Bill Haas gives his side of the story (though he wasn't there)

The Post story didn't say much and was without a by-line.

Here is Haas' email:

I dont know what you'll read in the Post Dispatch tomorrow morning, since it seems their job to protect the reputation of Fran Slay and his hand-picked gang of four "hoodlums" on the school board, and I dont know the details first-hand since I attended the first hour of the meeting by phone and then had to return to work, but at an inappropriately designated "emergency" meeting of the Board Friday evening to scapegoat Superintendent Floyd Crues, for the recent story about executive salaries, in order to protect their homeboy Fran Slay in an election year, when Vince and Darnetta know about everything that happens in the district before it happens (heck, I knew pretty much all about the salaries and appointments -they had been in our consent agenda for several months), according to reports to me from Amy and Veronica, when Vince Schoemehl saw, in my opinion, that their witchhunt wasnt going to fly, even tho they had 4 votes for it, he seems to have "lost it" and gone over the table at Amy, and then when Veronica stood up to protect her, he went after her, and Darnetta had to pull Vince away from her, and then the police were called and are investigating. The Post Dispatch confirmed to me that they were there, so we'll see what they write.

I should point out that Vince has previously tried to attack me, and though I calmed him down, I filed a police report about it with the downtown police district and the captain said she'd talk to Vince. I told her that the next time someone was in my face (Ron Jackson had previously come over a table at me, tho later apologized), someone was going to get hurt, and I didnt much care who it was, but that was pretty much going to be the last time someone shook their hand in my face. For Vince to try to attack two women may have been smarter than coming after me again, but is still wrong. And it's a good thing I wasnt there, because to get at Amy and Veronica, Vince would have had to go through me and that wouldnt have been pretty.

I care for Vince as a person, and he is often likeable and smart, but since he seems not to be able to control his temper, and has now attacked or threaten to attack three board members, two of them women, by separate open letter to Vince I am going to ask him to step down from the board for his own good and that of the district, whether or not he is charged with any crime from last night. Last night's actions in my opinion have brought disgrace to the board and the district. What was good enough for Rochell Moore with respect to violence, should be good enough for Vince, and he should step down without the necessity of a court action to remove him.

I am sending this email at the request of Veronica and Amy, because, they said, my email list is longer, but I did not witness this fiasco, as I've said, so for a first hand account of what happened you will need to talk to them. Perhaps they can reply to all those on my list with their first-hand accounts.

I should also add, that Vince, Darnetta, Ron and Bob came to the meeting ready with a motion of what they wanted to do, without any discussion, so it seems clear to me that they had previously discussed it in violation of the sunshine law, and I believe that Amy and Veronica will be joining me in a sunshine law complaint to the Missouri Attorney General's office. This, too, should be grounds for removal from office of the four of them.

And for those who have criticized Amy and I for failing to stand up for what's right in the district, I wish you had been there to see and hear our vigorous opposition to the gang of four's attempt to scapegoat our fine acting Superintendent for what was essentially the actions of Roberti and Vince and Darnetta that the board had known about and approved. This stupid non-emergency meeting (like it couldnt have waited until our regular meeting Tuesday?) was an attempt to cover up their own actions and that of their puppeteers at City Hall following the unflattering article in the Post about appointments and salaries. Whatever one feels about those, what they tried to do tonight to Floyd was wrong and a disgrace. Amy may have tried to work with them at the beginning, but she's been a fine warrior for the people against them the last several months. And Veronica's fine performance has been, I like to think, partly the result of the encouragement and education from Amy and I. I remember once when Veronica first got on the Board and I was complimenting her performance at a public board meeting, I was shouted down by a few members of the community. Maybe if they would spend less time shouting, and more time listening, they'd catch on better to the good job Amy, I and Veronica are doing. Although outnumbered we're fighting valiantly against the forces of evil and darkness, occaionally joined by Ron Jackson (but not tonight, and never by Bob Archibald, who I am told wants to fire Floyd over what were essentially board and Roberti actions! what a disgrace! Maybe some of the other warriors for the district should start to complain to the Board of the Missouri Historical Society about his inappropriate use of Historical Society personnel and resources for School Board business, and we'd have a chance of getting rid of him, too, but that's an aside.

All for tonight.
Respectfully submitted, your public servant Bill Haas