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Kathleen Barnes's avatar

Thanks for this compendium. Didn't Ron Kiviniemi vote "no" also before announcing his resignation? Another question: Is there any way to undo the partisan school board bill?

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Deda Edney's avatar

Kathleen, since Ron's vote was cast during a closed session, it's not public information and I don't know it. Yes, the 2016 NC House bill, HB1133 could be reversed - by an elected Democrat (i.e. by us voters) in 2024. These are good questions, thank you.

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Kathleen Barnes's avatar

Let's elect a Dem then!

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Linda & Allen Delzell's avatar

Perhaps the School Board Chair's no vote reflects the same concerns as Gov Roy Cooper's concerns.

Connect the dots and I think we have an answer.

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Deda Edney's avatar

It's a puzzle, but if a public official such as Tawny worries about public money being funneled to private schools, that could divide her from her party, at least on this issue.

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Helen Voris's avatar

In 1987, when I was earning a master's degree in social work at Loyola University, which is Catholic, I took a required class in social policy. The professor, a giant in his field, argued strongly that public monies should be used to partly fund religious schools because they were teaching some of the same basic educational requirements as publicly funded schools--math, English, reading, etc. I argued again and again that this was not fair or wise, because doing so would also support the teaching of a religious philosophy. This would go against a basic tenet on which our country was founded, the separation of church and state, and it would lead to horrendous consequences. Here we are. I am deeply concerned about what happens next.

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Deda Edney's avatar

Helen, I applaud not only your wisdom at that time about the difference between public and private schools, but your determination to oppose what you didn't believe in. "What happens next," as you say, is very unsettling. We're urging people to attend public local board meetings, school board and commissioners'. Thank you for your important comment.

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Mary's avatar

Thanks again, Deda, for highlighting the important issues and questions that surface. There has been a definite shift to a one sided political agenda in our county.

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Deda Edney's avatar

Yes, Mary. Heather Cox Richardson says over and over again, that a democracy has at least two viable political parties. Not just one.

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