The status of Williamsburg County School District Superintendent Ralph C. Fennell Jr.’s employment remains in limbo following the school board’s most recent meeting.
On July 14, trustees voted 5-1 to place Fennel on administrative leave, effectively removing him from the position. The single vote not in favor of the action was an abstention by Barbara McKenzie.
Linda B. Huell, the district’s assistant superintendent of human services, was voted interim superintendent with four votes for her appointment and two abstentions.
The trustees discussed Fennell’s contract in executive session during their regular meeting Monday night, but took no action.
McKenzie said in a telephone interview with the Morning News she couldn’t support Fennell being place on administrative leave because he has helped the district improve in several areas.
McKenzie said “a lot of good things were going on in the district” including the school district being a model for the state in the area of single-gendered classrooms. Kingstree Junior High School was recognized by the state Department of Education in 2008 for creating a successful single-gender education program and its “thorough examination of data in creating its single-gender program,” according to a press release issued in March by the education department.
A joint statement was released through the office of the superintendent in the week following the board’s decision.
According to that statement, Fennell and the board had “recognized issues that they would like to amicably resolve as to the efficient and cohesive administration of the district.”
The release went on to say that both parties mutually agreed to Fennell’s administrative leave, during which time he would maintain full pay and benefits, while he and the board “engage in diligent good faith efforts to reach an accord.”
Fennell’s leave was only the latest in a series of conflicts between him and the board, capped by the recent reorganization of the district’s organization chart.
On Feb. 23, trustees voted that “no hiring, transfers, lateral transfers or promotions be completed (by the superintendent) without board approval.” The motion, made by vice chairwoman Norma D. Bartelle, carried by a margin of 4-3.
Board chairman Norman Gamble said the action was taken to ensure proper hiring procedures were followed, and wasn’t directed against Fennell personally.
“The move was made against the position, not the person,” he said.
Trustee McKenzie, along with W.C. Henryhand Jr. and Joe Lee opposed the motion. Trustees Bartelle, Kent Evans and Charles Garner favored the proposal, which carried with the tiebreaking vote from Gamble.
At the July 14 meeting before the motion for Fennell’s leave was made, Lee said the board wasn’t letting Fennell complete the duties of his post.
“I felt he was not being allowed to do what he needed to do,” Lee said, recalling the meeting. “The superintendent felt they were tying his hands and not letting him function as he had before.”
— Morning News staff writer Shireese M. Bell contributed to this report.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement