EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER 9 - A Conspiracy Revealed
We located the attorneys’ office, an imposing brownstone one block from the state Capitol. Glancing toward the State House, we noticed the Confederate flag flying atop its dome, a symbol of repression and tyranny. Over a decade later that flag continues to be displayed on the capitol grounds, haunting the lives of those whose ancestors suffered under its oppressive rule. Mr. Richard Gergel, one of my attorneys, ushered us into a conference room with an oversized window framing a panoramic view of downtown. We were impressed with the view of the city as well as with Mr. Gergel. He left briefly, then returned with fellow attorney Mr. Allen Nickles and two very large books bound in heavy blue paper, each approximately three inches thick.
With a thud Mr. Gergel dropped the books on the expansive mahogany table. “Well, Maggi, if you’ve been feeling paranoid, you’ve had good reason. Your district’s been making a book on you. Two in fact.”
Speechless, Ron, Erin, and I stared at my attorneys, then back at those books. Mr. Gergel told us to read each tabbed page. What we read was a journal of administrative intrigue. District employees had carefully orchestrated a plan to fire me, keeping intact all of their documentation. Then during what is termed “the discovery process” leading up to a court trial, the district was asked to submit to my attorneys all materials relating to my case. Without hesitation, as if proud of its accomplishment, the district submitted its books.
“Wonder why this escaped Dr. Foil’s shredder?” I mused.
It was impossible to grasp the magnitude of the material collected to document my every move, my every letter to the editor, my visitors and personal phone calls at school, the hiring of a photographer with three hundred dollars in public funds to photograph me receiving an award in Washington DC four hundred miles away, memos from Dr. Foil to his board, copies of letters I had written the Reverend Gatewood pleading for help, letters that the Reverend Gatewood then forwarded to Dr. Foil. I had even been followed during school time to my doctor’s office by Mrs. LeGette and her secretary, Mrs. Rabon!
Since placing that rough draft of my first letter to the editor in the teachers’ lounge, my life had been closely monitored by Dr. Foil, Mrs. LeGette, local and county school board members, and teachers, as well as family and friends of those involved. The books revealed a well-conceived conspiracy. Men and women, educators no less, were teaching children about America’s democratic society while at the same time working against a colleague’s civil rights.
Further consultation with Mr. Gergel and Mr. Nickles gave us a strong sense of security. We were in competent hands, thanks to the South Carolina Education Association. We walked back to our car for the drive to North Carolina. Accompanying us were the two blue volumes entitled “Dr. Foil’s File” and “Cindy LeGette’s File.” With Erin stretched out in the back and Ron at the wheel, I began reading to my family page after page after page. The amount of energy that had been expended since the end of November 1990 to catch me breaking a district regulation was, to use Mr. Gergel’s own word, “Stunning!”
It was evident from both files that the majority of teacher and community input was solicited within days of the secret meeting at North Mullins, the day my letter to the editor appeared asking for comments to the education survey and the same day the anonymous letter from “Some Concerned Marion County Educators” was sent me. But from the end of November forward a detailed diary of my life had been constructed.
In fact, the first entry in those secret files was dated the same day I placed the rough draft of my letter to the editor in the teacher’s lounge. None of the complaints district employees “remembered” about me had ever been presented to me, either verbally or in writing. Excerpts from the hundreds of pages collected or written by Dr. William C. Foil and Mrs. Cynthia Lane LeGette revealed a remarkably slick strategy spearheaded by the administrators of Marion School District II.
The day of the secret meeting at my school “Some Concerned Marion County Educators” wrote Dr. Nielsen, South Carolina State Superintendent of Education, of their dissatisfaction over my appointment to her blue ribbon committee.
This was followed with a letter from Mrs. Marcia Roark and Mrs. Mary Frances McMillan: “…As co-workers in the same school as Mrs. Hall, we…feel teachers should have input as to the qualifications of the representatives….”
Dr. Nielsen responded back with: “This…committee is responsible for…researching all areas pertaining to teacher professionalism and for recommending the best educational…practices…consistent with the ideas of the State of South Carolina….”
Mrs. Sonja Hughes penned: “…[Maggi] was asking how many days her students attended or how often or how many times for counseling. This is not the first time Mrs. Hall has asked me about the counseling times. About a month or so ago she came during my teaching time to ask me the same questions….”
Then the music teacher, Mrs. Connie Christy, whom I had never had contact with, remembered something she thought she observed in February but did not remember to report to the administration for several months: “Upon arriving late (1:10) to the afternoon session, I happened to see Ms. Maggi Hall get into her car and drive out of the parking lot.”
Mrs. Vicki Kirby, assistant superintendent for the district, documented her surveillance in three separate letters. The shortest stated: “…I was at the annex…Maggi Hall came in…at approximately 3:10–3:15 p.m. and entered the Teacher Center. We spoke and I walked in the classroom. About 5 minutes later, I walked in the Teacher Center and she was gone. The time in the office at that point was 3:21 p.m….”
The Director of the Office of Research for the South Carolina State Department of Education, Dr. Paul D. Sandifer, authorized a copy to Dr. Foil of my letter requesting an audit of District II books. Dr. Sandifer then sent a blind copy of his denial for the audit to Dr. Foil.
My request to the state education department for academic gains and losses of students in District II was answered by Ms. Jo Ann Kerrey, who then copied it to Dr. Foil, after which Dr. Foil passed a copy along to the district’s attorney.
Mrs. LeGette wrote dozens of memos to Dr. Foil about me, as well as to me, and even to herself. Her first documented evidence of my “insubordination” was written the same day my draft critical letter to the editor appeared in the teachers’ lounge. Her numerous notes specified her involvement in monitoring me both at school as well as away from the campus.
Dr. Foil wrote his board eighteen letters over a six-month period informing them of my activities and of his frustrations. His first communication about me was dated several days after my first letter to the editor was published. Dr. Foil also wrote dozens of letters to various individuals, including Mrs. LeGette.
In February Dr. Foil confessed to his board that he was planning a surprise.
…I have asked everyone’s opinion about writing to the newspaper; and then ignored their good advice and my own practice of patience by writing some of my thoughts to the Editor. I could not stand to hold still any longer. I hope that I do not embarrass you or the district. There is an ad which I paid for in next week’s paper. The letter is enclosed. The ad [“Remember This”] will be a surprise….
When Amy responded to Dr. Foil’s outrageous warning with a letter to the editor, her letter was clipped from the paper with the following identification taped across the top: “Daughter of Ron & Maggi Hall.”
Dr. Foil was curious as to the author of “Remember This,” so he wrote South Carolina’s United States Representative Robin Tallon asking for assistance using taxpayers’ money: “Enclosed is a philosophical statement. I request the services of your office in asking that the Library of Congress research its history.”
In preparation for one of his many trips Dr. Foil notified his board: “…Edith Stewart and I have told each other that we appreciate your willingness to give of yourselves and your time to serve this school district. You certainly do not take enough luxurious trips to make up for all you give…. I will be leaving…[for] New Orleans [to attend a superintendents’ convention]….”
Dr. Foil kept his board apprised of the situation when I dispersed the education department survey at North Mullins Primary.
…Enclosed are two “Maggi” notes. Taking her role on the state committee very seriously, she gave each school employee…the memo. Many teachers were upset over this approach…. Other [sic] may write Dr. Neilson [sic]. The superintendent advised against “serious injury” and to offer the ultimate insult of ignoring M (—what’s her name!)….
Also included in Dr. Foil’s file was a letter he wrote Dr. Nielsen regarding my appointment to her blue ribbon committee.
…I am saddened by what has been done…to the image of your office. An appointment choice is using this status in a divisive fashion in her school and this district. She has hurt her fellow teachers by questioning their competency and integrity. The enclosed copy of today’s letter to the editor [the committee survey] is illustrative of her wish to broaden the scope to the entire county. The appointment first came to my attention through a news article…. I cannot or would I want to hurt you, but I could help if you but ask.
Dr. Nielsen’s response back to Dr. Foil stated: “I believe that this committee is satisfactorily pursuing this task and…[will] continue to work together in the most effective and fair manner to accomplish their goals….”
And Dr. Foil’s opinion to his board regarding Dr. Nielsen was: “…A response has been received from Dr. Barbara Nielsen to my letter expressing concern over her appointment of Maggi Hall without notice to me or asking for endorsement by district personnel. It is two pages of nothing….”
It was customary at our monthly district teachers’ council meeting to submit questions to Dr. Foil for comment. The question I submitted, with my signature attached, asked, “Why can’t teachers evaluate administrators in District II as is done in other school systems?” Dr. Foil did not like that question for when he read it aloud he responded, “Tell her to go to hell.”
Angered over his unprofessional remark, I wrote a letter to the editor. Dr. Foil’s explanation to his board regarding my letter was: “…Oops! I can’t believe he [meaning himself] said that! You really had to be there to appreciate (and understand) the statement. …[T]he person who raised the question is quite demanding. I laughed and said ‘tell her to go to hell….’”
Humor prevailed in Dr. Foil’s memo regarding an incident which aired repeatedly on local television stations.
The superintendent sincerely hopes that he has not embarrassed the district this afternoon when the WIS-TV 10 cameraman accosted him before he was able to get out of the automobile door upon returning to the office after lunch. I was upset at being on camera through the window of my vehicle and know I showed it. [Dr. Foil’s secretary was with him.] I asked the cameraman to allow me the choice of being on camera. I was not allowed this courtesy but did restrain myself from punching his lenses out. I proceeded to tell him and the reporter than [sic] I could not comment on “are you trying to fire Maggi Hall…?”
To Mrs. LeGette, Dr. Foil confided: “I suggest that we coordinate and compile a chronological account of this ‘stuff.’ Please add to and correct the attached. I know that you made some phone calls for example—report when and info gained. Share w/me!”25
Mrs. LeGette promptly obeyed and by the end of June had sent Dr. Foil information which they believed would substantiate their claim of “disruption.” Highlights from her five page, single-spaced report included:
…Put information about test scores in newspapers; talked about our board; accused me of harassment; distributed unauthorized surveys; disrespectful in teachers’ meetings; didn’t participate in committee work; gave me a list of grievances; doesn’t supervise her students; displays hostility; bad attitude; takes communications from my tray; leaves school early or calls in sick; isolates herself from faculty; intimidates teachers; her intercom had been tampered with….
By the time we had crossed over into North Carolina we knew as much about the events of the past six months and my alleged behavior as the board members of Marion District II thought they knew about me. But it was Dr. Foil’s most infamous memo that depicted just how desperate he really was.
…I would like to suspend her with a recommendation for dismissal…. I agree that the reason is a bit thin, but I am ready to take the chance even if the Board has to reinstate her and force me to apologize on my knees at high noon on the courthouse steps….
After compiling the magnitude of material chronicling my alleged behavior from November 1990 through May 1991, evidence was, in Dr. Foil’s very own words, “thinly supported.” He wrote his board, “I want to act even if it means saying that I am sorry! There has been no opportunity to…determine what is the worst thing that could happen to us on an action that is so far, thinly supported.”
Yet even after that admission Dr. Foil and his board voted to fire me anyway. Their claim: “disruptive to the educational process.”