Should the rest of the Guilford County School Board and Guilford County Commissioners not be willing to immediately call for such an investigation they will be considered complicit. Click to view full size.
Update 2: Allow me to begin this second update with the definition of Public Records as per § 132-1. "Public records" defined. Please note the emphasis added.
§ 132-1. "Public records" defined.
(a) "Public record" or "public records" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. Agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions shall mean and include every public office, public officer or official (State or local, elected or appointed), institution, board, commission, bureau, council, department, authority or other unit of government of the State or of any county, unit, special district or other political subdivision of government.
(b) The public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people. Therefore, it is the policy of this State that the people may obtain copies of their public records and public information free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law. As used herein, "minimal cost" shall mean the actual cost of reproducing the public record or public information. (1935, c. 265, s. 1; 1975, c. 787, s. 1; 1995, c. 388, s. 1.)
Do you see any exceptions for e-mail written into State Public Records laws? All is a tiny word but its meaning is very big, very inclusive, right? All is as big as everything.
Now, do you see any exceptions for Facebook-- a form of electronic records retention-- written into North Carolina state law? What's the difference between communications via Facebook and any other form of electronic communication? The differences would be like trying to argue the differences between Gmail and Yahoo-- all are forms of electronic communications.
I bring this up because as I posted in What's The Relationship Between Jill R Wilson And Anita Wilson Sharpe? Ms Sharpe previously deleted her comments on my facebook page.
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And this one:
And along with deleting her comments she never replied to my follow-up question:
"§ 132-3. Destruction of records regulated.
(a)Prohibition.–No public official may destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any public record, except in accordance with G.S. 121-5 and G.S. 130A-99, without the consent of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Whoever unlawfully removes a public record from the office where it is usually kept, or alters, defaces, mutilates or destroys it shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction only fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00)."
Communications with public officials concerning public records is always public record no matter what the medium. No exceptions are written into the law.
Okay, so maybe $10 or even $500 isn't that big a deal but that's for just one offense. How many times has Anita Sharpe violated North Carolina public records laws?
Now that I have established that Guilford County School Board Member Anita has a PROVEN history of violating state records laws will our school board and county commissioners call for an independent state level investigation concerning Say Yes Guilford, Superintendent Sharon Contreras, and Attorney Jill R Wilson? Or will they simply let it all ride?
Update 3: And finally, as was sent to me:
"***SO MY SUGGESTION TO PUBLIC IS TO CONSIDER:If you want to read the emails from Anita Sharpe to submit a public information request by email or calling (370-2300) Nora Carr (carrN@gcsnc.com) or any staff member in District Relations at Guilford County Schools.Request (Any/all emails from Anita Sharpe to the superintendent or board between September 22, 2017 to current) keywords graduation, evaluations or firing)Many educational stakeholders spoke during the September 28th board meeting to uplifting concerns with the boards motion during September 7th board meeting to overrule operational decision by superintendent (to change a graduation date to accommodate vacation schedules. Speakers also addressed the unethical behavior of Anita Sharpe's communications.
Several organizations leaders have considered recommendations to ask the SBI to investigate the many correspondence from Anita Sharpe regarding violating the law and numerous concerns that board legal counsel is pulling emails and documents from public information request that are NOT student or personnel related and violating citizens rights to access information.There are plans for a upcoming community meeting to address the "School Board Watch" concerns and to develop next steps in supporting Guilford County Schools students, staff and educational improvement needs.STAY TUNED!!!"
Update 4: October 6, 2017, Jordan Green of Triad City Beat writes School board members must respect public records law Hopefully he'll pick up on the rest of the story as well.
