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NW Classen: plaque returned to bulletin board, Davis offers no explanation


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The following is an email from Joe Quigley
(Posted 4-3-03)

(4-3-03) I sent the following email to the principal. This morning, 04/03/03, as I passed the Community Bulletin Board, I saw that the "Gift Of" plaque was back on it.
   I try not to be suspicious. I do, after all, resist the temptation to accept that the odd shadow in the McGruder film is a member of an assassination conspiracy, but this does seem a little odd, if not too convenient.
   When first notified that the Plaque was missing (03/26/03) the principal  stated that he would look into the removal of the plaque when he found the opportunity to do so, then advised me that upon purchasing a replacement plaque I should give it to him and he would have it re-affixed by maintenance people. There were no odd marks on the bulletin board or any sign that it had been forced open, and time and tools were needed for the removal. The city police officer assigned to the school explained that as there was no eye witness nor a confession, a police report would not be of any use as the case would be nearly impossible to solve. But I wanted it on record that the plaque has twice been removed. I  questioned this and asked around to find that if I insisted,  the police officer would have to write a report, and I had arranged that if he continued to refuse to write one I would file a report with another officer.
   The principal's statement that he would look into it when he had the opportunity certainly seems to imply that he did not know who had removed it. Or did it?
   So in my email to him I inquired about who had it, where it was found, and how the perpetrator was disciplined.
   Okay, I have avoided mentioning, although I may have implied, that I have my suspicions.
   If, as it has been possited to me by other members of the faculty because the whole situation does not sit very well, the principal not only knew who had it, but  very well may have had more than a casual connection with its removal, no matter for what reason, the game he played, and the cavelier attitude shown regarding this situation shows an insensitivity.
  After all the "dialogue" these past few years, he certainly cannot be indifferent or ignorant as to the implication of the plaque's removal, and if he is, would this not be further proof to the district that there is a problem here in the district which does need to be addressed.
  Would a Klan outfit at Halloween be viewed as indifferently, as if no message was being sent.
  And, one would think that if the principal had intended to remove the plaque for whatever reason and, perhaps, then replace it, he would have had the common sense to tell someone in order to avoid the wrong impression. Or do those who might get the wrong impression not count?
  He failed in his reply to say who had the plaque, where it was found, or how the perpetrator was disciplined. His reply is just as dismissive as his response to the original notification that the plaque was missing.

my email

Mr. Davis:

    I would like to congratulate you on the swiftness with which you
handled the situation involving the removal of the "Gift Of" plaque from the
Community Bulletin Board.
   I saw that it had been found and re-affixed securely to the board when
I passed it today, 04/03/03, as I was going by the cafeteria.
    When you responded on 03/27/03 that you would pursue this when you had
the opportunity, and again in a succeeding email that once I had purchased a
replacement I was to give it to you so you could have someone affix it more
securely, I have to admit I did not have much faith in this being pursued
with any seriousness.
    As the person who had to repurchase the plaque last year, and as the
one reporting its disappearance, I would like to know where you found it,
who had taken it, and what disciplinary action was taken to deal with the
perpetrator.
  I am sure such vandalism and attempted theft was not dealt with lightly.
   Again, thank you for the swiftness with which you dealt with this
situation.



His response.

You are welcome.

    Weldon Davis

I cannot, nor will I pretend I can say anything for sure, but you have to admit this whole situation is odd and has some questionableness to it.
Joe Quigley

 

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