The Tuskegee News - Board lists 6 reasons for firing Superintendent Moore

The Tuskegee News

Board lists 6 reasons for firing Superintendent Moore

By GUY RHODES
Editor/Publisher
Updated Jul 08, 2010 - 06:17:42 EDT

A little more than two years after being selected the first Macon Countian and first female to serve as Superintendent for the Macon County School District, Dr. Gwendolyn Trawick Moore has been removed from that position.

In a surprise action during a June 30 called meeting of the Macon County Board of Education (MCBOE) at Booker T. Washington High School, the board voted 3-1 to remove Moore as superintendent. The meeting was believed called for to go over an evaluation of Moore.

Board President Alfonso Robinson instead yielded the chair to board member Theodore Samuel in making a motion to dismiss Moore. The motion received a second from Elnora Love. Katy Campbell cast the lone no vote as Robinson, Love and Samuel voted yes.

Alfred Randolph, who like Robinson will be going off the board in November under the new district format for the board, has been suffering from the affects of a stroke and was unable to attend the meeting. However, Robinson produced a letter from Randolph stating he would support any action taken by the board as it related to the superintendent.

In his motion, Robinson outlined reasons for consideration for terminating Moore’s contract. Those points were:

(1) Disrespectful/Unprofessional

•The superintendent has on numerous occasions uttered vile and extremely slanderous remarks about each board member that demonstrates wonton disrespect and behavior unbecoming of the educational leader of Macon County.

(2) Insubordination

•The superintendent has failed to carry out board directives with intent.

(3) The superintendent has failed to carry out board directives with intent.

(4) The superintendent failed to stop illegal selling of food items and snacks in the school and has turned a virtual blind eye even after being apprised by board members.

(5) The superintendent has undermined her trustworthiness. On too many occasions the board has taken action based on information supplied by the superintendent that was based on information that was less than the truth.

(6) Failure of a second consecutive superintendent performance evaluation instrument adopted by the Macon County Board of Education.

Robinson said he had received four completed evaluations of the superintendent. Campbell said she had completed her evaluation, but had not submitted it.

After voting on the motion to terminate Moore, the board moved to executive session. When the board returned to open session, it appointed Dr. Jacqueline Brooks to serve as interim superintendent.

By state law, the interim position can be filled only four months by Brooks, a former MCBOE member, principal of Tuskegee Institute Middle School and most recently Director of Federal Programs, a position held by Moore when she was appointed superintendent in April of 2008.

Brooks said she does not attend to apply for the full-time superintendent’s position.

“I believe the job should go to someone with superintendent’s experience in moving a school system forward,” Brooks explained.

Moore said, “I’m surprised how things worked out.”

With 42 years in education — almost all in Macon County — she can retire with full benefits.

Moore completed slightly more than two years on her four-year contract that called for a salary of $120,000 a year, plus benefits such as insurance and use of a district vehicle

Moore said she could not comment about her options from a legal standpoint based on advice of her attorney. She declined to identify her attorney.

Robinson said based on the reasons he listed in his motion to terminate Moore, he believes the board will not have to honor the final two years of the superintendent’s contract.

Campbell said she voted not to terminate Moore because she isn’t certain a proper evaluation process has been followed. Campbell is an attorney who serves as attorney for a couple of school districts.

MCBOE attorney Deborah Biggers declined to comment on the board’s action. She did point out the board has four months from June 30 to hire a new superintendent.

Campbell was requested to contact N&P, a firm from Guntersville that helps in the search for school superintendents. It is the same firm the board used in the search that resulted in the hire of Moore.

The board is expected to have a called meeting later this week to hear suggestions from Brooks about pressing issues the board and system need to address. The next regular board meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 at Booker T. Washington High School.