Cobey

The letter, signed by state board Chairman William W. Cobey Jr. and released Monday, says the state board has grave concerns on issues brought to its attention on the lack of cooperation it is receiving from certain board members.

“As you are aware, in 2009, after years of poor academic performance reports in Halifax County Schools, the HCS Board of Education agreed to comply with a court order in which you would fully cooperate with the state board of education and its designees to improve educational opportunities for students enrolled in Halifax County public schools consistent with the Halifax County Board of Education's statutory obligation to provide an adequate school system, provide all Halifax County public school students with the equal opportunity to obtain a sound, basic education, and to independently exercise its judicial functions,” the letter says.

The letter reminds the school system that it agreed to appear and testify at any future hearings in the case regarding any board member's reasons for not taking action or voting against any proposals endorsed by the state board.

The letter also reminds the school system of a 2009 court order designed to enable the school system to implement a comprehensive, state board approved plan to increase student performance. “Under the court order, the (state board of education) has authorized financial assistance, extensive professional development opportunities, instructional coaching for teachers and administrators, remediation for students and numerous other efforts to increase academic achievement.

“The (state board of education) has entrusted only the most capable and experienced staff to assist HCS under the court order. When we make recommendations and provide you with advice, it is in the best interests of the success for the children of HCS.”

The school board, from left, Debbie Hardy, C.J. Carmon, Susie Lynch-Evans, Donna Hunter, Charles Hedgepeth,Carolyn Hawkins and Tyus Few.

Disruptive board members

However, the letter continues, “The (state board of education) is aware some members of the HCS board have been disruptive, uncooperative and obstructionist in their interactions with (state board of education) designees and certain HCS staff. These members have created an environment that is not conducive to delivering quality instruction and negatively impacts increased student achievement in contravention of the court's order.”

Reports given to the state board, the letter says, indicate individual board members are driving away effective administrators and teachers; attempting to suspend the county superintendent's power to transfer within the district independent of board approval and requesting the resignation of the board chair and superintendent.

These board members, according to the letter, are pressuring to rehire former principals as principal or assistant principal who were not renewed for low performance; threatening or bullying district and building administrators to influence personnel actions; proposing illegal and discriminatory personnel actions and are assuming inappropriate roles in organizing employee groups.

Impeding progress, Cobey wrote, the members are revisiting issues after the board has already voted. “In addition it is reported that the HCS board rehired a continually low-performing principal in a central office role against recommendations of the (state board of education) designee and the HCS principal who counseled the HCS board to eliminate the position due to budget constraints. It is clear that these actions have undermined the (state board of education) efforts to assist you in providing every child in your district the opportunity for a sound, basic education in North Carolina.”

Rejecting directives

The state is also concerned that a majority of local board members is inclined to reject specific directives that disregard recommendations by the county school superintendent and the state board's designees regarding length of employment for teacher assistants. “That action is against recommendations of the (state board of education) designees working in HCS as well as the HCS superintendent.”

Even more troubling, the letter says, “Is that this action is being considered after having been explicitly admonished by Dr. June Atkinson not to do so in her letter to you dated 30 September 2013. The (state board of education) reiterates that the actions the HCS board contemplates clearly jeopardize its financial status after recovering from its indebtedness. Once again, the HCS board is explicitly advised not to take such action. A failure to heed this advice suggests a desire by your board not to cooperate with the (state board of education) and will be reported to the court consistent with the court order.”

Prepared for court

Answering whether the state board is not committed to fulfilling obligations under the court order, Cobey said, “Let me assure you that notion is absolutely false. To further illustrate our resolve, the (state board of education) has instructed the board's legal counsel to begin the process of evidence gathering in anticipation of requesting the intervention of the courts should it become necessary.

“This includes the compilation of the requisite documents, including affidavits, depositions and other records supporting any interference with or resistance to the cooperation that is expected of you in the court order. We have also instructed our legal counsel with staff of both boards to be prepared to fully respond to the specifics in the court's 16 September 2013 notice of hearing in the matter.”

If necessary, the letter says, the state board intends to direct its legal counsel to broaden its authority to ensure desired educational outcomes for students despite actions to the contrary.

Recorded meetings

“Consistent with our duties under the court order and in order to ensure accurate accounts of discussions among your board members during deliberations on matters coming before it, we are directing your board to begin audio recording your meetings, both open and closed sessions.”

At Monday's meeting, the state employed a court reporter but expects the local board to handle this in the future.

“The (state board eduction),” Cobey said in the letter, “is not interested in continuing to have to admonish the HCS board to conduct their business in the best interest of the children in HCS. We trust that this message is clear and received within the spirit with which it is intended.”

Manning

Reactions

Halifax County Commissioner Rives Manning, who has long been an advocate of accountability within the school system, said, “I was very glad to see someone in Raleigh has finally decided to look into accountability issues with the Halifax County schools. I think DPI or the board needs to look into all aspects of what's been going on.”

Manning said the letter does not bode well for proponents of school merger. “I don't feel like merging the systems with one that is apparently broken is an asset to anybody. It's not going to help the education of the kids. I think that the county system needs to work hard on improving education levels and getting away from crying in the wind because somebody else gets the money.”

Keith Hoggard, spokesman for the county school system, said school board Chair Donna Hunter recognized the letter at Monday night's board meeting as a very good and accurate letter. “It's going to allow the board to focus on raising student achievement. She said we have been working hard to improve student achievement and thanked (Superintendent Elise) Frederick and the administrative staff, principals and teachers for all their hard work.”

Hoggard said Hunter also praised the state Department of Public Instruction for the close partnership it has forged with the school system as well as the help given to help improve student achievement. “We are moving in the right direction. It's not about the adults, it's about the children.”