BY MIKE FUHRMAN
Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education member Mike Kubiniec and his supporters have gone on the offensive in the weeks since he was removed as vice chairman.
With Kubiniec facing the likelihood of a censure vote at the next Board meeting, he and Moms for Liberty members have been working to have Board member Abby Trent removed from office on the grounds that she no longer lives in her district. After their efforts were thwarted at the Board’s last meeting, this group has turned to local elections officials for help achieving that result.
After the I-SS Board meeting on November 6, a Moms for Liberty member contacted Iredell County elections officials and demanded Trent be removed from her seat on the Board. When that effort was brushed aside, another member, Jill Schooley, filed a complaint with the Board of Elections challenging Trent’s voter registration on the grounds she had moved. That challenge is expected to be heard on Friday.
Kubiniec claims that Trent is no longer eligible to represent her district because she moved out of her home and into a family-owned residence in another I-SS district. He provided other board members with evidence that she had moved, including a photo of her vehicle parked at another residence.
Trent does not dispute that she has moved. She notified school district officials in August that she was moving temporarily because her home needs major repair work. She told the Board then and reiterated to Iredell Free News in an interview that she plans to return to her home once those renovations are completed.
Chairman Bill Howell said he consulted with elections officials after Trent notified the Board that she was moving, and he was told that she can remain in office and complete her term if the move is temporary.
Trent, who is in the third trimester of a difficult pregnancy, said the efforts of Kubiniec and Board member Anita Kurn to target her — after she voted with the chairman and Board members Charles Kelly and Doug Knight to strip Kubiniec of the vice chairmanship — have been hurtful and harmful to her health and the health of her baby.
“My pregnancy is high risk,” she said. “This has put a lot of added stress on me.”
Trent believes the efforts of Kurn and Kubiniec and their associates have crossed the line and may have violated the law. Her mother, Angela Matthews, has asked the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.
Trent and her grandfather, who owns the property where Trent has lived for the past five years, have received dozens of harassing phone calls during the past five weeks. She also finds it disturbing that Kubiniec or his “anonymous source” would drive by her home and take pictures.
Chairman Howell spearheaded the effort to have Kubiniec removed as vice chair and also made the motion to censure him after receiving numerous complaints from district employees about how Kubiniec treated them. Howell also claims that Kubiniec has overstepped his authority as a Board member and violated district policies on numerous occasions during his first year in office.
Trent and Matthews believe the efforts of Kurn, Kubiniec, Schooley and others are part of a concerted effort to retaliate against Trent for doing what she believes is right.
After the October 3 board meeting, during which Chairman Howell told the Board he planned to ask the Board to remove Kubiniec from his leadership position and censure him, Matthews received a text message from Schooley’s son, Micah Phelps, foreshadowing what has happened in recent weeks.
“Every back stabbing thing you have done is coming back 100 fold,” Phelps texted. “Get ready for anarchy. Joshua and Caleb are coming jezzebelle, and they are going to rain fire and brimstone over your nasty wicked self.”
(For those who have not been following the I-SS Board for the past year, Phelps is a convicted drug offender who refers to himself as the “puppet master.” Before Kubiniec, Kurn, Sloan and Trent were elected, Phelps claimed that he controlled their votes. He has also identified himself as Kubiniec’s campaign manager.)
In the five weeks since Kubiniec was ousted as vice chair, one or more members of the Board have contacted several of the I-SS employees who filed complaints against Kubiniec and questioned them about the complaints, multiple sources have told Iredell Free News. If that proves to be the case, it would be a violation of the Board’s Code of Ethics and possibly state law.
Multiple sources told Iredell Free News that the Board will ask I-SS attorney Dean Shatley to oversee an investigation into whether district employees who filed complaints against Kubiniec have been improperly questioned, coerced or intimidated by Kubiniec, Kurn and others.
During the Board’s meeting on November 6, Kubiniec said he had investigated the complaints against him and found them to be without merit. He called the proceedings against him a “sham show.”
In an interesting turn, Kubiniec has been complaining to Superintendent Jeff James about the division between himself, Kurn and Brian Sloan and the other four board members.
In emails obtained by Iredell Free News in a public records request, Kubiniec recommended that the board participate in mediation in an effort to “figure out how to work together and get along.”
He also questioned the new seating arrangement during board meetings.
It “visibly separates the ‘Hatfields from the McCoys’ and creates a ‘separation’ from conducting business on the board, this is not a good look,” Kubiniec wrote to the superintendent. “Additionally it sends a signal to the public that reinforces this division.”
“We all have to figure out how to work together and get along — for the betterment of our school district, you, your staff, and most importantly, our children and I truly mean this.”
Related
♦ I-SS Board to consider motions to censure Vice Chair Kubiniec, strip him of leadership position
♦ I-SS Board ousts Kubiniec from leadership position; Kelly elected new vice chairman
♦ Kubiniec and Kurn attempt to have Trent disqualified from seat on I-SS Board
Who does Kubiniec think he is? Donald Trump? Too late. That role has already been cast in a much larger production clown show.
Captain Ks walkout song: “Crazy Train” (Ozzy Osborne)
Anita K’s walkout song: “Crazy” (Patsy Cline)
Paula M: “Red Headed Stranger” (Willie Nelson)
Puppet Master doesn’t get a walk out song anymore since he only sends mean texts. He sounds a lot like David Koresh.
Moms for Liberty got Mrs. Trent elected. She knew who these people were when they were harassing others for years. It’s hard to have sympathy for her now.
Your comment is actually untrue. Abby never asked for an endorsement from this group, she was added because she was the Republican candidate for 2022. Myself and a few others who attended some of the groups meetings and campaigned for Trent in District 3. Like Trent and myself, all but one has zero affiliation with Moms for Liberty and has not since 2022. There was no type of commitment from Ms. Trent to that group. In fact, check with chair of Moms for Liberty, she was already scheduling meetings with Sarah Pittman, Trent’s opposition, prior to election in 2022, because she was convinced Trent would lose. Lol that does not scream support to me! Even though I do not support them, I feel compelled to say to ensure the truth is stated, Moms for Liberty of Iredell only formed in late 2021, that does not equal “years of harassing people.” I am very proud of the job Abby Trent is doing for District 3, which is where all the schools I attended in the I-SS system are located. I happily volunteered to read to the sweetest first-graders in I-SS District 3 elementary school earlier this year through a program created by Abby Trent. Abby is displaying through actions her support for the children of Iredell County. I challenge all the board members to step up and make a difference in the schools in their respective districts instead of fighting. The focus should be on the children and not the board members!
Her hanging out at Mr. Phelps’ mother’s store and having her signs placed outside of there does scream support to me.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 THE DRAMA THIS WOMAN STIRS UP HAS SPREAD LIKE A CANCER IN THIS COUNTY! REPUBLICANS LOOK STUPID BECAUSE THEY’RE ALLOWING HER TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PLATFORM INSTEAD OF TELLING HER TO SIT DOWN. RIGHT, JOHN ALLEN? ASK ANY COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE FROM 2 YEARS AGO WHAT SHE DID TO THEIR CAMPAIGNS! GOOD LUCK IREDELL IF THIS WOMAN BECOMES YOUR NEXT COMMISSIONER!
THIS coming from the man who likes to vandalize campaigns signs LOL. We see you!
Aww, little Abby had to call Mommy in again to help her. Why not? Mommy did all the campaigning and no one questioned that. Angie-kins will go in and save the day! Everything’s tough for Abby. Poor delicate flower.
Deb, better a mother campaign for her daughter than a convicted drug offender and his mommy, and all you other self righteous, self centered egotistical fools trying to destroy Ms. Trent and the school system. You are the childish one. Grow up and stop attacking other people. God says so.
Are you 8 years old? Serious question.
This has gone beyond the realm of ridiculous. Being a member of the I-SS BOE is not a platform for your own agenda. You’re only reason to be there is to improve the quality of the school system. I have consistently heard NOTHING about improving the education of the students. It’s all just personal agendas and attacks. All this bickering is simply childish and accomplishes nothing but damage and a waste of time. And YES, the person(s) responsible for stirring the pot should be held responsible. Something more needs to be done. Whining and telling on each other like children does nothing. It’s time to take it further up the line to the State Board of Education.
HEY PHELPS…………YOU’RE A CONVICTED CRIMINAL AND HAVE NO RIGHT BEING INVOLVED. STAY OUT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AS YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE INVOLVED. YOUR DAY IS COMING AS WELL!!!
I wished I could say I am shocked with the actions of Mr. Kubiniec and the hate group Moms for Liberty but that would not be true. Alas, this article only confirms what we already know: Mr. Kubiniec has his strings pulled by a band of inauthentic marauders who are hellbent on destroying our public education system. This group would have us believe they’re far superior to us mere mortals in every way; yet their leaders are a convicted drug offender and his mommy. The relentless retaliation against Ms. Trent is unethical and may be illegal. I hope that an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is forthcoming. I would welcome the State Attorney General’s involvement as well. We cannot condone harassment and stalking of a pregnant woman, especially from a group of Republicans who call themselves pro-life. It may be time to bring the full force of both the state and federal government to review the behavior of Kubiniec, Kurn and Sloan.
Kubiniec, Kurn and Sloan: Please resign and save the taxpayers and yourselves legal headaches and costs.
They all need to be voted out of office. The school board is not a soap opera. The students and faculty deserve better than this. Clean out, start over.
We will get along just fine if Capt Narcissist and the The Thunderdome RESIGN!!! Take Crying Brian with you if he don’t wise up and get on the correct side. We want you both GONE!!
So much fake drama, exaggeration, and innuendo from people too embarrassed to use their real full names. And a fair amount of untruths to spice it up. Haters gotta hate, but try next time to get the facts correct.
Edward Mimnaugh
Hello Mr. Ed! I believe the facts are starting to come out for the public to see. Your group of moms for liberty, a convicted 40-year-old drug offender who still lives with his mommy, and of course we cannot forget Jill (mommy). Your days of reckoning are about to crash down on you.
Dear Mr. “Justice” and Mr. or Mrs. “Not Paula”, too,
Afraid to use your real names? Your statements are perfect examples of why I wrote “…get the facts straight”.
I have never spoken to Micah Phelps, the person referred to as the “puppet master” or “drug offender” or to his mother, Jill Schooley. Neither have I ever attended a Moms for Liberty meeting, although I have commented on their web page in support of removing the sexually obscene literature from school libraries to protect innocent children.
As far as intelligence is concerned, I remember that when I attended college, psychology was easiest major to declare, often selected by students intimidated by real hard science. Nevertheless, let me remind you both that by attacking me, rather than what I wrote, you revealed your inability to offer logical debate and instead resorted to name-calling. Addressing me as “Mr. Minmo” tells me your intelligence level.
As I wrote in my reply, haters gotta hate!
Edward Mimnaugh
When will the leadership of the Iredell GOP make some type of statement about this out of control school board?
Where do you stand, Iredell GOP Chair Gary Robinson?
It’s funny the house was posted for sale but then removed from the market the same day the issue was brought to the attention of the board. Why try to sell a house you’re supposedly renovating to move back into? Doesn’t make much sense.
Who cares?
To Ed Minmo ..
The reason why people have fake names is due to student confidentiality as some of the writers can be related or acquaintances of the students. Not sure if your level of intelligence can understand that or know it’s the law. As a clinical psychologist, I’m astounded by your level of cognitive dissonance and projection when you label others haters. Maybe try to work on some insight into your issues and take accountability. All the students are proven to be way higher than you and your groupies in maturity and common sense. Get help !
I’m glad to see chief Abby defender decided to use her real name. Where in the heck is the puppet master? Perhaps he was taken in by the Yellow Deli tribe in Hiddenite?
Anyone else noticing the GOP eating itself everywhere? From Iredell-Statesville School Board to U.S. House. Destruction from within. Pure Idiocracy.
I said it once, and I will say it again. They are auditioning for a series, with episodes.