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Board of Education calls more special sessions- - - -
The second called meeting came when the attorney for the BOE ruled that the 2-1 vote to accept the recommendation of Superintendent Robbie Phillips was illegal. Rentz explained that state law said that a majority of the members present must approve any motion for it to pass. The courtroom and the foyer were completely filled by approximately 100 people. There were another 75 to 100 people outside looking in the windows wanting to see what was going on in this meeting. Chairman Leroy Bush opened the meeting at the City Hall at 7:00 p.m. with four members present. The fifth member of the BOE has yet to be appointed by this board to fill the unexpired term of Andy Spooner, whose resignation was effective on Tuesday, February 6. To date, the BOE has not put that on the agenda. While all of this is going on, over 800 voters and over 1200 citizens have not been represented at these board meetings. Chairman Leroy Bush opened the meeting at the City Hall at 7:00 p.m. without a welcome to the crowd of citizens, a prayer or a Pledge to the Flag. He asked for a motion to approve the agenda, which was changed from the previous called meeting. All of the administrators at this meeting were listed separately to be voted on.
Attorney Rentz, who came to the meeting this time, ruled that the administrators and teachers could be hired at a called meeting. Recommendations by the superintendent, motions, seconds and a vote were requested individually for each of the six administrators. All were recommended and voted to hire, except when the recommendation for Miller County Elementary School principal was requested. Superintendent Robbie Phillips recommended that Kent Richardson be hired as MCES principal. BOE member Terry Pickle made the motion; BOE member Vicki Merritt seconded the motion. Chairman Leroy Bush voted no, BOE member Sheila Phillips Freeman voted no. The vote was tied, which means that Richardson was not hired.
A request was made to get an opinion of what the 2-2 vote meant on Principal Kent Richardson. BOE member Terry Pickle stated that he had been told that when a board has a split vote, according to Robert's Rules of Order, it reverts back to the way the motion was stated and the motion passed. Attorney Rentz disagreed that state law stated that three of the four present at the meeting must vote on anything for it to pass. BOE member Pickle stated that there is a court case now on this same issue in Crisp County. Rentz stated that the motion did not pass. Chairman Bush asked for a motion to adjourn. The question was asked if there would be no public participation allowed. He stated, "No." After the meeting was adjourned, Terry Toole requested if he could read about this principal two of BOE do not want. BOE member Freeman got up and left saying, "I don't have to stay and listen to this."
Principal Kent Richardson named "High Performance Principal. One of the best in the state. Richardson a Georgia High Performance Principal "ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox have announced the names of more than 100 High Performance Principals who are working in Georgia's schools. These principals, from more than 40 school districts, were identified as leaders whose schools were performing well above expectations. Among the best principals in the state who were named the 2006 High Performance Principals was H. Kent Richardson, who was principal at Miller County Middle School when this designation was made from 2002-2005. Richardson is now principal at the Miller County Elementary School. "It is a humbling to be among those principals in the state of Georgia named to this distinction. It takes not only doing the job you are being paid to do, but to have a staff of teachers and administrators who do what they need to do to give our children the education they deserve," Richardson said.
"Along with H. Kent Richardson from Miller County, 11 other Southwest Georgia public school principals received this honor which included: Gene Melvin of Westover High School, Albany; Holly Thursby of Robert A Cross Middle Magnet School; seven of the nine Decatur County schools had principals named: Tommie L. Howell of Bainbridge High, Marvin V. Thomas of Hutto Middle, John H. McRae of John Johnson Elementary, Larry J. Clark of Jones-Wheat Elementary, Florence M. Harrell of Lillian E. Williams Elementary, Lillie H. Brown of Potter Street Elementary and Linda B. Lumpkin of West Bainbridge Elementary. Kay Smith, principal of A.S. Clark Elementary in Crisp County and Faye F. King of Jerger Elementary in Thomasville were also named.
"High performance principals provide strong and effective leadership for teachers, staff and students to achieve above and beyond expectations," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "We need to make sure that our best principals are in the places where they are needed most." "These principals are getting it done and will help us improve student achievement in many of our schools," said Superintendent Cox. "The educational and motivational strategies they are using can be replicated throughout Georgia in all of our schools. They are not only great principals; they are mentors and role models." "The High Performance Principals program was a focal point of Governor Perdue's 2006 legislative agenda and was overwhelmingly supported in both the Senate and the House. Senate Bill 468 was sponsored by State Senator Dan Moody and carried in the House by State Representative Tom Dickson. High Performance Principals will receive a $15,000 supplement if they are hired as a principal in a Needs Improvement school. This supplement may continue for two additional years. Principals from other states can also apply to be considered under this program. Using the language of SB468, the Georgia Department of Education worked with the Governor's Office to create a set of criteria that defines a High Performance Principal. The criteria for a High Performance Principal include: *Candidate's school showed higher than expected scores on state Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) in four of five subjects assessed in elementary or middle school (Reading, English/Language Arts, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies). *Candidate's school showed higher than expected scores on state Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) in three of four subjects assessed in high schools (English/Language Arts, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies). *Candidate has been principal at the identified school for three consecutive years (2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005) *Candidate was principal of a school that made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2005 and was not in Needs Improvement status for the 2005-2006 school year. *Candidate met other necessary goals in regards to AYP, graduation rate, End of Course Test performance and a growth trend on SAT scores. Several people were interviewed after the BOE meeting was closed by WALB-TV. The vast majority of those at the meeting were there in support of Principal Richardson, and could not believe that no one was allowed to speak for him. As a number of citizens stated, "These two BOE members are misusing their power the worst we have ever seen. If this continues, we should seek a recall election on both of them." Another stated that if we allow them to run off one of the finest principals we have, we deserve it, but our children don't. One of the educators in the crowd said, "If Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) gets hold of this, our schools could be placed on probation. We could lose our accreditation and possibly much of the grant money that the state gives us for our new and old schools." | ||||||||||||||||||
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