education shall be conducted by an independent licensed certified public accountant, selected by the board, who has an office located in the City of Muscle Shoals.  The audit results shall be made a matter of public record.  All monies of the school system shall be accounted for whether reserved for capital outlay or held for any other purpose.

Any member of the board of education who fails to attend more than two regularly scheduled monthly board meetings without an authorized excused absence as recognized by the board through written policy shall receive a written request from the city superintendent of education to attend the meetings.  If the board member persists in his or her unexcused absence for two additional regularly scheduled monthly board meetings, then the position shall be declared vacant by the chair of the board, subject to review and approval by the city council.

The chair of the board shall have all of the following duties:

(1) To preside over all board meetings.

(2) To set the meeting dates and times of all board meetings consistent with state law.  The chair shall endeavor to set meeting times at 6:00 p.m. or at a similar time which will afford citizens the best opportunity to attend.

(3) To set the agenda of the board meetings in consultation with the city superintendent of education.

(4) To ensure proper and adequate notice to the public for public hearings on the budget of the school system.

(5) To maintain order at all board meetings.

(6) To assist the superintendent in seeking public input into the operations and support of the city school system.

(7) To vote on all matters which come before the board if he or she so desires.

(8) To ensure due process for the employees of the city school system according to duly adopted written policies and applicable state laws.

(9) To promote the city school system as authorized by the board.

Members of the Muscle Shoals City Board of Education shall be immune from any civil liability whatsoever, be it in contract, tort, or otherwise, for any actions taken in their official capacity as members of the board.

 

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Two of our bloggers live in Muscle Shoals, Leslie M. Shoals and Southern Son. We know both have been closely following the situation there with school leadership, from the board to the superintendent to school principals. Drama Queens and liars? No. Solid citizens who want an improved school system for their hometown. We salute them!

Living Off the School System?/Church Business?

LIVING OFF THE SYSTEM…LEGAL?...UNETHICAL?...YOU BE THE JUDGE, COMMON CITIZEN

It has been brought to the attention of our group that employees of the Muscle Shoals City School System who don’t reside in the City of Muscle Shoals are exempt from paying the non-resident student tuition fee of $500 / year which is Board Policy.  I was wondering if that same thing holds true for all the other employees of boards in the city.

Does the Muscle Shoals Electric Board employees get free electricity?

Does the Muscle Shoals Water Board employees get free water and sewer?

Does the Muscle Shoals Gas Board employees get free natural gas?

I think we all know the answer to the above questions, so why does the Muscle Shoals City Schools employees that live outside the city receive free tuition?  Is this a part of their negotiated salary?  If so, do they receive a W-2 for this amount of money each year?  Is this Board Policy or merely just another little “under the table” bonus that flies under the radar?

Concerned Parents of Muscle Shoals

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You hit the nail on the head with the Muscle Shoals Church Mafia!  It used to be a "turf war" between HPBC and Woodward Ave. BC against "Six Flags Over Jesus"/Grace Life Church on Avalon Avenue. 

Several years ago Dr. Harry Smith, former Principal at MSHS and member of Grace Life, was excluded from the three finalist for MS Superintendent.  Grace Life members revolted and demanded Smith be included.  Even showed up and protested at a MSBOE meeting with a signed petition.  If memory serves correctly Smith was eventually interviewed, but I do remember he did not get the job.  

Funny part about the MS Church Mafia is that most of them were members of Woodward Ave. BC until HPBC built their compound on Wilson Dam Hwy.  It also seems that Woodward Ave. declined after Bro. Tom Whatley retired.

And the MS Church Mafia extends to other departments in the city as well.  

I also though church was supposed to be a place of Christian worship and not a division of the Chamber of Commerce?  I will let this link associated with HPBC help answer that question:  https://christiansinbusiness.com/church/316/highland-park/disclaimer.

Southern Son

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We looked at this business directory and were very surprised. Is this common in the Baptist church, or is this an aberration?

Leslie Shoals Reports...You Decide

It appears there is a wide gap between the legal system and enforcement of rules in government offices concerning employees arrested or convicted for crimes against another person.

Take for instance, in Limestone County, the Limestone County School Board has taken steps under the Alabama Education laws to immediately remove employees for acts such as stealing, sexual encounters with employees and students, cheating on their time cards and other such immoral and illegal acts. Limestone County School Board should be commended for taking immediate steps when they become aware of issues instead of being forced into action by public disclosure through media sources.

Move to the Shoals where there are reported such acts in the Lauderdale County System. It seems there are numerous reports of inappropriate relations between employees and even a Board member.

Given the problems in Muscle Shoals since Coach Lindsey has taken his position as superintendent, there is growing distrust from the citizens. It appears the various problems scattered throughout other schools has all manifested in the Muscle Shoals City School system with a recent arrest of a coach for domestic violence, resulting in court mandated intervention for drinking and abuse (which is not the first MSHS coach to be arrested for domestic violence). MSCS has hired several people from neighboring systems that have a faMily link to the powers to be and had left their previous employ under a cloud - or without a job while on administrative leave.

Students are now becoming more aware of the sordid affairs in the schools and are voicing their views and personal stories to parents and the community. Should these people be fired? ABSOLUTELY.

HOWEVER, one has to remember, If these people are fired, who appoints their replacements? The SAME PEOPLE that did background checks, verified letters of recommendations and determined them to be fine, moral, educated people to serve as role models for your children.

Now, if their judgment was so badly flawed with these current employees and the ones they have been promoted through the ranks, will their judgment prove to be any better when replacing these immoral and unethical people?

There is talk that some will be relieved of their duties, but does this really change the hierarchy?

The problem is not just the employees and their hanky panky. The lions' share of these issues lie with those who are hiring and NOT holding people accountable. Hard to do in the faMily when it's all about relationships.

MSCS has a board meeting on Tuesday and some think is will be another dog and pony show. As the school churns.


Leslie M. Shoals

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Thanks to two readers. One reminded us that federal law does not rescind political rights after a sentence is served. The second who inquired of several sources and determined that the subject of a recent blog has been pardoned in this state and now also has gun rights restored.

Alabama is one of only a handful of states that does not automatically restore political rights after a sentence is served. That doesn't mean we don't have crooks serving in office...just that they haven't been convicted yet.

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Two friends have new blogs which we've added to our sidebar. Enjoy!

Shoalanda