“I was born and raised here. I’m a true Columbian. I love our town immensely. It is part of who I am. The reason why I’m addressing you this evening is because of the ongoing problems at our schools with lack of suspensions. I watched the video that has been circulated widely this past week of the altercation in the classroom. It is very shocking to me, to say the least, and very disturbing to me that even before the physical altercation took place just how out of control that classroom appeared to me. Example: Students walking around, cellphones out, sitting on desks. In plain words, they were basically doing whatever they felt like. That’s what it appeared to me.
“I witnessed firsthand, as I was employed at CHS for 21 years in the kitchen, prior to my retirement this school year. I’ve seen students throwing food at each other, teachers, co-workers, janitors, me, etc. I’ve seen students purposely make messes, be destructive, using foul and inappropriate language to myself, teachers, etc. Most of the time they were reported and written up, but the problem is most of the time they were never disciplined. In one such incident, I was personally threatened by a student, serving lunch I was, she said to me, ‘I’ll come back over that counter after you and I’ll beat your m-f-ing a-s-s.’ Guess what, this student was never written up or punished for this incident. Never. She was right back in there. In fact, she was never even taken out of the cafeteria that day. Never. I’m not so sure our teachers get the full support from the administration for handling these ongoing discipline problems.
“Mr. Strickler, I read where you said that the reason they had their cellphones out was because they were turning them off before class. Well, I plead Dr. Hollister and yourself to take a trip up to the high school and see how many cellphones are being used other than in the cafeteria. I’ve seen it firsthand.
“I really don’t know what the solution is to these problems, but I hope we can all work as a community to make this a safe place for our students who want to learn and get a good education. In closing, there is an African proverb that says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, I guess that’s what it takes.”
Columbia Spy 
How to reduce Columbia's school taxes:Convert the overblown ego's, arrogance, and narcissism of several board members and the doo…into dollar amounts.Should be enough to fund the district for at least 5 years. Probably longer.
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If Strickler was smirking, he has nerve.For all the jobs and businesses he had ,I would hide my head. But then again, he created this job for now. Let's hope the board sees thru him and sends him to Career Link.
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No discipline at home. Transients move in town, collecting food stamps ,welfare and pay no taxes. The kids that want to learn are paying for it.It is time I the true Columbians take charge.
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On this site today, we read about General Shannon , then end up reading about this Strickler person, and an out of control , unethical, school board that may be corrupt and engaging in back door activities. It is SAD how far your town has fallen.
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I am sure this is exactly how they feel. No one, for the most part, attending school meetings. They have become accustomed to doing what they please. It seems they are having a hard time accepting the party is over!
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A FANTASY WHERE EVERYONE WINS!Little tommy and his group buy a lottery ticket.Upon winning ,they find that there are conditions to be met.They must all, as a group , agree to resign and leave town, never to return.Little tommy who ,of course, did not help buy the ticket convinces the group that he should be entitled to more than his share, borrows a tour bus ,and as an experienced driver and guide, leaves town, with the group, in the dark of the night, collects the winnings and he and his group proceed to a new town and take over a new school system.Everyone wins!
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If most of the comments on this site are correct, then the questions are :How did this sleazy unethical agreement get started?Who wrote this agreement and how was it hidden from the good board members?Why did the job posting not list the need for a degree in education?How was it slipped passed the good board members?What people ,at higher levels, are involved and to what extent?How can an entire district be manipulated by one person for his own personal gain after board members knew that he tried this 4 years ago and was denied?Did he include this first attempt and denial on his resume'?Is Hollister aware of this first attempt and its denial?Maybe that first attempt counts as a start up that made Hollister give him more money? Are some of those same board members present now that were on the board during his first attempt?Who are his helpers and where are their brains and their morals?How can anyone in their right mind hire a person with such a resume'?Lot's of questions that the board feels that they do not have to answer.Get ready, the questions will keep coming.
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Yes it is I have lived in this town for quite a few years not all my life but long enough to see how much this town has changed and not for the good so sad secret meeting school board and borough council and sure has been a lot of secret meeting about the new market manager and we all know who that is going to be done deal.
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Man-up funny boys, who are making fun of good Columbia people. The days of empty school board meetings are a thing of the past!!!!!
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It was not Strickler smirking. In fact I was surprised at how stoic he remained during all the accusations.
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And it continues to spiral.
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Parents are not innocent. Here I sit watching welfare mommy of three, case of beer in hand kids no where in site.Ghetto
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a year from now…same director. different day.
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Those who live in glass houses should know that they are seen for exactly what they are. Those faking a mental disability to collect SSI benefits so they don't have to work is worse than anyone that needs to be on welfare and you have the audacity to speak poorly of someone else? If you can't say something constructive about the topic at hand, please don't say anything at all. No one wants to hear about your personal vendettas!!! By the was it's “sight” not “site”.
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Always a day late and dollar short.Misinformed and assumming
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It's way not WAS, HAS-BEEN
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