Dear Editor,
On Monday, 28 March 2022, I attempted to attend the special school board meeting that was scheduled to be held at the SCSD central office that was posted on SCSD website to be held at 5:00 p.m. I arrived a few minutes before 5:00 and found the door locked and the parking lot full of vehicles. I attempted to open the door again a few minutes after 5:00 and found the door still locked.
On Tuesday, 29 March 2022, as I was working at the polls during the bond issue vote, Simpson County School Superintendent, Holloway, came into the voting precinct building and said very loudly, “I’m looking for Mrs. McCoy. Is Mrs. McCoy here?” I answered, “I’m Mrs. McCoy, may I help you. His reply was, “I’m Dr. Holloway, I heard you were looking for me and I thought I’d introduce myself”. Before I had a chance to even reply, he turned to leave and said, “Nice to see all of you” and walked out the door. This was very strange and very odd behavior in my mind, and still is, as I had in no way been looking for him for any reason.
The next morning, Wednesday, 30 March 2022, Dr. Holloway agreed to give me a few minutes of his time. My husband, a friend of ours, and I met with him at the SCSD Central Office. We met with him in an effort to determine if we could possibly help him or the school board in some way – and to try to get to the bottom of his strange behavior at the polling precinct the day before. Dr. Holloway had no real explanation about his inquiry the day previous aside from a claim that he had heard that I was looking for him, which was definitely NOT the case. He further offered no explanation or reference as to where he had heard of such a fictitious claim.
I then asked why, at the previous Monday evening “special” meeting before the bond issue vote, were the doors locked before the 5:00 pm scheduled meeting. I asked why the door was locked and whether he and the school board always locked the door. His reply to why the door was locked was, “because we can, it’s our door”.
My asking this question apparently hit a very sensitive nerve with Dr. Holloway because he then accused me of being “aggressive” and “hostile” (his words) and tried to call our meeting to an end. I explained that in no way was I being “aggressive” or “hostile”. I simply wanted to know why the door was locked during what was supposed to be an open school board meeting. I believe as a taxpayer, I have a right to ask that question and expect a logical and reasonable explanation. I was very shocked that he would say, “because we can, it’s our door”. He continued to state that his interpretation would remain that of my being “hostile”. He then began ushering us out of his office.
For the school board’s benefit and many other interested parties, I will be sharing, by email and social media, a recording of that meeting in Dr. Holloway’s office on 30 March 2022 to attest to the veracity of my description of this encounter.
It would appear that Dr. Holloway, might not be up to the challenge of his highly compensated current employment if he has such thin skin and is such a reactionary that he becomes uncomfortable and senses “hostility” when questioned or challenged in a civil manner. Perhaps the school board may wish to assist Dr. Holloway in finding another means of employment or another school system that doesn’t mind his embarrassing, and unprofessional conduct.
I still don’t have an answer as to why the SCSD Central Office door would be locked before a public meeting.
This would appear to be in direct violation of Mississippi’s open meeting laws.
Lynn McCoy
