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June 19, 2008
School Superintendent contract debate to be front and center today
The Hamilton County Board of Education will be deliberating on whether to renew Superintendent Jim Scales' contract tonight, even though that contract is in force for two more years.
By law, the decision has to be made tonight (technically, by Monday the 23rd), or must wait until at least 30 days after the August 7 election, in which four of the nine school board seats are being filled.
Board member Rhonda Thurman, who is running for reelection in District 1, has recently spoken out against the contract renewal proposal. Read her comments here, along with a few replies.
Candidate Joe Dumas is running in District 2 against incumbent Chip Baker. Mr. Dumas contacted Tennessee Ticket with some additional information. His email includes the following:
So let's review: the extension of the superintendent's contract was proposed *exactly* 15 days before [the] (June 19) meeting, on June 4. Not even the school system's attorney knew about the extra 5 days' notice that was only enacted less than 6 weeks ago (and uncharacteristically took effect immediately instead of waiting until July 1 as is customary for new bills), but somehow [Board Vice Chairman] Jeffrey Wilson knew about it and brought the contract extension up *exactly* 15 days before the meeting, completely by coincidence. Right.
I have not had the opportunity to hear from the other side regarding this, but I must say that the proponents of renewing this contract will have quite a bit of explaining to do in order to convince the public (including me) that this is a move designed with the interests of students and the general public in mind.
By the terms of this brand-new law (intro'd in the General Assembly by Sen. Charlotte Burks), the Superintendent contract item must be first on the agenda, so be sure to get there extra early if you go. The School Board meets at 5:00 p.m. at the central offices just inside Enterprise South. (3074 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421) (Update: clarified start time.)
I'm going to be there shortly before 5:00, just in case. I'll try to get some interviews with board members and candidates and thus be able to present a broader set of perspectives on this important story.
If you can't be at the meeting, it will be broadcast on Comcast channel 3 on Saturday at 7:30 P.M. Of course, the news about whatever happens today will be out long before then.
There's more on this story, and news of a "covenant" signing event, in today's Chattanooga Times Free Press.
(Full disclosure: my wife is currently applying for a teaching position in Hamilton County. The views expressed on this website do not in any way seek to influence, nor be influenced by, the process of her seeking employment with the Department of Education.)
Education , Government , Hamilton County Elections | By joe lance | 10:02 AM