By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Puryear, Tenn.—Henry County Schools Director Dr. Brian Norton submitted his resignation at an emotional meeting of the school board Thursday night, stating that the past few weeks “have been extremely difficult” for himself, his family and the district following last month’s criticisms voiced by some school board members and the division within the district that has followed.
The role of a school superintendent, Dr. Norton said, “is not for the faint of heart”.
Dr. Norton’s resignation came before the board voted on his contract and after Board Member Jim McCampbell had made a motion to renew the four-year contract for Dr. Norton.
An almost packed house was on hand for the meeting, which was held at Harrelson School in Puryear. The audience was made up mostly of supporters for Dr. Norton which gave a standing ovation for McCampbell’s comments of support for him.
Dr. Norton’s letter of resignation came directly after McCampbell’s motion and was read by Chairperson Jill Coker, who became emotional and could not finish reading it. Board Attorney Rob Whitfield finished reading Norton’s letter.
Comments of support for Dr. Norton came from Lakewood Principal Amy Veazey, Ben Burkhart, Board Member Tom Beasley and McCampbell. Veazey was speaking on behalf of the district’s principals, who unanimously signed a letter of support for Dr. Norton. Beasley and McCampbell both said they have received letters from the public for Dr. Norton since January’s meeting.
McCampbell was strong in his comments, noting how embarrassed he was by last month’s board meeting. “I usually try to keep my mouth shut, but last month should be an embarrassment to this board. I wanted to crawl out of the board room after that meeting. If we let him get away, we’ll be known as a bunch of idiots.”
McCampbell said since January, “We’ve gone from him doing a great job to him being almost on trial. We’ve forgotten what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re not the personnel committee. We’re not the assistant director committee. We’re board members who are hired to director of schools and I’ve been bombarded with letters of support for this man. I feel like we’re getting in the school bus and going in reverse.”
In his letter, Dr. Norton said it is obvious that he has lost the support of the majority of the board. He said the last four weeks have been ‘tremendously difficult” and described it as a ‘witch hunt’. He said, “The pain caused to my wife and daughter over the past month I would not wish on my worst enemy.”
Board Member Tom Beasley asked Dr. Norton repeatedly if he would reconsider his decision and noted letters of support for Dr. Norton he has received. He said Dr. Norton “is relatively young person and has a lot of time to gain knowledge and wisdom.”
Beasley noted, “There is no one waiting in the wings” to replace Dr. Norton and said the last time the district was in that situation “we had to hire from outside and it was a lengthy and difficult process”.
After listening to Dr. Norton’s comments on the pain the last few weeks have caused him and his family, Beasley acquiesced to his decision to resign.
After the original motion to renew Dr. Norton’s contract was made, Board Member Rod Frey noted an instance of a student who was not allowed to be tested as a gifted student and Dr. Norton noted that if Frey had come to him with his concerns, he could have given him information on how those decisions are made. “If you had given me a call, I could have showed you the process, but I wasn’t given that courtesy because you didn’t ask me,” he said.
Coker said she did not feel the past month was a witch hunt. “I just hate that it’s come to this.”
Dr. Norton read an email exchange he had with Coker today after receiving questions from her as to his feelings and actions since last month’s meeting. He noted that he felt criticisms she posed in the email were ‘gotcha’ comments and that was what convinced him he needed to resign.
After all the discussion, the board voted 3-2 to not renew Dr. Norton’s contract, with Rod Frey, Josh Frey and Jill Coker voting no.
Dozens of people who were on hand for the meeting walked out at that point, with several saying they would remember what happened at the next election.
On a vote to accept Dr. Norton’s resignation, Rod Frey, Josh Frey, Jill Coker and Beasley accepted his resignation, while McCampbell voted no. Beasley made clear he was accepting his resignation “in consideration of his feelings.”
Josh Frey then asked Dr. Norton if he would accept a two year contract with a board review at the end of the two years and Dr. Norton said he would not.
Dr. Norton’s resignation is effective in June. Coker said she would appoint a committee to decide on the process for hiring a replacement for Dr. Norton.
In other business:
–Harrelson Principal Maria Cox presented a video program from her school and was emotional saying, “the work of my school would not have been possible without Dr. Norton.”
–John Akers provided an update on facilities renovations that are ongoing.
–Dr. Norton reported unpaid cafeteria charges are mounting at district schools and that a proposed policy will be forthcoming.
Photo: Board Member Jim McCampbell (standing) voices impassioned support for Dr. Norton. Shannon McFarlin photo.
Menu
