Attorney asked AG’s office to force school to turn over records

I'm not involved directly in these things, but know of them.

1) At some point the PSC will rule on Jennifer Phiel's complaint. It is possible that the school will be found in technical violation of reporting procedures. I believe the complaint involves a program the state approved, but has not accounted for in their accounting system. So, schools are left to improvise, and the same complaint could be made about schools throughout the state. There is nothing nefarious about it and the school gains no advantage from it. I can't say for sure, but I suspect the complaint was made in a fit of pique in reaction to a decision involving football coaches.

2) Read the JH article. The school system HAS NOT refused to provide the requested emails. Please stop repeating something that simply isn't true. The system has, lawfully, requested to be reimbursed for gathering the material. There are those who know absolutely nothing about what all that entails who will complain about the amount, but that is something the Attorney General will determine.

3) Young students at EJCHS have spent countless hours in grinding heat putting their heart and soul into their football team. Jennifer Phiel obtained the playbook of HER OWN SCHOOL'S team and mailed it to the oppostion. That is a dispicable act and anyone who defends it is dispicable as well. It is difficult to think of anything more repulsive than to do something to hurt the children who have absolutely nothing to do with Ms. Phiel's dissatisfaction with EJCHS administration. This one is so awful it makes me want to puke. Not because it's football, but because it is just such a low life thing to do and this woman has been teaching our children.

4) In the past, Mike Buffington wrote respectable opinion columns based on fact. Recently, he has been writing gossip columns, casting aspersions and calling names based on extremely shaky and limited gossip that has reached his ears. He needs to return to being a journalist. Interesting that he was happy to pass along one-sided parent complaints about JCCHS from two people, yet he's left the football playbook gossip alone.

To quote myself: "There are those who know absolutely nothing about what all that entails who will complain about the amount, but that is something the Attorney General will determine."

It is unlikely that Jennifer Phiel is paying for any of this. Her professional organization is. Y'all should know two things:

1) The professional organization will take the case of a member even if they have to hold their nose when they do it. Legal services and expenses are part of the services you get when you pay dues. They will save money wherever they can,and this complaint is their way of doing it. The school system has an obligation to charge the usual and customary fee. To do less would be irresponsible.

2) The PSC will investigate all complaints. Their investigating something doesn't in any way mean they've prejudged merits of the case. The only thing you can glean from what's happened so far is that the PSC doesn't consider it to be a critical issue, or they would have acted already. It's on the back burner.

I understand your confusion, even though I did clearly write "Opinion Articles." I was not referring to this news article. I wish you would avoid drawing conclusions in your column until you have some facts in hand. You have established some beliefs about JCSD personnel and jump on any accusation to support your beliefs. But, accusations don't support anything. Wait for investigators, etc. to report, then draw conclusions and reveal your opinion based on that. That's the journalist you used to be.