DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: After a long absence of attending Dothan School Board Meetings, and after calls from multiple people about the Dothan School Board, Rickey Stokes started attending, reluctantly.
Regardless of what people think of me, I LOVE Dothan and Houston County and my passion is emergency services, law enforcement – fire – EMS. The meetings and political are not my primary interest.
After attending, what I saw was the same chaos from 18 to 20 years ago. A constant 4 to 3 vote, nothing in the interest of the students or education. Then I saw hiding from the public, deceptive actions, and just conduct that was not acceptable.
As I dug in, started looking around, and what I saw, is the reason for filing the Violation of the Open Meetings Law. And it has been funny all of the rhetoric from people, from some that I thought were friends, when I explained the reasons, In some of their posts on social media they have called me a liar. And that surprised me from people such as Anita Dawkins. But as I have always told the people around me, the day I think the people like me for them to slug me up side the head.
SOME THINGS I LEARNED
I have always liked Dennis Coe. Known him since he was the elected Henry County School Superintendent. Grew up knowing Melanie Boyd Hill through Southside Baptist Church. Went to church with Scott Childers at Memphis Baptist Church.
The board members, the four – Strickland, Hill, Jones and Guilford along with Coe had a private text message conversation group. They included Aurie Jenkins until they decided she did not support their agenda. Emails sent to the board members would self destruct in 24 or 48 hours. The four group intentionally hide things from the public and other board members. When some board members would ask questions from the CFO and others they found their conversations being secretly recorded.
Nothing in the interest of the children.
The qualifications for the next superintendent, no one on the board admitted to drafting the document. So where did the qualifications come from?
As media/blogger or whatever you want to refer to me as, one of my duties is to report to you. The sound is purposely awful, Dothan City Schools makes video recordings of the meetings but they are not visible to the public. The recordings media make, the sound is awful so it is hard to hear when recorded. My feelings, purposely done. Nothing transparent.
COURT.
The initial filing was typed by me, Rickey Stokes. It was a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Law. I contacted Steve McGowan of the McGown Law Firm and he, Brittany and staff jumped in and took over. They had to clean up some of my filings. And they did a great job.
We were assigned 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Todd Derrick. The four board members, Strickland, Hill, Jones and Guilford hired Mr. Boardman from Chelsea Alabama. Mrs. Jenkins, Childers and Mrs. Bonds hired Ben Irwin.
The day of court, Amy Bonds had to be out of town but Scott Childers and Aurie Jenkins were the only two board members who bothered to appear. The group of 4 did not show.
The Alabama Legislature, when they crafted the Alabama Open Meetings Law, on purpose, developed the law to assist government bodies in closing meetings and hiding from the public. You only have 21 days from the meeting to file, You must bear your own filing fees and attorney fees. But the government bodies can let the system pay for their legal representation. The maximum fine is $ 1,000.00 or a months salary. The government entity is not required to pay the person filing attorney fees.
When it was brought up about hiring the attorney to negotiate the contract and it was not on the agenda. Robert’s Rules of Order dictates the meeting and it has to be objected to immediately. So that could not be heard, even thought not on the agenda.
Because some items were outside the 21 days from occurrence, my side was unable to present testimony on these issues.
As of this writing Judge Derrick has not issued a ruling. However, I, Rickey Stokes, is not optimistic. However, I really think that I have been able to bring to the sunshine of the public really what has been going on.
If the court rules against me, as I expect, the ruling will not say the board did or did not violate the Alabama Open Meetings Law. And the Alabama Legislature intentionally wrote it to allow deceptive ers.
Judge Derrick did an outstanding job in researching the law and issue. And nothing bad to say.
My attorneys, Steve McGowan and his staff did an outstanding job. Mr. Boardman and Mr. Irwin did great jobs.
For the record, I am not sad or disappointed. Because regardless, I brought issues to the table that needs to be addressed. There is a run off election and important to help get the purpose of Dothan City Schools on track.
Mr. Mike Schmitz tried, However during his tenure he was faced with COVID and heart surgery. If anyone could have got Dothan City Schools on the right track. I think Mike Schmitz could have. And people who were friends of his treated him like dog manure.
Scott Childers has done a good job but ran into the 4 to 3 vote, blocking him on every turn.
I wish the new Superintendent well.
Monday there will be a meeting showcasing what great things can be done when you have school leadership with their eye on the ball – what is best for the students to provide them with an education.
