COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
One of Indian River County’s two newly elected School Board members, Charles Searcy, has refused to be drug tested and fingerprinted, despite the fact that testing and fingerprinting is a requirement of all School District employees and volunteers. As a consequence, if and when Searcy visits schools, he will have to be escorted.
Searcy, a Press Journal endorsee, markets himself as a good ol’ boy from Wauchula, who “enjoys stirring the pot.” Searcy, who clearly never learned about going along to get along, prefers to be a contrarian, as he demonstrated during his first term on the School Board from 1996 to 2000. Turned off by Searcy’s style, voters dumped him in his first bid for re-election. This time around, Searcy had the support of the Press Journal brain trust.
Searcy’s refusal to take a drug test and to be fingerprinted raises at least two questions. First, what is he hiding? Second, will his next turn on the Board be punctuated by more of the divisiveness for which he is now well known? To put it another way, will the school children of Indian River County suffer from the election of a School Board member who is the master of division, but who shows little if any willingness to subtract his ego from the equation in order to do what is best for the students.
If the 84 percent of voters who stayed at home on election day become disappointed in Searcy’s performance on the School Board, they will have only themselves to blame.
School Board Policy:
FINGERPRINTING
The School District of Indian River County is committed to keeping our students and staff members safe. In compliance with the Jessica Lunsford Act signed into law on May 2, 2005, background check requirements have been expanded to include all contracted workers and consultants as well as employees. In addition, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has implemented a database to track arrests of school district employees and contractors and notify the school districts when an employee is arrested. This new tracking system helps ensure that students and staff in our schools remain safe.
All employees, volunteers, student teaching interns, vendors, consultants and contractors must be fingerprinted and undergo a Level II background check. Everyone who will be at a school when students are present or who will have direct contact with students must complete the background screening. See below for more specific information on appropriate fees and items to bring with you when you are printed.
General Fingerprinting Information:
1. ALL newly hired employees will be responsible for paying fees for fingerprinting. These fees should not be paid until employment has been officially offered.
2. All fingerprinting must be completed through the Fingerprint Specialist with the School District by appointment only.
3. Fingerprint reports from outside agencies will not be accepted.
4. Fingerprints must be kept current and are required to be updated every five years.
5. Any break in service will require individuals to be re-fingerprinted at their cost.
6. Contact Ms. Nicola Blanton, Fingerprint Specialist, at nicki.blanton@indianriverschools.org or (772) 564-3024 to
Indian River Guardian 
Charles Searcy is presenting a very bad example for the children in our public school system.
Having served on the Indian River School Board in the past, he is not even able to explain his refusal to be fingerprinted or drug tested is based on a lack of knowledge of the requirement.
In some respects the actions of Charles Searcy are a reflection of the wisdom of President Thomas Jefferson who said “The government that you elect, is the government that you deserve.” However, in this sad case it is the children who are most negatively impacted and they do not have the right to vote.
Oh yes!! The old do as I say not as I do philosophy!! Spoken by many people who have things to hide.
Either do what is expected or resign now before being sworn in.
If Mr. Searcy refuses to follow the law and be drug-tested and fingerprinted, then let him write a letter of resignation NOW. We expect our children to comply with rules and regulations. Why do so many adults feel it is okay for them to circumvent those rules and regulations? Really bad example, Mr. Searcy! Will it take a petition to get him out of that position?
Another Press Journal mistake. What will Searcy do when confronted with an anti- drug vote that may come up during his term of office ? He is no better than any person working for the board or the many volunteers who give their precious time to our kids.
Clearly Charlie fancies himself an “elitist”. Boy, you ran in an election knowing FULL WELL the obligations you must fulfill to participate.I can appreciate you thinking you’re above everyone, but boy, you’re not.
Ink those fingers and take the drug test. You got a job to do.
If you can not do either, just walk away.
This is the second reason to see what out-of-county money can buy. With all the lip service from new candidates that it is all about the children, it is clear now what it’s all about – themselves. Not the rule of law or the morale character needed to deal with a job that is close to the children they are supposed to be so in touch with. This is the example we expect our kids to follow? Elections have consequences, and you pay for what you get!
Searcy and Frost….two very flawed candidates who won because of out of town money and the help of Laura Zorc. What a blemish to the Republican Party of Indian River County. I know, this is a non partisan race but there was a lot of partisan pushing for these two School Board Candidates. What a terrible example the school children will be getting from this “new” board.
If both of them were to be found not able to be sworn in it could be a good example to the children. They could be shown by example that is does not pay to lie and it does not pay to try to skirt the law.
Pat,
The quote you attributed to Mr. Jefferson is one of my favorites but it does not appear in any of Mr. Jefferson’s writings. The quote, in its various iterations, is apparently derived from the French writer and philosopher Josephe de Maistre (1753-1821) who said “Every country gets the government it deserves.”
But your thought is spot on. Don’t vote or get involved? Here’s your sign.
Regards,
Bob Swift
If he doesn’t comply then he should resign.