[This article was updated on July 12 with additional information.]

It’s been an evening filled with interesting communications. Oddly enough, it seems I can write about an out-of-control principal, inattentive school board members, and unresponsive school system staffers until the cows come home and no one will bat an eye. However, when I mention the suspicions of a couple of candidates regarding a PTA-sponsored forum, I seem to get everyone’s attention. That’s disappointing.

First I heard from Mike McGowan, Director of Public Information, Communications, and Partnerships with the Cherokee County School System. He called me after apparently taking strong offense to what he considers my “insinuation” that he prepared the notes referred to in my last article. I think I can safely say he was quite indignant and not the least bit polite, accusing me of distributing unsubstantiated information. The attentive reader will notice that I mentioned the opinion of a source and insinuated nothing about Mr. McGowan. In fact, I had never heard of him until he called to take me to task and “warn” me concerning my blog. For the record, Mr. McGowan stated that he has provided all candidates with equal access to information and has maintained impartiality.

I do wonder where Mr. McGowan got my cell phone number, though. It’s certainly nowhere on my blog, nor do I publish it anywhere on my web sites. It is, however, listed in my fiancee’s personnel file as an emergency contact. I will make no assumptions here for the moment.

[UPDATE: Mr. McGowan telephoned my fiancee’ on the morning of July 11 and stated that he got my telephone number from someone I called in reference to this issue. Since I called only one person, Denise Nani, it would seem that she passed my contact information on to the school district rather than returning my call or e-mail.]

Remember that group of very noisy ladies I mentioned in an earlier article who were so disturbing with their talking and heckling during the forum? I mentioned in an earlier update that one of them was Mrs. Read’s campaign chairperson, whose name I now know is Beth Choppa. Choppa is also Co-President of the E. T. Booth Middle School PTA.

I heard from another Read’s campaign staffers this evening: Valerie Johnson, campaign treasurer. In a long e-mail, she provided her condensed curriculum vitae, which I will summarize: she is a Georgia Tech graduate, and has worked as a research analyst for several largish corporations.

In a rather long e-mail, Johnson stated that she provided the cards that the two incumbents referred to during the forum. The cards, of which she said there were more than fifty, contained potential (emphasis mine) questions which were formulated based on current hot issues in the campaign. These issues, she explained, were gleaned from the candidates’ web sites, newspapers, and online blogs as well as the web sites and reports of many well-known organizations in the field of education.

Johnson also said in a manner that implies direct knowledge (underscoring has been rendered in italics):

“Mr. McGowan (or anyone at the CCSD) and Mrs. Nani (or anyone at any level of the PTA) did not provide any of the questions to Mrs. Read or Mr. Chapman at any time. What other candidates saw was the hard work of two very dedicated individuals.”

I counted three including Johnson herself, but let’s not split hairs.

To Johnson’s credit, she seems to recognize that a lack of information can often result in misunderstandings. Her e-mail was neither threatening nor contentious, but simply provided clear, factual information. She also took the high road in requesting, rather than demanding, that I provide correct information. I have now done so, and I thank her for her input.

What Johnson did not mention anywhere in her letter is the fact that she is herself a member of the PTA. I know this because PTA members were asked to stand and be recognized at the conclusion of the forum, and all of the ladies in her row did so. Some research of my own indicates that she was once Public Relations Chairperson of the Bascomb Elementary School PTA, and was an Action Committee Head at the Chapman Intermediate School PTA.

She would have done well to at least acknowledge the perception of impropriety that might arise when a PTA member coaches select candidates in a PTA-sponsored forum. I am prepared to believe that Johnson recused herself from any involvement in the planning or execution of the forum itself in her capacity as a PTA member. However, she did not so state in her e-mail, and I have already been taken to task at least once this evening for making assumptions.

[UPDATE: In a follow-up e-mail, Johnson clarifies (underscores again rendered as italics):

“…let me make it clear to you now that I was not involved in planning the forum in any way. “

She goes on to demur from further comment:

“I hope that this clarifies everything. As I stated in my previous e-mail, I am not going to comment any further on this matter in order to allow the candidates to focus on the more important issues of the campaign but I did want to take the time to thank you for your graciousness and consideration in making this correction.“

I’m happy to have the candidates focused on the more important issues of the campaign. I have no idea what others consider important when electing leaders, but I consider integrity a very important issue indeed.]