Press Release: Chris Petrella will fight UN and the Global Climate change lobby!
Robert Socolow, one of the intelligentsia of the world, is promoting the formation of a global government because he believes the UN does not go far enough. In excerpts are from a March 17th article that appeared in Scientific American (which is neither Scientific nor American) he says the UN is lacking in their capabilities to confront issues such as water, climate, energy, and food security and also the fear that an organization that would possess higher authority than the UN could turn into a dictatorship. The article goes on to say that his group needs to converse the magnitude of the social challenge to recruit the population of seven billion to act in unison. In other words “They want to social engineer our lives to reach their goals.” “As your Congressman I will fight any Global warming initiatives that give away the power of the US to govern its own people over to any world body.”
School Board Fires Teacher, Religion Discussion Continues
Close to 200 people packed the March 1,2012 school board meeting. About 25 people spoke in reference to the proposed religion policies. The Board decided to delay the vote on these policies until April 12, 2012.Changes to the religion policy drafted in February and the addition of an annual day to passively distribute and display literature in the middle and high schools were the reasons for delaying the vote on Policy 652 and 652AR. The policies comply with the U.S. Department of Education guidelines for the expression of religion in public schools and the distribution of materials. Visit www.buncombe.k12.nc.us and select Board of Education, 2012 Agenda Archives, then March 1, 2012 agenda, or http://www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=31869&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=46069&PageID=26739 where you will find the links to the religion policies. Policy 653 also relates to the distribution of materials.
The superintendent reported that BCS continues to work on the accreditation process. The Board will hear findings from the Quality Assurance Review Team at a special called meeting on April 25th which will be open to the public.
The Board voted unanimously to terminate Kevin Calloway’s employment. He is the Owen Middle School teacher charged with taking indecent liberties with a student and for production of child pornography, a federal offense. Both the principal and assistant principal have resigned effective June 30, 2012. In the interim, principal Matthews will work in the central office in the Special Services Department. Mr. Fisher will be a homebound teacher.
Mary Parker, BCS Chief Financial Officer, was recognized as the recipient of the N.C. Association of School Business Officials Distinguished Service Award. Christina Maxwell, A.C. Reynolds High School senior, was recognized for earning the title of N.C. Top Distinguished Young Woman. She received $10,800 in scholarships and will go on to compete at the national level.
In Board member actions, I moved to reinstate the Board Member Comment period. My motion failed for lack of a second. The Comment Period is our only opportunity to bring up issues important to our constituents. We are asked to give one month’s notice of an issue for it to be considered in a motion at the next meeting.
The Personnel Report was approved 6-1. I explained that I had lost faith in the hiring process. I have gathered substantial facts demonstrating that our first priority is giving displaced BCS employees jobs, even if they are not degreed or certified in the particular subject area, rather than hiring the most highly qualified applicants. I moved that the administration look into developing a Recruitment and Selection Policy that makes hiring the most highly qualified employees the top priority. My motion did not receive a second. Mr. Jack Stone, head of personnel for the N.C. Dept. of Public Instruction has offered to send us a sample policy. I have also received one from the N.C. School Boards Association. I will bring this issue up again.
My motion to increase transparency by posting approved contracts on the school system website passed unanimously. This motion had been tabled at the February meeting by a 6-1 vote. Purchasing officer, Ron Venturella, has said this will be a simple task.
You Can Make a Difference
Lisa Baldwin, first school board member in N.C. to receive award for leadership in public office: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012303110038Regular Board meetings will be on Thursday, April 12 and Thursday, May 3 at 6:30pm plus a meeting on Wednesday, April 25 from 3-4 pm to hear a review of the accreditation team’s findings. All meetings are at the Administrative Services Building, 175 Bingham Rd., Asheville 28806. The public is encouraged to attend.
To listen to the audio of past meetings or read the current agenda, visit www.buncombe.k12.nc.us and select Board of Education. Please contact Lisa Baldwin with your concerns and suggestions at lisa.baldwin@bcsemail.org or 628-9537.
This message is the opinion of Lisa Baldwin and is not intended to represent the official position of the Buncombe County Schools or the Buncombe County Board of Education.
Local Childcare Advocate Runs For Buncombe County Commission Chair
Monday, February 27, 2012
Contact: Glenda Weinert (828) 230-1444 info@GoGlenda.com
Glenda Weinert filed for the office of Chairman of the Buncombe County Commission today at 9:00 AM at the Buncombe County Board of Elections. Mrs. Weinert has been a community leader on behalf of children, has served on a number of child care boards and was appointed to the North Carolina Childcare Commission by the Speaker of the House in 2011. Once past the primary, she will face current Chairman David Gantt.
“Responsibility must come back to Buncombe County,” said Glenda Weinert. “Electing public officials with financial experience, both in business and in an educational background, is important during these trying economic times.”
Glenda Weinert is the former owner of one of Buncombe County’s largest child care networks and currently manages a home health care business in the county. Mrs. Weinert also has an accounting degree and an MBA.
For further information, please visit her website at www.GoGlenda.com.
An Update from Lisa Baldwin Your Buncombe County Board of Education Representative
February 15, 2012
February Update
The February school board meeting was overflowing with parents and concerned community members. Thirty of these individuals spoke during the public comment period, voicing their concerns over a proposed religion policy. The policy addresses religious expression, summarizing the U.S. Department of Education guidelines. It also gives principals the authority to determine the time, place and manner of distribution of materials.
The new policy will be voted on at the March 1st meeting. But it is no different than the way we have been operating. For example, just this past fall the Fairview Elementary School acting principal put into action a policy allowing only government materials to be distributed at the school. This is unconstitutional. To avoid situations such as this, the elected school board should make the distribution policy, not the principals. (Just as our own elected General Assembly makes the laws, not the government agencies.) A constitutionally-correct distribution policy should allow a public forum for various materials meeting criteria for decency and age-appropriateness.
Two Reynolds district parents also shared suggestions for the Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program. The AIG program was not monitored by the state until the 2010-11 school year. At this time BCS had to submit a plan for approval, meeting 80% of the minimum criteria. Thus, BCS went from a 6-page plan to a 58-page plan. The plan includes enrichment activities and some grouping by ability but leaves many bright kids behind. Out of this concern came my motion two months ago (which passed unanimously) to look into forming District Parent Advisory Councils for AIG and for special needs programs. Ms. Jana Plemmons, director, has begun forming these councils. Please contact her at 255-5971 to join. (more…)
What:NC State Candidate Forum When: Tuesday, March 6th, Asheville Tea PAC Forum: 7 pm Who: Candidates Dr. Mike Beitler (R) and AJ Daoud (R) for Secretary of State and Dan Forest (R), candidate for Lt Governor Where: Skyland Fire Department, 9 Miller Rd., Asheville (corners of Long Shoals Rd. and Hendersonville Hwy)
UPDATE:
NC 10 Congressional Candidates Coming: Patrick McHenry, as far as ATPAC Chair knows, is sending a campaign staffer. Patrick McHenry will be at a Conservative retreat. Not coming Terry Bellamy (D) responded and does not want to participate in forums until after the primary. Patsy Keever (D), never responded.
NC 11 Congressional Candidates Coming: Cecil Bothwell(D), Jeff Hunt (R), Mark Meadows (R), Vance Patterson (R), Dr Dan Eichenbaum (R) iCaucus endorsed, Ethan Wingfield (R). Congressman Heath Shuler (D) responded and said he couldn’t make it at this time. No response from the following, despite three invitations: Christopher Petrella (R) Kenny West (R). Spencer Campbell(R) responded by telling ATPAC Chair that: Dr. Dan knows where he stands on the issues and ATPAC Chair should ask him. ATPAC Chair responded to him by telling him not to get cute with her. You can consider Campbell refusing to come. Since when does one candidate speak for another. If you want your views heard, you need to show up. This Forum is not for Dr. Dan, its for the People of WNC. Its their chance to hear the candidates views and ask them questions, so they the People may have info to help them pick which candidate they wish to vote for.
Please come to hear these candidates. The candidates will introduce themselves and state why the tea party should vote for them. The rest of the forum will be devoted to audience Q and A.
Dr. Dan issues a statement withdrawing from consideration of the 11th Congressional District.
See Below.
“With the filing deadline upon us, having spent many of the past days in prayer and discussions with family and friends, I have decided that I will not file for US Congress in North Carolina’s 11th District.
Over the past several months of the campaign, listening to the other candidates for Congress in NC 11, I find increasingly little difference, on paper or in words, between the positions I have consistently held and theirs. More importantly, I am unable to self-fund sufficiently to compete against those who can. As such, I see no clear path to victory in the primary.
I wish to extend my appreciation to my wife and my children, my team, family, friends and all who have supported me in my political endeavors over the past two election cycles. My thanks and appreciation go out to the Asheville Tea Party, Blue Ridge Tea Party Patriots, Cherokee County 9-12 Project, the FairTax organization, and other grassroots organizations who, standing firm on conservative principles, refuse to give in to pressure from the establishment of both political parties.
I extend my deepest heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Jane Bilello, Chair of the Asheville Tea Party and Asheville Tea Pac, for her unwavering commitment to saving our nation at great personal sacrifice.
For those candidates seeking the support of grassroots groups, especially those affiliated with the iCaucus, I urge you to submit to its vetting process. Evaluation and approval of your platform by independent groups gives citizens of this district the ability to hold you accountable for your actions in Washington, D.C.
Be assured, I will continue to champion private property rights, Constitutionally limited government, personal responsibility, fiscal restraint, individual liberty, and a free market economy based on the principles of sound monetary policy.
I remain passionately committed to educating everyone I can on the urgency of repealing ObamaCare in January 2013, and spreading awareness about Agenda 21, the United Nation’s incremental plan to take away US citizen’s private property rights and, ultimately, US sovereignty.
As patriots, we must resist with vigor the elitists in the current administration and their fellow travelers in both parties who seek to steal our birthright of Freedom and replace it with the tyranny of Socialism.
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts.”
