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Saturday, July 30, 2022

Is SDPC Trying to Sweep It Under the Rug?

 




Below are the links to the 10 releases that Conservatives of The Upstate received from their original FOIA request we had to pay $280 for concerning "ALL" communications concerning the segregation by race for a “Unity” program "Lunch and Learn" at Pickens Middle School which apparently also took place at Liberty Middle school months before it did at PMS. 

Our members have found proof our SDPC did not release ALL the communications we requested through FOIA and are trying our best to inform parents and taxpayers the truth about the planning of this racist event.

YOU, as a parent/taxpayer deserve COMPLETE transparency and accountability for what took place. 

What is the “end game” you may ask?

The concerned taxpayers and parents of Pickens County want to see consequences and apologies for those who thought that segregating children by race for an event was a great idea. 

We want assurances through policy changes that segregation by race at a school sponsored event on the taxpayer dime will not ever be allowed again. 

We also want a school board policy addition making it clear that a speaker’s video presentation will be made available for parents to see what their child was exposed to. (Adrienne Young’s video is no longer available for parents or taxpayers to view to see what their child was “taught”.)

We want a policy change that states any future speakers hired speaking on political controversial issues to children in our schools will be approved by the Superintendent and School Board and not just allowed because a principal thinks it’s a good idea. 

PLEASE ATTEND THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PLANNED FOR AUGUST 22 and demand transparency and accountability. (Reminder: this is subject to change) Check below  for how to verify it's still correct date.

When are the next School Board meetings? 

UNOFFICIALLY… here’s what’s listed on their SDPC website….

2022-2023 Regular Monthly Board Meetings: 

****(To be approved in August 2023) ****

August 22, 2022 
September 26, 2022
October 24, 2022
November 28, 2022 (this date may move due to Thanksgiving Week being the week prior) 
January 23, 2023
February 27,2023
March 27, 2023
April 24, 2023 
May 22, 2023
June 2, 2023 (Held first Friday of the month) 

Called Meetings may be posted periodically and are not listed above as these dates may change, be added or canceled per the discretion of the Board. Please view the Events Calendar on the SDPC webpage at https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/ for upcoming meeting dates. 

 Regular board meetings are scheduled on the fourth Monday of each month except for the months of July and December when no meetings are scheduled per board policy BE. 
 Regular board meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. (unless noted otherwise). 
 Meetings in November and June are sometimes held outside of the regular schedule due to scheduling needs as approved by the Board of Trustees. 
 Meeting agendas/packets with details for each meeting are posted to the district website under Board of Trustees/Boarddocs at least 24 hours prior to the meeting as required 
by FOIA.
 All meetings are held in the board room of the Curtis A. Sidden Administrative Building, 1348 Griffin Mill Road in Easley (unless noted otherwise in the posting). 
 Meeting times and dates are subject to change per the direction of the Board of Trustees. 

Minutes are recorded to reflect action of the board so called board meetings that are for informational purposes will not have minutes. 

Dr. Danny Merck, Superintendent (864) 397-1000.  dannymerck@pickens.k12.sc.us

For more information, please contact Rosanne Morris, Secretary to the Superintendent & Board Clerk. P: (864) 397-1000

Present Board Members Contact info:
——————————————————
 Ms. Amy Williams (864) 350-8937 

_____________________________
 
Mrs. Karla Kelley, V-Chair (864) 201-1732

 ———————————————————
Dr. Brian Swords (864) 221-3642

___________________________________
 
Mr. Shannon Haskett (864) 346-7069

_____________________________________
 
Mrs. Betty Garrison, Secretary (864) 630-3325

_____________________________________
 
Mrs. Betty Bagley, Chair (864) 356-3939

______________________________________
 
Mr. Phillip Bowers (864) 868-2789

______________________________________

DONT FORGET 4 seats on the school board are OPEN for a challenger this November. Filing to run for a seat must be made by August 15th! We need Godly Conservative members who won’t allow Critical Race Theory tenets to be used or taught in our schools! 

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Links to COTU opinions and comments on those 10 FOIA releases: 















Meet Brad White, Candidate for Pickens County Council


Join us Thursday, August 18th as Conservatives of the Upstate welcome candidate Brad White as our guest speaker for the evening at Cafe' Connections, 319 E. Main Street, Pickens, SC 29671. Program begins at 7PM and ends promptly at 8:30 PM. Bring a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a fellow church member!

J



 

School Board Candidates NEEDED by August 15, 2022

 


Pickens County School Board Candidate Filing

Noon, August 01, 2022, through noon, August 15, 2022

The Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Pickens County announces the election of the Pickens County School Board Trustees for districts Two (2), Four (4), Six (6), and Seven (7) on Tuesday, November 08, 2022. This is a nonpartisan election, and no party affiliation shall be placed on the ballot. The offices will be included on the ballot of the November 08, 2022, General Election. Only the electors living within districts up for election may participate in this election.

Citizens desiring to be candidates for one of the above listed School Board Trustee offices may file at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Pickens County (222 McDaniel Ave., B-9, Pickens, SC 29671) during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon-Fri) during the filing period. Walk-in filing is acceptable, but an appointment is preferred. To make an appointment, please call (864) 898-5948 or email Vote.Pickens@elections.sc.gov.

Filing for candidates opens at noon on August 01, 2022 and closes at noon on August 15, 2022. At the time of filing, each candidate must complete a Statement of Candidacy Form and pay the filing fee. The filing fee for this office is equal to one percent (1%) of the total salary for the term (4 years) of this office. The filing fee will be $120 if the School Board’s salary remains constant. Checks must be made payable to the Pickens County Treasurer.

Friday, July 22, 2022

First Responder Prayer and Appreciation Rally

Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 11th now!

Join us as we show our appreciation and love for our First Responders!

Following a free appreciation breakfast for our First Responders, the public is invited to pray for our law enforcement, fire, and EMS in our community.

See handout below for details: