According to an end-of-year report from the Alabama Department of Education, Huntsville City Schools finished the fiscal year on Oct. 1 nearly $20 million in the red. That’s the largest debt of any school system in Alabama, nearly four times the next highest.

And despite assurances last spring from Superintendent Ann Roy Moore that all systems were hurting because of the recession, Huntsville joined just 12 of the state’s 132 systems to end the year in negative numbers.

That’s right. Dr. Ann Roy Moore has driven the school district into the worst debt than any other school district in the state. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to her financial obligations and less to school uniforms and lying to the school board about members of the military trying to regain parental rights. It’s not like the school was only slightly more in debt than the other schools. The next most in debt school was in the hole a whopping $5.5 million!

Thankfully, Huntsville City Schools can count on an accountable leadership for the district. *cue crickets* In typical fashion, Ann Roy Moore refused to accept responsibility.

“Moore, whose tenure ends on July 1, referred all questions for this story to the system finance director, Herbert Wheeler.” In other words, Moore wants Wheeler to take the heat. She’s already got her golden parachute. While the board refused to continue her contract (she was fired), she was given a lucrative position as an advisor to her predecessor. And the board wonders what happened?

The problem is that Ann Roy Moore has a personnel problem. Every school board meeting I went to she was asking for more money for more people. Huntsville currently has 500 locally funded personnel to handle 25,000 students. Compare that with Jackson County Schools that has 17 locally funded personnel to handle 35,000 students. Nothing cures incompetence more than overwhelming numbers. She even demanded two secretaries just for her! While we were there, classrooms had $0 for class supplies. This burden fell on the parents and many were more than generous to provide the stuff (my wife and I spent 100s of dollars on our kids’ classrooms).

I hope the school board will relook the contract offer they’ve given to Dr. Moore and rescind it lest they end up worse without her than they were with her – if that’s possible. Ann Roy Moore’s incompetence will result in more school closings, overcrowded classrooms, and laid off educators.

On another note, there is another good side to this story, according to FoxNews:

Y’all have all heard this story by now, I’m sure.

A boy in Coventry, Rhode Island had his HAT banned from the school because it contained little green Army men which supposedly violated the school’s “no-tolerance gun policy”.

In typical fashion for America’s schools, the superintendent displayed an utter lack of understanding about his own school’s policies on weapons in the school. When asked about the situation, Coventry superintendent Kenneth R. Di Pietro, told the family that he would not be violating the policy if he just replaced the little men with guns with guys without them. “Nothing was being done to limit patriotism, creativity, other than find an alternative to a weapon,” Di Pietro.

Superintendent Di Pietro supports the principal’s decision to ban any images and toys of troops carrying “weapons”.

The problem here is that the students ballcap did NOT violate any of the school’s policies on weapons. After a review of the policy here is what it states on the issue:

Pocket knives and any other object which may be considered a weapon is not allowed in school. A zero tolerance policy exists in the Coventry School District.

Weapons or items that could be used as weapons (including toys) are not allowed in school (zero tolerance and is often an offense that requires out-of-school suspension)

Now, please tell me what on this cap could be “used as weapons”. These are little green Army men. Is the student, David Morales, going to try and pluck someone’s eye out with a machine gunner just an inch tall and lying prone on the bill of his cap?

One of the benchmarks of the school district is to help kids “Identify rights and responsibilities of citizens, identify freedoms we enjoy.” Isn’t the second amendment and the right to keep and bear arms one of those or is the school district picking and choosing what they want to teach kids about their rights.

I understand that second grade isn’t exactly the place where history and military action is discussed, but I find it hard to believe that at some point during the year, students aren’t exposed to a photo of troops that may be carrying weapons. I wonder if the school also forbids visiting police officers from carrying their guns for fear that a child might see it.

Coventry Elementary School Principal Denise Richtarik banned a students hat for having little green Army men with weapons on it to honor our troops.

The student’s principal, Denise Richtarik (curiously not mentioned in any reports I’ve read on the issue) and Superintendent Di Pietro met with the commander of the Rhode Island National Guard, Lt. Gen. Reginald Centracchio, to discuss the issue with him. While praising the school district, he adamantly disagreed with the policy decision by staff.

“The American soldier is armed. That’s why they’re called the armed forces,” he said. “If you’re going to portray it any other way, you miss the point.”

What has changed in the past 100 years that children can no longer be trusted to understand what a gun is? Maybe the problem with gun violence today is that our youth are so isolated from them that they don’t fully understand them. In the 1800s kids were taught to shoot (and be safe with) guns from a very early age – normally BEFORE even old enough to attend school. Nowadays, our education system can’t even trust students to put little green plastic men with images of guns on their hats. It’s sad, really.

Huntsville City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Ann Roy Moore, accepted a compromise to end negotiations about whether or not to extend her contract. The school board voted today on the compromise that would allow the incompetent superintendent to finish out her nearly $200,000 per year job through the 2011 school. As of June 2011, Dr. Moore will be “demoted” to a mere advisory position to the incoming superintendent that will pay a mere….exactly what she’s making as superintendent ($197,686 a year).

So, a superintendent that allowed illegal searches and seizures of students, supported illegal interference in business relationships, and alienated and ostracized parents throughout the district will make another $400,000 of tax payer money. This after firing over 200 teachers to pay for what she blamed on “pro ration”.

Last year, we attended a school board meeting in which Dr. Moore was complaining about the school budget out of one side of her mouth while advocating that she be given another assistant from the other. That position would have paid between $40,000 and $60,000. When asked if she would accept a pay cut, Dr. Moore responded, “depends on how drastic the pay cut is.” Tell that to the 200+ teachers to whom you gave a 100% pay cut, Dr. Moore! I say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Instead of addressing the real issues of why parents are opposed to Dr. Moore, her racist supporters decided to use just that – racism – to complain about the decision.

“The racists want her gone,” said Madison County Racist Commissioner Bob Harrison, “because they don’t want a school system that still has a majority white population headed by a black woman.”

Is that not the most ignorant and racist thing you’ve ever heard? I knew many black parents who couldn’t stand Dr. Moore and are happy to see her go. If you ask me – whom some would call a “white male” – the racist in our midst is Dr. Moore and her cronies. It didn’t escape me that when I was having my issues with the school system, I was up against a black female PTA president, a black female regional PTA president, a black female principal, a black female school liaison officer, a black male First Sergeant, and black female superintendent. And while all these people were attacking me, a black female parent who was more vociferous and angry than I was was never so much as cautioned.

I’m glad to see Dr. Moore go, but not because she’s black. Because she’s incompetent and ruined an excellent school system! I just wish we didn’t have to waste another nearly half million dollars on this woman before she is let go. I can’t say I don’t have a huge smile across my face, either.

The board was supposed to take a vote on Moore’s contract Thursday. However, board member Laurie McCaulley insisted on delaying it after hours of heated commentary from residents.

Race made the story hotter last week. Moore’s critics from the south end of town, many of whom are white, blame her for the school system’s financial problems, including a $22 million deficit next fiscal year. Black speakers from north Huntsville rallied around Moore, who is black.

I don’t blame the people of Huntsville. It’s Moore that started the racist rhetoric when she went after me last year. As many of you are aware, I and many parents had a problem with Williams Middle School Principal, Avis Williams, who is “black”. The races of those parents furious with Principal Williams was varied along racial lines. However, instead of attacking “black” parents who were more vocal than I was, she and Superintendent Moore went after me, a “white” guy. Not once in the discussion of being “afraid” or “fearful” were the threats of another “black” female parent brought into the conversation. Her employer wasn’t called and she wasn’t slandered in the press or among the school faculty. She wasn’t followed by school security when she visited her child. But, I was – a “white” male.

The bottom line is that I believe Superintendent Ann Roy Moore is, herself, a racist and that is why there is so much division (which in all honestly, I don’t believe falls along racial lines) in Huntsville. Moore is a poor educator and manager. She fumbled a perfect opportunity to lead during the Williams Middle School uniform debacle, lying to parents, military officials, and the school board itself.

On numerous occasions, I met with school board officials and found out that Moore had been lying to them directly about actions that took place while I was there. I had dozens of signed statements from parents in attendance to prove my innocence and never once in the process lied about anything I did. As a matter of fact, I even had video to prove my side of the argument that Superintendent Moore tried successfully to suppress through my command. But, she can’t suppress it any longer and is important in deciding if Moore’s contract should be extended. These are the actions of school officials that she defended:

First Part of PTA Meeting from CJ Grisham on Vimeo.

You can see at timehack 19:04 that the Principal gets involved in a way that is against the spirit of the PTA and violates the bylaws. These actions were fully supported by Superintendent Moore. The video is difficult to watch and demonstrates the bully tactics employed by Moore’s faculty. THAT is the reason that the city is so divided about Moore, not because of some fictitious race issue. It is a tactic employed by Moore to shut up opposition to her radical agenda to change our children into mindless robots.

Alta Morrison, who was the original school board member to ignore my complaints against the school is obviously supporting Moore. In the Huntsville Times article, Morrison is quoted.

Moore appears to have a backer in board member Alta Morrison. On Friday, she echoed comments from many north Huntsville residents who demanded to know why, specifically, Moore’s contract shouldn’t be renewed.

“You’ll have to show me what she’s done wrong,” Morrison said. “We knew we had to let people go (and) we don’t have the money to pay them. You’ve got to have a reason to change.”

Well, Ms. Morrison, you know darn well I’ve provided you with PLENTY of proof of what she’s done wrong. She’s lied to you as a board which was proven through numerous meetings with the Superintendent and board members.

None of the other parents involved in disagreement had their employers contacted. Here is another version of the video that was taken by another parent. If you skip to the 9-minute mark, you’ll see what happened AFTER I left. Of course, security wasn’t there because they were harassing me and my wife in the hallway.

PTA Meeting (child removed) from CJ Grisham on Vimeo.

And this treatment of parents is what Alta Morrison and others that support her are endorsing by trying to keep Superintendent Moore in office. She lied to the public by stating no one in the school system ever contacted Army officials even after I provided email proof to the contrary of Principal Williams contacting base officials with baseless lies.

Superintendent Moore is not good for the students of Huntsville. A change is needed to bring some accountability back to Huntsville City Schools and not just at the Superintendent level. The Board also needs new faces!

A month ago, a fourteen year old student, Todd T. Brown, died at Huntsville Hospital after being shot in the back of the head at Discovery Middle School in Madison, a city that borders Huntsville. The shooter was a wanna-be gangsta who wanted out of the gangsta lifestyle. Fearing he would get beat up by his fellow members, he decided to shoot one of the kids instead of just take a few punches. Because of this incident, Huntsville City Schools Board member Laurie McCaulley is proposing a system wide uniform policy. The shooting didn’t even take place in her jurisdiction.

McCaulley knows who I am quite well. I’ve addressed her and the board in person and attended numerous meetings. She also knows me from the lawsuit she’s going to have to answer for.

According to WAAYTV.com, McCaulley thinks that adopting a uniform policy will cut down on bullying and gangs that apparently reside in neighboring school districts. The only gangs I’ve ever seen in the schools were actually employed by the city! They’re paid to bully students and parents and they have yet to be required to wear uniforms. Maybe UAH should also adopt a uniform amongst its staff to prevent more professors from murdering people too.

The sad fact is that there is no evidence that school uniforms will prevent another shooting, reduce gangs, or cut down on bullying. I defy Ms. McCaulley to produce some hard evidence to support these claims. I’ve done the research, which is how I came to my newfound ardent opposition to school uniforms thanks to the Huntsville City Schools Gang. I wrote about the REAL research that proves MY point and contradicts what Ms. McCaulley is trying to bully students into. First, here’s an instance of how school uniforms prevent gangs activity and bullying:

Oh wait, they didn’t prevent anything. But, let’s get back to the research. McCaulley says that if she can’t institute a system-wide policy, she wants to focus elementary and middle school uniform policies. After all, elementary schools are a breeding ground for gang activity and bullying. I remember vividly my 6-year old daughter coming home with red crayon markings all over her because she dared to wear a My Little Pony t-shirt, a major elementary school gang mascot. The next day she was accosted with Elmer’s glue for taking her Rainbow Bright notebook out, a clear violation of the Rainbow Bright 1st Grade gang. We decided it was best to just have her wear Star Wars clothes, but then the middle school Jedi Gang got upset and threatened to cut her right hand off with a lightsaber.

Uniforms are not the answer to gang activity and bullying. The answer lies with parents first and school administrators second. If a child is bullying, kick them out of school! Suspend them! The problem is twofold, but begins in the home. A uniform won’t change the fact that a parent doesn’t know what their children are doing on the weekends or after school. A uniform won’t change the actions of a kid getting beaten at home at taking that anger out on weaker kids at school. Uniforms won’t change the fact that most of the kids who are even prone to engage in gang activity come from single parent homes where the parent is working multiple jobs and doesn’t have quality time to spend with their child. Uniforms won’t change the root cause of issues of violence in our schools – lack of conflict resolution skills, poor self esteem, and instilling discipline and pride. Setting and enforcing curfews in public areas among young people would go further to preventing gang activity than any uniform.

One of the foremost authorities on the school uniform debate comes from Dr. David L. Brunsma, who wrote a book titled “Uniforms in Public Schools: A Decade of Research and Debate” (Rowman & Littlefield Education; illustrated edition edition (December 13, 2005)) has done more research on this topic than anyone. It started back in 1996 while reading the text of President Clinton’s State of the Union Address where he first “introduced the concept of uniforms into the public school system.

I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.

Interesting, though, that they won’t heed what President Clinton said just before this comment.

I challenge every state to give all parents the right to choose which public school their children will attend; and to let teachers form new schools with a charter they can keep only if they do a good job.

But, I digress. The Department of Education responded to President Clinton’s call for school uniforms and created a “Manual on School Uniforms.” It’s still on the Department’s web page. In the user’s guide section, a very important statement is made that “for uniforms to be a success, as with all other school initiatives, parents must be involved.” To be fair, this is something that Ms. McCaulley is advocating, according to the WAAYTV article.

McCaulley plans to the other board members to create a committee. That committee would get feedback from parents using surveys. Then, the information will be used to determine if parents would support a system wide uniform policy. McCaulley says, the idea of uniforms actually came from teachers.

The Clinton administration gave a few POTENTIAL benefits of going to a school uniform policy within public schools:

* decreasing violence and theft — even life-threatening situations — among students over designer clothing or expensive sneakers;
* helping prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school;
* instilling students with discipline;
* helping parents and students resist peer pressure;
* helping students concentrate on their school work; and
* helping school officials recognize intruders who come to the school.

With over a decade of research on the topic now available, have those potential benefits been realized. Dr. Brunsma says no.

“To state the results of that study in a nutshell, we found that uniform policies did NOT distinguish between students who had attendance problems, behavioral problems, or substance use problems and those who did not. Furthermore, uniforms FAILED, in our empirical analyses, to increase academic preparedness, pro-school attitudes, or a peer structure that supported academics. Finally, to our surprise, we found a small, weak, yet statistically significant negative effect of uniform policies on” violence.

Yet, because one wanna-be gang banger decides to murder a fellow student, HSC doesn’t want to waste a good tragedy in implementing their authoritarian leadership on the citizens that pay taxes to fund those decisions (like me). They will ignore that students at schools that require uniforms score lower on tests, more behavior problems, and violence won’t be affected according to Bunsma’s research. Students can hide a weapon inside a uniform just as they can inside a pair of jeans. What our educators need to be doing is enforcing their own current dress policies and actively taking an interest in students as individual people and a collective group of cattle.

Ms. McCaulley and other uniform proponents have no facts from which to base their assertions that uniforms work. They cling to anecdotal stories from the perspectives of educators while ignoring real research. Uniforms cost families more, cost taxpayers more, and don’t provide any benefit to anyone other than the companies supplying them. Developers become huge contributors to so-called vouchers to assist with purchasing uniforms not because they will help students, but because there is a perception (and probably a reality) that uniforms increase home values. I’m also surprised that in the WAAYTV poll, 64% of those polled think uniforms are a good idea – probably the teachers and school administrators taking the poll.

For more on my writings and research of school uniforms, click the “school uniforms” tag on this post.

Mr. President, members of the board, Superintendent Moore, I come before the board today to bring your attention to a gross injustice being committed in your schools. My name is CJ Grisham and I used to have three kids in the Huntsville City Schools district.

You are already aware of how this began over a simple uniform dispute as other parents have addressed this body before on my behalf and theirs. I went to the next PTA meeting with a camera to protect myself as a result of my treatment following that first meeting. Unfortunately, it turned out that I needed that video because once again the Williams Middle School, Principal Avis Williams, began calling the Army and slandering my name.

A few weeks ago, I had a meeting with the Superintendent and a few other parents. During that meeting, I explained that the principal was calling my employer and asked if that was common practice. She assured me it was not and that she would speak with the principal and let her know that the only person that is to contact the Army about a parent would be her. Well, either she didn’t tell the principal this important rule or the principal simply ignored her. Since this meeting, the principal has called my place of employment twice with baseless accusations.

The environment at Williams Middle School and within Huntsville City Schools was so untenable and intimidating that my wife and I sought to have our kids transferred out of the district. When that wasn’t possible we made the decision to protect our kids – all of whom were straight A students before this issue happened and had NEVER had any disciplinary issues – by sending them to live with their grandparents. We spent over $1,400 to remove them from a school that doesn’t respect its students or their parents. This was not a decision we made lightly and it has resulted in our family being separated until complete our next military move in a few short weeks; a move that was pushed up more than five months solely because of our treatment by this school system. When we took our grievances to the administration, we were assured that steps would be taken to de-escalate the problems, but they only got worse.

Because of these false allegations against me by the principal and/or the PTA president, Angela Thomas, I have been threatened with a General Letter of Reprimand by the military. As a senior non-commissioned officer in the Army, this would be a career killer for me. In 15 years of honorable military service, I have never had these problems. Even in my time here in Huntsville, I have never had problems with school officials until this principal came in. I have gone through great lengths and contributed a great deal of money in support of this school. As a part-time DJ, I have donated my services to the schools free of charge. I have raised thousands of dollars for JROTC cadets. My wife volunteers weekly at the school, assisting the teachers. I have never had so much as a negative counseling against me since I was Private. Everything I’ve done with respect to my military service has been honorable and just. And because of the baseless accusations of ONE principal, my career is being trashed. My career is being trashed because I dared to disagree with a policy. I dared to question the principal. I was never disrespectful, but I was greatly disrespected. I tried to resolve my dispute through the school system while the principal tried to resolve it through the Army.

At a recent PTA meeting, the one in which I brought my camera, I was refused an opportunity to present a motion by the principal herself. She completely violated protocol and rules of order. I was refused an opportunity to intelligently and professionally discuss a policy that was quite controversial to many people. In fact, none of the parents were allowed to discuss it. The principal violated protocol and censored anyone that didn’t agree with her. She created a hostile environment by surrounding the PTA meeting with six security officials and a uniformed police officer, something that I’ve NEVER seen at a PTA meeting in the past. They even tried to get the police to search me as I entered, a violation of my 4th Amendment rights. At the end of the meeting, one of these security guards assaulted my wife and the principal has refused to give us his name. To this date, school officials, to include the Superintendent, have refused to grant me the name of the public school security official that violently grabbed my 5’2” wife and dragged her across a hallway.

Is this common practice within Huntsville City Schools to call parents’ employers when there is a disagreement with a policy? If I worked for the railroad, would she be calling my boss there? Is it common practice to manhandle them at a public meeting and stand in their face during discussion about a controversial policy? Is it common policy for principals to ignore meeting protocol and take over PTA meetings when there is disagreement? Is it encouraged for superintendents to not follow up on promises made to parents or for principals to ignore the superintendent without consequence?

I am not the only parent that is having issues with the principal or teachers at Williams Middle School. Yet, I am the only parent whose employer has been contacted. I have been very open every step of the way and attempted to resolve these disputes within school channels. However, I have continued to be ignored and treated with contempt and disrespect.

I no longer have a child in Huntsville City Schools. I will never have another child in Huntsville City Schools. I will never encourage another family to place their kids in these schools. I could not care less about uniform policies any longer. However, I do care about my good name being smeared in a coordinated effort by one of your principals and my concerns being ignored by your superintendent.

I am here tonight no longer as a parent, but as a citizen. I want the board to know what the actions of this one principal have done to my family. We are now separated from our children by hundreds of miles at a time when I value every day with them that I am not deployed. I can’t in good conscience allow them to stay in this school under these circumstances.

Thank you for your time.

He was very professional, respectful, poignant, and articulate – exactly how he would have been had he been allowed to speak to the PTA. I am so proud of him standing up for himself and our kids.

Principal Williams and the PTA President can’t seem to be adults and address this issue directly with my husband. Instead, they want to play games with his career. Well, they can now call my boss if they have a problem with this video – a very embarassing portrayal of school officials out of control – being here. Cj no longer owns this site, I do. He is not publishing this, I am. They have yet to respond to any of his requests for a meeting after nearly a month!

Honestly, I am tired of this all. I would like for him to be able to go through every few days without a call or e-mail from the PTA president or the principal, thus resulting in a call from the 1SGT, SGMs, or COL. I would like for the army to not say that Cj is giving the army and the garrison a bad name. Oh–wait–it’s ok for them to smear Cj’s name AND career, but now that it’s touching them, it’s not ok? I, too, would like for this to stop just as much as the garrison chain of command would. How can we do that, though, when they give those two women carte blanche, even when they LIED in their accusations, every time they call? Why not just tell them, like they should, the problems that she is having with us is NOT AN ARMY ISSUE. They didn’t have to get into the middle of it. But now that they know that each time they call, things happen to Cj, they will not let their claws out of his skin.

I refuse any longer to have my hands tied on defending my husband. But, you got your way, oh magnaminus garrison, Cj will have nothing to do with what is put on this site, he won’t say anything here about the school, or the garrison, but i will. If that means letting everyone know what is going on, then that is what i am going to do. We tried to let garrison fix it, but nothing has changed, and they continue to slander him and harrass his work with complaints. And everytime they complain, he gets an angry phone call, that he has to defend himself from again, most of the time not even knowing all what was said because they won’t tell him. Do they realize the support they would have if they backed up a soldier that was being raked through the coals over something that never should have involved him in?

You have a principal and a PTA president that are out of control in what they are doing to parents. Parents that most of the military population on base have their children attending. I am glad that my kids will never have to see the likes of that school again, the principal, some teachers, and a PTA president that is allowed to roam the school whenever she wants even after so visciously and vengefully verbally attacking parents-yes, more than one.

My kids know EVERYTHING that has been going on, and that will stay with them forever and shape how they see the army and public schooling for the rest of their lives.

I would be willing to drop EVERYTHING if she, the principal, apologizes to all the parents she disrespected, face to face, as well as the PTA president. The garrison also owes my husband a big apology. My husband knows EVERYTHING they have done to try and ruin his career. Everything they are still trying to do now to ruin him. Hence, why he is now stepping down and the reins are in my hands and the other parents involved.

I could not care less about the uniform policy anymore. My kids aren’t there and that has become an issue for other parents to take over. The problem is, once the uniform issue was underway, more things kept coming up about how this principal deals with parents and students. WE didn’t make her look bad, SHE made herself look bad.

First Part of PTA Meeting from CJ Grisham on Vimeo.

Nothing extraordinary until these important time hacks:

7:49 PTA president Angela Thomas gets up with a “strange request” and forces all non-PTA members to be segregated on the far side of the cafeteria.
9:04 Begins a roll-call vote of all PTA members.
11:33 Forces four teachers trying to leave to stay. “I really need you to stay.”
11:58 Singles me out by waving me off and not asking my name or my wife’s.
15:27 Violates Roberts of Order by reading someone else’s (mine) motion.
16:36 Tells me I can’t second a motion that is read from the podium
16:42 “No. No. UH uh. That’s one good thing about being the President. Ya’ll get to decide, I get to break a tie.”
16:47 I explain that she is violating the bylaws.
16:55 She tells me I can’t second the motion. “That is not Robert’s Rules of Order.”
17:06 Motion is brought to a vote without “second” or discussion.
17:30 Refuses to allow me to show her in the book how she is violating the rules of order.
17:38 I explain that she’s doing it wrong and she responds that I’m “creating a hostile environment.”
18:13 Another parent asks to see the book for the rules of order.
18:35 Another parents asks me to stand up and explain what I was saying about Robert’s Rules of Order.
19:04 Principal Avis Williams walks up to PTA Council President and whispers something to her.
20:01 Principal Williams grabs the microphone and prevents me from debating the motion.
20:21 School security guard gets in my face and no one else’s who was speaking out at the time; gets uncomfortably and menacingly close.
21:13 Principal Williams only reads part of my motion as support for her position that it doesn’t need to be debated.
21:37 Principal Williams states that there will NOT be an opt-out clause, which was part of my motion, then denies me the opportunity to argue the motion.
21:49 PTA President Thomas states that the school uniform issue has absolutely NOTHING to do with the PTA.
21:56 States purposes from new bylaws that no one has a copy of and that weren’t voted on.
21:19 I am standing with my hand up and told to sit down and put my hand down by police. I sat down as he asked, but kept my hand up. He then told me to put my hand down again.
22:40 Because police officer is in my face, my youngest daughter begins crying and is picked up by my wife.
22:49 Thomas again states that the PTA is not a part of the uniforms.
23:17 Thomas bars a parent from making a motion even after it’s been seconded.
23:40 Another parent expresses concern about being contacted for the survey.
25:30 I get up to leave, but another parent is about to speak so I sit back down.
25:58 Another parent states that I have had an attitude.
26:33 Parent mentions I’m in the military and I try to correct him that I’m there as a parent.
26:43 I slam my fist on the table and get up to leave when Thomas mentions on the microphone that I’m a “First Sergeant in the United States Army.” Other parents get upset about this.

PTA Meeting (child removed) from CJ Grisham on Vimeo.

Cj has done nothing but stand up for his rights as a parent. And he hasn’t been alone. There are numerous other parents who were just as upset about uniforms as we were initially. But, this is no longer about uniforms. This is about a Principal and a lapdog PTA President who have had their egos bruised and didn’t like being told how to follow their own rules. They were embarrassed and instead of being adults about it, they continue to make up false accusations against my husband and conveying through Army channels.

Cj got a call today that he was supposed to meet with the Colonel on base tomorrow. As you know, he’s on leave and nowhere near post. He was told that based off a letter that they won’t get specific about from a woman they won’t name, they were considering a general letter of reprimand. I don’t know what that means, but Cj said it comes from a General officer.

Supposedly, whoever made the complaint to the Army that they – again – feel threatened. How and why we have no idea! They are also complaining that Cj posted the videos here yesterday without permission. He’s already sought legal advice about whether he’s legally allowed to do it and here it is:

If you were recording this meeting openly (that is, the camera was in the open and it was apparent to attendees that it was being recorded, rather than being secretly recorded in some way), you do not need consent of people who appeared at the meeting in order to publish the video. If you are planning on posting it online, you may do so without obtaining the specific consent of any of the people shown.

It probably would be best that you not identify the son by name, particularly if he is a minor, but you would not need consent from him or his parents to use the recording of this public event, including the scene where he walks into camera view.

Yes, the camera was placed plainly on the table without camouflage and a bright red light indicating it was on. The meeting was public. The Army is complaining that this entire thing is giving the Army a bad name. His unit is claiming that it’s giving them a bad name. I don’t understand how this could be. He hasn’t done anything wrong. We can only assume that because people are calling the Mayor, Governor and others that they are starting to ask questions of the Army. We don’t know because no one is telling Cj anything.

Since he gets in trouble every time he writes something, I’m going to write what’s going on. They can’t do anything to me and I’m tired of Cj being sent down the river for standing up for my kids, and himself. He has been yelled at by senior NCOs and given a formal counseling after the first meeting back on October 1st. Now the Army is trying to push a general letter of reprimand on him and kick him out of the unit. For what? Nothing! For defending himself against unwarranted accusations!

What gets me is that it’s not just Cj who is speaking out against this issue! He just happens to be the one with the blog to write about it. Why aren’t other parents – even other military parents – getting sent through the ringers on this? Cj has done nothing but follow the rules the entire time. He was shut down at the PTA meeting when he tried explaining the rules that were being broken by others. He was told he was being “hostile” for mere debate! That his whole demeanor was ‘threatening’. And, when the video came out, and showed that he wasn’t, that’s where they got pissed. We were not the only parents who were upset at both the PTA president and the Principal. Others have sent NUMEROUS e-mails being aggressive and blunt with both of them, and, of course, nothing has come about on them for what they said in letters.. They still, unfortunately, have their kids in that school and have to deal with that (those) women.

You have a superintendent that did nothing to diffuse the situation, but lay blame on CJ for how the principal acted. It’s absolutely disgusting when a senior NCO is actively going out of his way to JAG to see how he can screw my husband up the ass. Shouldn’t HE be the one getting the counseling for being unprofessional? I’ve had my butt lectured by the chain of command and feeling utterly frustrated that they are trying to bind our hands at any defense that we have against these lies – and I’m a civilian. And come to find out, the reason for the phone call that spurred it, was a COMPLETE LIE (all three out of the four complaints ended up being false, only because no one will tell us what the new complaint is about). Through all this time, still, they think that it’s just Cj who feels this way about the school and the people running it.

Tell me people, what recourse do we have? Cj may have to drop it, but you better believe if this crap doesn’t stop, I will be calling the press when i get home, with a host of other parents behind me, I will be calling the mayors office, I will be calling the Governor’s office, I will be calling all my congressmen/women about it, I will do my best to make the story national because it has got to stop.

These two woman have lied and stretched the truth time and time again-with e-mails and video to prove it- and the only one getting grief over it is….Cj.

I went to the meeting fully prepared and relaxed to talk about the school uniform policy. I went there armed with PTA procedures and assurances from more than a dozen present and former PTA presidents and officers from around the country that to whom I’ve spoken – not with guns, knives, ninja throwing stars, or other weapons.

The PTA (Proletariat Totalitarian Association?) of Williams Middle School is completely out of control. Behold the actions of PTA President Angela Thomas (her name is public knowledge on the school PTA website) and her minions. (Note: This video was taken overtly of a public meeting. The camera was trained on the podium where public officials were speaking. This video is not being used for profit or personal gain and is, therefore, in the public domain. If you have a problem with it, speak to my lawyer, not my employer!)

Now, I was not allowed to speak – again! As a matter of fact, I was harassed the entire evening by the school’s thugs in arms. As soon as I walked through the door, I noticed a contingent of five security guards and a uniformed police officer congregating in the back. Thomas pointed me out to the gaggle who then spread out around the cafeteria to keep a watchful eye on the “mean, evil, angry, trouble-making, menacing threat” that is CJ when he disagrees with the school administration. I wasn’t initially against school uniforms. However, throughout this entire process of totalitarianism by Principal Avis Williams and the overreaching of authority by the PTA President, I’ve done a LOT of research.

When I’m challenged, I don’t take a half-hearted approach to it. I expend a great amount of energy to ensure I’m on the right side of an argument. Part of my research has gone into the whole uniform issue individually and collectively. I read through EXTREMELY boring academia studies that talked about “stratified samplings,” variables, and controls. I read countless news articles and some published university debates. I read laws, laws, and more laws. I reread the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which is poetry in my mind. I examined the merits of what we’re being told is the reason we MUST have uniforms to save our children. Finally, I read numerous court cases related to school uniforms from many different angles. This research has netted me a wealth of information and fundamentally changed my perspective on uniforms. Naturally, the PTA under the incompetent tutelage of Ms. Thomas is afraid to hear any facts related so her socialist cause of instituting uniforms.

There are some that believe this issue of school uniforms is not a PTA issue. The purpose of the PTA as stated in our specific bylaws is to “bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.” This goal is promoted through, again quoting the bylaws, “an advocacy and educational program directed toward parents, teachers, and the general public; developed through conferences, committees, projects and programs.”

It is the POLICY of this association to “work with the schools and community,” to “seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy,” and to “promote collaboration between parents, school and the community at large.” These are our bylaws, so unless this body as a whole votes to amend them, it is the FUNCTION of the PTA to have a role in the school uniform policy. But, I wasn’t allowed to make this argument. I wasn’t even allowed to make my own motion on the floor as required by Robert’s Rules of Order (see video below).

Huntsville City Schools Policy #102-8 specifically states:

“The Board of Education supports the development, implementation, and regular evaluation of a program in each school, which will involve parents and the community at all grade levels in a variety of roles. They will include, but not be limited to, the following components of successful parent and community activities as presented in the PTA National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs:

1) Inclusion of parents and community as partners in the decisions that affect children and families;
2) Recognition that parents play an integral role in assisting students’ learning;
3) Parents and the community are welcome in the school, and their active support and assistance are sought;
4) Family and school communications is two-way, regular, meaningful and respectful of diversity.”

A University of Notre Dame study on this subject belies the claims that uniforms improve discipline: “Our findings indicate that student uniforms have no direct effect on . . . behavioral problems.” Alarmingly, in many middle schools (like in Miami-Dade County for example), where uniforms were mandatory, fights nearly doubled over a four-year period from 186 in 1996-97 to 284 in 1997-98.

Earlier this month, 16 year old Derrion Albert of Chicago, Illinois, was struck in the head by a board during a melee involving two rival gangs at a local school. That school has a mandatory uniform policy. Students could be seen beating Derrion to death on a cell phone camera looking spiffy in their khaki pants and black, collared polos. I warn you, the video is disturbing to watch if you decide to click on the link.

In the first uniform meeting at Williams Middle School, we were told that school uniforms promote school spirit, good self-image, and school unity. In 1997, the Board of Education ruled that “the findings…do not support the claim that school uniforms have a positive effect of students’ self-esteem.” As a matter of fact, one person’s pride is another person’s scorn! Kids have pride in clothing that THEY choose to wear, not what’s chosen for them. Pride and self-esteem come from positive role models at home, school, and the community – not a uniform. Pride comes from an adherence to strict standards and swift punishment for those violating it. Pride comes from making the right choices VOLUNTARILY, not because they are forced upon you.

We were told that a school uniform policy is cheaper than the current policy of allowing kids and parents the right to dress themselves. That claim is simply absurd. No longer will parents be able to use or purchase hand-me-downs. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles will no longer be able to send little Johnny clothes for a birthday or Christmas to help offset the cost of clothing for parents. Parents who could not afford brand names to begin with and purchased clothing from thrift stores will now pay MORE for their child’s clothing. We weren’t allowed to ask about a buy-back or uniform recycling program for the school. Now instead of just buying clothes for the school year, kids would be forced to purchase uniforms AND clothing for after school and weekends, effectively doubling the cost of clothes for families. Instead of only having to wash one set of clothes daily, we will have to wash two – a school uniform and after school clothes – thus increasing our utility costs. Beginning next year, if your child isn’t wearing a uniform at Williams Middle School they will be placed in in-school suspension!

A grandmother in Dallas couldn’t afford to buy clothing for her grandchild who was staying with her and the clothing that the local charity could provide didn’t adhere to their policy and didn’t fit so the child spent months in in-school suspension isolated from others because of the heinous crime of wearing clothing that, while perfectly acceptable attire within our society, did not meet the arbitrary mandates set down by a few, or in this case, one principal.

Vouchers were mentioned as the solution to alleviating some costs. However, in order to use those $50 vouchers (only one per student), they must be spent at the most expensive option for purchasing school uniforms – the preferred vender, Educational Outfitters. They are not valid at Wal-Mart, Target, thrift stores, or other cheaper locations. And if you use the vouchers at the expensive vendor, then you must return those uniforms if your child is an eighth grader or not returning next school year without compensation. Uniforms YOU paid for will have to be turned in up to the $50 cost. So, if you use the voucher to purchase a $40 skirt and a $20 shirt, you must return both even though you spent $10 of your own money on the shirt.

The vouchers come from a generous donation from Breland Homes here in Huntsville. I am tremendously thankful to them for donating $10,000 to the school. It’s important and encouraging to know that in today’s economic climate, there are still businesses dedicated to our children’s education. My question is, who made the decision that this money would be better suited to pay for unneeded uniforms instead of much-needed school supplies for our teachers and classrooms? The Principal herself said that the school can’t even afford to do a paper survey of parents because pro-ration has left $0 for school supplies (see second video). Emily and I have spent literally hundreds of dollars assisting our kids’ teachers with things like ink, paper, and other supplies. Thanks to proration, our classes didn’t receive a dime this year for class supplies. Where was the PTA on this issue? Why wasn’t the PTA insisting that this $10,000 go to our kids’ classrooms?

At the meeting, I wanted to debate the topic of an opt-out clause. You heard them tell me that I am not allowed to debate this issue at a PTA, probably because I’m only part of the proletariat, not the totalitarian side. This PTA seems to think that the sole purpose of the the organization is to be the fundraising arm of the school system and that’s simply not right. The PTA DOES play a vital role in supplementing funds for schools, but their main role is to be a partner in education between the schools, students, and parents. Even though this policy doesn’t go into effect until next year, the decision was made THIS year. Principal Williams herself said there will be no opt-out clause next year.

Loren Siegel, director of public education for the American Civil Liberties Union, cautions schools against omitting an opt-out provision from uniform policies:

“For a public school uniform policy to be legal, it has to have an opt-out provision. Every child in this country has the right to a public school education, and that right cannot be conditioned upon compliance with a uniform policy. Some parents and children will have religious objections to uniforms. Others won’t want to participate for aesthetic reasons.”

In 1996, the Clinton Administration – largely responsible for the widespread implementation of uniforms throughout the U.S. – issued a “Manual on School Uniforms.” That manual states quite plainly that “parental support of a uniform policy is critical for success.” It goes on to state that “a mandatory school uniform policy without an opt-out provision could be vulnerable to legal challenge.” Studies show that uniform policies that are voluntary or have a parental consent opt-out do well to address the concerns that led to this decision. We weren’t allowed to ask these questions and were definitely weren’t involved.

Federal law contained within the US Code, Title 20 specifically states that “parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and States, localities, and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role.” (emphasis mine)

What the school doesn’t know is that the United States District Court in Bannister vs. Paradis ruled on the whole school uniform issue. What they ruled is that “a person’s right to wear clothes of his own choosing provided that, in the case of a schoolboy, they are neat and clean is a constitutional right protected and guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment” due process clause of the Constitution.

In Hicks vs. the Halifax County Board of Education, the court ruled that the “adoption and implementation of a school uniform policy infringed upon and violated the free exercise of…religion and…due process right as a parent.” The court also affirmed that “the constitutional right to direct the upbringing of one’s children is grounded in the Due Process Clause.” The Due Process Clause guarantees more than fair process, and the “liberty” it protects includes more than the absence of physical restraint. The Clause also provided heightened protection against government interference with certain fundamental rights and liberty interests. The courts have ruled that the liberty specially protected “includes the right to direct the education and upbringing of one’s children” is held by parents, not educators.

I know what the staff at Williams Middle School are thinking as they read this: “I’ve heard of this, so called, Constitution. Didn’t we abolish that long ago?” After all, aren’t the schools responsible for dictating every aspect of our children’s lives until parents are deemed “worthy” by the school to continue their upbringing? They think we work for them and not the other way around. Unfortunately, many parents have practically given up their right as parents by failing to be involved in their child’s education. To too many parents, school is just “free” daycare.

These are MY children, not the state’s. It doesn’t take a village to raise a child, it takes a parent. It takes active parents engaged in parenting. The school district is just who we outsource them to for a few hours a day because we’re working. The school, as an extension of the state, will not tell me how to raise my child…will not tell me what values he or she should enjoy…will not tell me who my child will become and what he or she will think. They will make those decisions as adult for themselves, but the inputs that get them to that point will be based on me and my wife because we are the parents. I believe in an order of things in the world where parents make those decisions and not public schools. Parents existed before the schools. Schools are a creation of the parents. Schools can go away tomorrow. The schools are only a function as long as we let them be. This isn’t Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany. Last time I checked, public officials are still subordinate to the people.

However, the PTA issue is an entirely different matter. Feel free to express your opinions on my treatment by Williams Middle School PTA President Angela Thomas and Huntsville City Council President Melinda Satcher-Ewing (the woman in red that stands in front of me most of the time in the video) to the State PTA board. Based on my treatment and that of other parents, I don’t think either of these individuals should be allowed to have ANY role in any aspect of the PTA organization. But, you make your own conclusions based on what you see in the videos below. Don’t take my word for it. The first video ends with my voluntary departure and the second one picks up just before that. Again, it is the POLICY of the PTA to “work with the schools AND community to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy.”

Again, please do not contact the school officials if you have a mind to, I have that more than covered and the Army is helping in that respect. The PTA issue MUST be resolved. I can’t comment on the security guard that assaulted Emily as it’s a legal matter now that I’m pursuing. Emily and I have pulled our kids out of the school district for good and we’re moving them to live with their grandparents in another state at great cost to us (along with help from some of you). Other parents are looking into their options to remove their children as well. I still have not heard ANYTHING from the school system on any of my formal complaints against members of the faculty and the principal herself that we submitted weeks ago.

As of this past Monday, they were still calling the Army with false accusations about my alleged use of government computers to spread these videos. I’ve learned from sources close to Ms. Thomas that she is trying to organize a concerted campaign against me and encouraging people to lie to Army officials to get me in trouble. This is from a supposed veteran!

[NOTE: The videos have been removed by order of my chain of command.]