Accusations fly, search for new superintendent begins

The Daleville City Board of Education will begin searching for a new superintendent following accusatory comments made by one board member during a special-called meeting on Wednesday, April 10.

Board Chairman Steve Kirkland announced during the board’s March 20 meeting current Superintendent Dr. Diane Flournoy’s contract will expire on June 30, and the board would need to make a decision whether to approve an extension of her contract or to “declare an impending vacancy.”

At the March 20 meeting, only board member Barbara Davis offered comments and discussion on the topic of business, but no motion was made.

A special-called meeting was scheduled for March 27 that was later cancelled before the April 10 work session and meeting was held.

During the 12-minute work session held before the meeting on April 10, the board discussed terms and dates for a superintendent vacancy announcement and search timeline. Chief School Financial Officer Lynne McWilliams told the board the vacancy and the timeline were the same as used before, but dates were changed.

Board Attorney Dale Marsh suggested sending all applications to his office to be screened for qualification and completion, a change that was agreed on by the board. The timeline previously included sending all applications to the board chairman.

“What we’ve been doing is having them go to the board attorney,” he said. “A lot of people who may apply to a superintendent’s position may already be in a superintendent’s position with another system or perhaps they’re assistant superintendent or principal and they don’t necessarily want their name out.”

He said applications that have been screened will then be brought to the board.

During the work session, Davis asked how the board reached a point to discuss a vacancy and search timeline.

“How did we come about doing a vacancy announcement and a timeline?” she asked. “Have we gotten anything in writing from the superintendent saying she wants to (leave)?”

Kirkland responded that Flournoy’s contract was coming to an end and these items needed to be agreed upon for the board meeting.

“Her contract states that the end of her contract is June 30,” Kirkland said. “That’s why we’re doing this.”

“We?” she asked. “The four of you have decided that you no longer want to extend the contract?”

Kirkland responded that the contract is “no longer extendable,” but he agreed with Davis’ statement that the board could vote to enter into a new contract with Flournoy.

During the meeting that followed that was held in a full board room that included parents, Kirkland reminded the board Flournoy’s contract ends on June 30 with no extensions, leaving the board two options going forward: declare an impending vacancy or renegotiate a contract with Flournoy.

Board member Ricky McLin made a motion to announce an impending vacancy and approve the timeline, which was seconded by board member Debra Latremore.

During the discussion portion of the vote, Davis asked other board members why they did not want to negotiate a new superintendent contact with Flournoy.

Latremore asked Marsh if other members could answer the question. Marsh said board members do not have to answer any questions or have any discussion, but they should avoid any “good name and character issues” with any comments.

No board member responded to Davis’ question. She then asked if other board members believed Flournoy was ineffective as superintendent.

“What are the grounds for not wanting to negotiate a new contract?” she asked.

“It’s difficult because you never know what’s going to be deemed personal or not personal,” Latremore said. “I can’t find the words…”

“I find that hard to believe,” Davis responded. “You know the words.”

She then began to accuse a certain board member of controlling the others.

“I know that there’s one individual on this board that controls the three of you,” she said, with meeting attendees following her words with sounds of agreement. “I know that based on the comments that he’s made to the superintendent, telling her when she refuses to do what he wants her to do and then he says to her, ‘I can count to three,’ meaning I’ve got three other board members that’s going to vote the way I want them to vote.”

She said this board member has pressured Flournoy “because she will not hire certain individuals.” She said she has also been told by another board member “behind closed doors” with the superintendent that the controlling board member “is the problem” and Flournoy is doing her job.

“I’ve asked two of you why you are intimidated by this person, and you will say behind closed doors that that individual is wrong, shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing,” she said.

After a short exchange with Kirkland about her statements and his agreement with her statements, Davis asked other board members if they had any statements to make. No board member responded.

A parent attending the meeting then spoke, asking if parents could speak to the board about this topic of business.

“Can we, as parents, speak?” the parent asked. “If Dr. Flournoy leaves, then the rest of you at the table that are the board that have been here for years, you need to suit up and leave also.”

Marsh then announced that the board chairman only recognizes speakers who are on the agenda.

Another parent asked if the board did not want to hear the concerns of the parents of students, while another parent stated that no one answered any phone calls for requests to be on the agenda.

Following no more discussion of the board, board members Kirkland, Latremore, McLin and Angelia Filmore approved a vacancy announcement and timeline. Davis voted against the motion.