Brunswick County principal is facing criminal charges

My son attended pre school here - it was the worst experience I've ever had with a school. Even the Pre-K teachers weren't treating the kids well, either in teaching them, or their well being in the class rooms. I will say that Mrs. McBride was a good teacher, one which I wish I was able to have for my child. Unfortunately, it wasn't the case. My child was so eager at the beginning of the year; 1/2 through, he absolutely hated it. There was fighting going on in the classroom, the teacher even accused one student of "playing with herself" during naptime. What 4 year plays with themself?!?! Not only that, the lunches were all messed up, with charges over $100 at one time, when I kept sending money in for my childs lunch, and the teacher kept sending it home. The administrative staff, for the school and for the cafeteria was rude and short when asking questions, and it didn't seem that anyone knew what was going on. Very, very unorganized. This school needs to be completly wiped out and an entirely new staff in place if this school is to be saved.

Good Lord. Thank you,thank you my kids are out of Brunswick County Schools. You people are a freak show.

As usual, the naacp can't wait to jump into a situation before the facts are known. It seems we witnessed this type of thing before in the DUKE LACROSSE TEAM attempted railroad. Isn't it funny though, that Preachers, Pastors, Clergy, and "community leaders" are always more interested in race than the truth. If it weren't for evidence, rule of law, and a court system where truth matters, these same "Ministers and Reverends" would have had innocent men in prison. And when the truth came out, did they go on the news and correct the position they took? Absolutely not. I think when the lawyers get thru with Nifong ( the crooked prosecutor ), they should turn interest to the people who announced the players guilt, with absolutely NO EVIDENCE. I guess being a racist preacher means telling the truth as he see's it, not necessarily as it is. These "men of the cloth" are yappers. Look at me, Look at me. It's time they are held accountable to the TRUTH, and not be allowed to defame, lie, or distort the TRUTH. Wait for the outcome. We may all be surprised.

I'm not a big fan of the school board and I hope that they will rise to the occasion and back Mrs. Rourk in her efforts to clear her name. That being said I would like to encourage all parents who support Mrs. Rourk to attend the prayer vigil being held tonight, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. at the school.

Excuse me. But Ms Danka is the victim here. Here come the NAACP and the Ministers trying to turn the situation around. And just why is the church ministers getting involved? Is this a picnic? Monroe Principal Patricia Rourk needs to address her racism and her racist lying mother!

Did anyone bring popcorn? This is a great debate...I love it! :-)

Everyone must read the comments at www.brunswick beacon.com. Re: Southerners are nuts (and can't spell) That's arrested for waving her arms not arreated for waiving her arms.( This from someone who is criticizing southerners! )Wouldn't want to mistake her for one of those "southern nuts". And isn't there an old adage about tangled webs being woven when deception is being practiced.......I think I read something about that (mercy me...........I can actually read something other than the instructions on the back of the grits bag.......) Danka's web might be stickier than we think. Hope she doesn't get stuck in her own web. Please people.......try the spell check "thingy" before you put anything in these comment sections.

What I find amazing is that so many of you think you have the right to JUDGE me? You call me a racist, a nut, a liar and a bad mother. You all believe you have the right to freedom of speech, to slander my character and make judgments on me. It’s too bad that you also don’t have the courage to put your real name on these comments. Why is it that all cowards choose to remain anonymous? Let me give you a break down of what I have seen and done… When my children were in kindergarten I took time to come into the school and volunteer every chance my WORK schedule permitted me. At Easter time I arranged to get a bunny suit and spend hours (with Rourks' permission) walking around the school giving out candy (at my own expensive) in that suit. When my WORK schedule permitted I would come in to school early and make copies for the office that ended up in the evening folders. Anytime a teacher asked something from me, I was willing to help. My husband Edward and I also worked with Fran Thomas to tutor children to help the teachers. You say I have no right at a BOE meeting because I have no children in the public school system. There is only one board member that has children that attend Brunswick County schools, so are you telling me the other 4 do not belong there either? If that is the case Patricia Rourk, her mother (Marian Reid), Ann Stanley, Ruby Stanley, Mrs. Duncan and a number of other people that were present at the BOE meeting Tuesday evening have no right either. If you do not live in County you should keep your nose out of our business. You say our son was a problem. How cowardly to make remarks about a child you probably have never met. You must be so proud of yourselves. For your information he is a wonderful, bright, friendly, caring, giving child. I do not believe children are liars nor have an axe to grind. What kind of children are YOU raising? You ask why I am only advocating for the children at this end of the county. This is where I live, shop and where people approach me! I have not heard of staff at Union, Waccamaw or other school in this district having such problems. You may not want me standing up for your child but a lot of parents do! If Ann Stanley did not have that child sit in urine why was she dismissed? Is the BOE using this as a cover for OTHER things she has done to children or was she dismissed over this issue? As we know in Brunswick County we do not dismiss school employees because they are accused of something. If so Ms. Rourk would at the very least be suspended. If I was a threat to the children then why didn’t she take action to have me removed or barred from the school? Isn’t she supposed to be looking out for the welfare of the children? Why did the staff or Rourk not speak up? Why did I only become a problem when I spoke up? It was blogged that I showed up at school to pick up my children in a bikini. I won’t even justify that with a response because it is so ridiculous. Regardless of what I wore this has nothing to do with my dispute with some of the staff at JMME. As to the matter of my employment that is no one’s business but mine and my husband’s and again has nothing to do with this dispute. As to my arrest today consider these facts. I filed charges against Ms. Rourk immediately following the incident on Tuesday evening, Sept. 16. The person who filed the assault charges against me was Ms.Rourk’s mother. The interesting thing is that she claims I assaulted her on Tuesday, Sept. 16 but she didn’t file charges against me until Thursday, Sept. 18. Why did she wait 2 days to file her charges? Also, why was it that a police officer was dispatched to my home to transport me to the courthouse in Boliva to appear in person before a magistrate while Ms. Rourk only received a summons to appear on Oct. 15? Are there different processes for regular citizens and government employees? I find it interesting that so many can spend so much time blogging about inconsequential matters such as what I wear and where I work. Look at the real issues regarding our schools. If these petty matters are all you can blog about you need to get a life of your own. You can’t have ours. My family and I are already using it. Tracey Danka

I know teachers at that school and I can tell you that Ms. Rourk is only interested in her well being. She might put on a great front and seem to have the children's interest at heart but looks are deceiving. Of course there will be those that say she is a great boss but I can tell you she only cares about her own career. Left to a choice between taking the blame and passing it on the teachers, the teachers would be the ones under the bus, bump bump.

GIVE ME A BREAK! DANKA WANTS A POSITION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD ANY WAY SHE CAN GET IT.MS. ROURKE HAS VERY HIGH STANDARDS FOR HERSELF AND THE SCHOOL.I HAVE WITNESSED MANY DAYS SHE IS OUTSIDE TALKING TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENT ON A FIRST NAME BASIS,REPORT CARDS AND PROGRESS REPORTS LOOKED AT BY HER AND SIGNED. THE REAL ISSUE IS MCGEE DOING A TERRIBLE JOB.SHE NEEDS TO BE GONE AND THE BOARD NEEDS A SHAKEUP AS WELL.PAY ATTENTION FOLKS TO WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.MCGEE WANTS TO KEEP HER HIGH PAYING JOB AND DANKA IS A RAY GILBERT IN DRAG.

Again, after reading this and having been involved with this system for less than 24 months I believe a parent panel should be formed BY THE PARENTS of Brunswick County; the school board should empower this panel to investigate and report back to the school board and media with their findings; I agree students and parents should act appropriatly however, there is NO EXCUSE for teachers, principals or administrators to behave in the manner that I have seen in 24 months; in other locations across the United States, these individuals would have been on the un-employment line and censured by the very governments which regulate and license them!

This woman is a Jerry Springer wanna be who will make up any lie about an authority figure just to get her own power trip going. There should be surveillance cameras everywhere to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Then you'd see where the real trouble is. She's going after this principal. She's the kind of parent who keeps schools from getting better because she condones, in fact, encourages her kid to be disruptive. She's getting her fifteen minutes of fame, doing her best to ruin another person's reputation and livelihood. That's her mission.

My name is Donna Reisen. My son is a 3rd grade student at JMME. Let me start by saying my son has been blessed with great teachers, but I too question some of these people allowed to be around my child. Mr. Gilbert for example, admitted adultery, accused of bringing guns on school property, and using school funds for god knows what. Ms. Rourk, the principal of my son’s school, using racial slurs and threatening to kill a parent. I myself have witnessed children being grabbed by a teacher. Let’s talk about the student that urinated on himself and was left to sit in it all day. I know for a fact that it occurred because my own son pooped his pants and sat in it all day. When I picked him up at the end of the day I could smell it immediately. When questioned he said he was not allowed to go to the bathroom. The poor kid came home with a sore and bleeding butt. When school officials were questioned I was told the kids need to learn to hold it at which time I gave my son permission to go to the bathroom whenever he needed to and I would deal with anyone that tried to punish him. I feel Mrs. Danka conducted herself better than I because if any teacher was to put their hands on my child I promise you my hands would be on them!!!! When someone decides to become a teacher they have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner which is suitable to be around such impressionable, young minds. They need to conduct themselves that way in public and even under stressful situations. I DO NOT feel Mr. Gilbert or Ms. Rourk conducted themselves in that manner. Nor do I feel ANY adult has the right to put their hands on anyone’s child. It is the parent’s responsibility to discipline their children. For those of you who are dogging Mrs. Danka or feel her children got what they deserved, I say to you…. Wait until it happens to YOUR child and see how you react. For those of you that question Mrs. Danka’s values and how her children are treated, I say… Maybe you should look into your own values because you’re the ones that are turning a blind eye to the people our children are being exposed to. I don’t teach color in my home nor do I allow my son to judge people by where they came from or their economic stature. This issue has nothing to do with color, money, or where someone came from. The issue is our children and their education, and the focus should be on that. There are great teachers at JMME but a few bad apples can spoil the bunch. For those teachers who do their job by educating and protecting my son…. I commend you. For those of you who are not doing right by our children, I will join Mrs. Danka’s fight in making sure you are removed from the school system.