School board divided over schools director termination

By Eddie West Staff Writer

An attempt to terminate Director of Schools Barry Smith’s contract by a divided school board failed.

School board members were to discuss whether to enter contract extension talks with the director or accept applications for the position as Smith’s current contract will expire next year.

Instead board member David McDonald opened school board talks with a motion to “terminate the director’s contract with cause”. 

Receiving a second from board member Jay Hesson, McDonald’s motion failed, by a four to four vote. Action by the school board cannot move forward with a tie vote which translates into a no vote.

Discussion of the director’s contract was on the agenda for Tuesday night’s August (August 19) regularly school board meeting.

The vote did not come without a lengthy discussion among school board members.

As reasoning for his motion to terminate the director’s contract, McDonald alleged three causes including “improper conduct”, “inefficient service” and “neglect of duty”.

In support of the three causes and noting he could substantiate the allegations, McDonald went on to allege “conflicts with the county’s finance department”, “inadequate posting of jobs”, “personnel management such as creating positions and non-posting of certain jobs” and “presentation of a school system budget where expenditures exceeded revenues”.

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