School board delays vote
By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 12, 2015 1:50 AM
The Wayne County School Board Friday morning postponed appointing a new human resources director and other staff after two of its members questioned the propriety of voting before the application deadline had passed.
And comments made during the meeting appeared to indicate that newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore is looking outside the county for new personnel.
"When we interviewed all of our superintendent (candidates) we asked them if they would be willing to go outside this county," board member Eddie Radford said. "If they would be willing to reconstruct the central office."
Dunsmore has done as he was asked to do, Radford said.
"He has looked outside," Radford said. "He has started to reconstruct up here."
Dr. Dwight Cannon said he thought Dunsmore would be a "good fit" for the county and that he wanted to build on Radford's comments.
But he objected to the timing of the vote before Dunsmore could get to know the people already in place.
Board members Rick Pridgen and Pat Burden asked to be recused from the vote during the special called session.
Pridgen was particularly vocal, calling into question the selection process and ethics of the vote.
But following a brief break to check board policy, attorney Jack Edwards said recusal could only be granted when there was a conflict of interest.
Dunsmore said he no problem in holding off on a decision until after the July 15 application deadline.
Cannon was not at the meeting, but participated by computer video feed.
Some board members appeared frustrated by the feed that was plagued by audio problems that had Chairman Chris West repeatedly asking Cannon if he was still there and to repeat his comments.
West also asked that the computer screen be adjusted so that he could see how Cannon was voting.
Cannon asked Dunsmore if delaying the vote meant that he also would review the applications already in hand.
Dunsmore said he would call Cannon after the meeting to ensure that he understand what Cannon had said, but that he had no problem reviewing the applications.
After the meeting West declined to release Dunsmore's recommendation, saying it was not a public record until approved by the board.
West was asked about the July 15 deadline.
"We charged our superintendent with the duties of moving Wayne County Public Schools forward," West said. "He had interviewed people for the positions that he recommended today. He has identified two very capable people for the jobs that he wants.
"So that is what we based our decision on. If it needs to be posted to the 15th then we'll come back afterward and make our decision."
Asked if he had no problem about voting before the deadline, West said, "I had no problem supporting the superintendent's recommendations."
A second special called meeting could be held as early as July 16 to take up the issue again.
The office became open in May when assistant superintendent for human resources Dr. Marvin "Steve" McCoy left.
District official have been tight-lipped and McCoy would only say the reason he left was to seek "other educational pursuits."
Board member Arnold Flowers made the motion to approve Dunsmore's personnel agenda. It was seconded by Radford.
That prompted Pridgen to say he had two reasons to ask that he be recused.
"First of all, one of these positions is for the HR position," Pridgen said. "I have no problems with the candidates. I don't know them, and they both had outstanding resumes. My only thing as I mentioned before is the process.
"The first reason I am asking to be recused for is I think it is unethical and professional of us. I couldn't really find anything that says that we can't do this. But the HR position has been advertised with a closing date of July 15, and we are still accepting the applications for that position."
Pridgen said he "had a problem" with the board voting before that deadline since doing so might make the board "suspect" and raise legal questions.
Pridgen said he could not vote on something that he did not want to be a part of. Even voting no would still make it appear that he was condoning a process that could be challenged later, he said.
Also, Pridgen said he did not think the board was following its own policy -- his second reason for asking to be recused.
Ms. Burden asked if the board would need to take separate action for anyone else who wanted to be recused or if they could be voted on together.
West asked if anyone else wanted to be recused.
Ms. Burden said she did.
After Edwards informed the board about the bylaws, Dunsmore told Pridgen he appreciated his comments and that he proposed putting off the vote until after July 15.
"I can review any applications that have yet to arrive," Dunsmore said. "I think that is a wise decision if somebody else is out there I want also not only give them a chance, but if they will be a good fit for Wayne County Public Schools I need to take a look."
Flowers withdrew his motion.
During board comments, Flowers took exception to Pridgen labeling the vote as unethical. Flowers said he appreciates the fact that the board had clarified a "technical" matter.
"I appreciate the fact that we are trying to do something here in trying to get the job done," he said. "When I see somebody like our new superintendent who is trying to get the job done and make something happen, then somebody starts to use a term like unethical, I take issue with that because I have not seen anything that is unethical."
Flowers said he thought those comments were "out of line."