|
The Calhoun County Board of Education sustained an earlier decision by
Superintendent Ron Blankenship, after a two and one-half hour Level III
grievance hearing Monday night. The case was brought by five Arnoldsburg
School parents. Blankenship said the hearing was related to "alleged
harassment of certain students in the MicroSociety program."
The parents contend there are problems with the delivery of the
reward-punishment elements of the MicroSociety program at the school. The
hearing was not open to the public, a decision made by the complainants.
Principal Sheri Graham attended the hearing.
Arnoldsburg school parents Brenda Holcomb, Lisa Carpenter, Earl Stafford,
Kerri Bourne and Wavalene McCoy have been filing citizen's appeals with the
school system alleging "discrimination, segregation, harassment and
excessive punishment" related to the issuance of B-Bucks in the
MicroSociety program.
Blankenship made a decision on March 15th at Level II hearing that the use
of B-Bucks as a reward and punishment in the lunch room be discontinued,
according to Brenda Holcomb. He denied a request that Principal Sheri
Graham be terminated.
"If you did not have your B-Bucks with you in the lunch room, you had to go
to another table and recess was taken away or limited," according to
Holcomb. Holcomb says she will continue with her case to the State
Superintendent of Schools, although it appears the MicroSociety grant
program is ending at the school.
Holcomb says she has a petition with 136 signatures opposing the program.
Principal Graham and other Arnoldsburg School parents have supported the
program and believe it is a worthy experience for children.
Holcomb, representing herself and two other parents, appeared before the
school board over a year ago, to complain about the MicroSociety program
and Principal Graham. Graham responded with threats of a lawsuit against
the three parents, claiming their behavior was slanderous to her.
Graham recently brought assault charges against another parent who she
claims accosted her on school property.
| 
