At times during a called Appling County Board of Education meeting held on Thursday, June 24, members of the audience became very upset and emotional about the proceedings and decisions made by some board members. The main part of the meeting that caused uproar followed the board’s lengthy closed-door session for personnel purposes. Acting Superintendent Debra Brantley made the following transfer recommendations after the session:

-Edie Baxley to Altamaha Elementary as principal.

-David Williams to Appling County High School as assistant principal.

-Melanie Howard to Appling County Middle School as a media specialist.

-Sandy Dominy to assume duties as technology director and E-Rate responsibility (no supplement required, but allow her to work the month of July because professional development is already scheduled).

-Patsy Johnson to Altamaha Elementary School as a counselor.

-Sonja Cain to Appling Elementary School as a music teacher.

-Pat Hailey to special education parent mentor.

-Kim Stancil to special education secretary.

After board member Joyce Tillman made a motion to accept the acting superintendent’s recommendation, local citizen Lee Herndon stood up and stated that “this is not right” and told board members to call the sheriff to her if they wanted to. She stated that the board had lied and questioned if the community wanted their children to learn how to lie, cheat and steal. School Resource Officer Marvin Conway approached Herndon and told her she could not interrupt the meeting.

Board Chairman M.C. Barlow stated that there was a motion on the floor and asked for a second. Board member Minnie Barnes seconded the motion. Barlow then called for the vote and Tillman and Barnes voted in favor of the motion. Barlow asked if any were opposed and Rodney Williams voted against the motion, which prompted cheering and clapping for his lone decision from the audience. During the closed-door session board member Janie Carter left the board office in tears and did not return.

Barlow stated that the vote was three in favor and one opposed. This reporter questioned if the chairman was voting on the motion and he confirmed that he was voting in favor of the motion. I asked Barlow if he could vote, since there was not a tiebreak situation and he said, “The chairman can vote anytime they wish.”

Altamaha Principal Rick Townsend asked if he could speak. This reporter then asked if the board would allow Townsend to speak. Barlow stated that he could speak to the acting superintendent but not to board members.

Joyce Tillman said, “There are things we can’t divulge here.”

Jada Miles responded to Tillman’s statement by asking, “Why not? We are grown adults here. Tell us why we shouldn’t defend him (Townsend)?”

Brantley stated that the meeting was a “business meeting”. This prompted a response from this reporter informing Brantley that at any time when the board meets it is always considered a public meeting.

Gerry Moore pleaded with board members, including his board representative Joyce Tillman, to let Townsend speak.

Jada Miles asked if there was a board member that would like to hear from Townsend. Rodney Williams asked Barlow to allow Townsend to speak. Joyce Tillman stated that she needed to leave (suggesting that the board move forward with its agenda).

After more pleading from citizens Tillman said, “You have the paper that was sent to SACS if you want them to know what was sent to SACS by Mr. Townsend.” (Editor’s note: SACS is the acronym for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is the organization that gives accreditation to school systems and colleges such as the Appling County School System. If SACS desires, it can withdraw its accreditation from a school system or college, which could have dire consequences such as loss of funding for a system or college and potential loss of scholarship monies for students.)

Jada Miles asked Townsend if he had something to hide and Townsend said he did not. He then offered to give copies (which he had in his possession) of the letter he sent to SACS to everyone in the room.

The board finally agreed to let Townsend speak.

Townsend started by saying the he would have liked to have talked to board members prior to a decision being made about his position and expressed his disappointment.

“I heard last Monday that I would be recommended (for the position of principal of Altamaha Elementary) and that didn’t happen. I was also told today that I would be recommended and again that didn’t happen. So twice I was not told the truth,” said Townsend.

Joyce Tillman asked who had told him that.

Townsend responded by saying that Brantley had told him this on both occasions.

“About an hour before the meeting I found out that there was an issue and the board was upset because I sent a document to SACS, which I have in front of me,” said Townsend. “Brantley asked me last Monday if I filed the (original) complaint with SACS and I told her I did not. She then asked if I had provided any information to SACS and I told her that I did.

“I am disappointed about the lies that have been told about me in the community. When you (the board) go to other people in the community and tell them there are things in my past, and say ‘that’s why we are not going to recommend him’, that is a total lie.

“I want to know the reasons why I was not recommended. Good things are supposed to happen when you do the right thing. I did the right thing when I had to report to this board when someone (Supt. Sam Herndon) wrote a check that should not have been written. Mrs. Tillman you told me to go ahead and call (the PSC).”

Tillman stated that this was correct and added that Barlow told him the same. “You did your job,” said Tillman.

Townsend continued, “Since then I have been retaliated against by being demoted (from assistant superintendent to principal). I have been blessed with a good staff; I will say that (referring to faculty at Altamaha). It (retaliation) has carried over to my school, carried over to a testing issue, and carried over to nepotism Mr. Barlow. You know that as well as I do. Two months ago you (Barlow) called me out of a board meeting and during the meeting you told me you needed to see me. I had another principal ask me why Barlow called me out and asked me why my face was so red. Because someone was railing me about his (Barlow) niece. That’s nepotism.”

“That is not his niece sir,” said Tillman.

“A family member then. It still happened Mrs. Tillman,” responded Townsend.

He continued, “I’m disappointed about that and about everything that has went on. I wish things would have been done the right way. Mrs. Brantley you stated that you needed to give courtesy to two people last week; I have not got that respect or courtesy. I am being penalized for doing the right thing. I don’t know how many people in this room, if SACS asked you to send them information, wouldn’t send them what they requested. If you wouldn’t, then I am disappointed in you too.”

After the meeting adjourned, Brantley gave this reporter some additional information with regards to the meeting. While attaining this information from Brantley near the board members desk, I heard Joyce Tillman tell Townsend that the reason why he was not recommended for the position of principal at Altamaha Elementary School was because he had sent the information to SACS. I immediately turned and responded to Tillman, “So you are telling me that the entire reason why this man is not getting his job back is because he did the right thing?”

Tillman stated that this was not what she was saying.

There were a number of other heated conversations following the meeting between citizens and board members.

Other business

Acting Superintendent Brantley reported that the system had received preliminary reporting on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Brantley stated that the elementary schools in the county performed well, but added that Appling County High School (ACHS) and Appling County Middle School had some issues in the area of math. She also added that ACHS still has an issue with its graduation rate. The superintendent added that she hopes that summer school retesting can help both schools make AYP.

Brantley also shared information about revenue statewide. She stated she had attended a superintendent’s meeting last week and one of the main topics of discussion at this meeting was lack of revenue in the state. Brantley stated that the system had received another allotment sheet from the state cutting five percent from the local budget. She stated that this equated to a cut of $3.5 million. The superintendent stated that she didn’t know how school systems would be able to operate next year. She added that the school board would be looking at every program to find ways to cut expense including maintenance. Brantley stated that even by raising the local millage, it would not cover the current shortfall the system is facing.

Brantley gave a legislative update and reported on bills that have been passed this year by the state legislature.

The acting superintendent also shared information about the annual audit. Brantley reported that the system was advised to establish better internal controls. The auditors also cited issues with organizations, such as PTOs, misusing the system’s Federal Tax ID.

Concerning school system insurance, Brantley stated that the system has used the Georgia School Board Association’s insurance program for a number of years. She stated that the system’s insurance expires July 1 and she recommended that the system continue to use this insurer. Brantley also added that several local insurance companies had asked to bid on the insurance. Board member Rodney Williams questioned why the system had waited so long to see about this and stated that from now on he would like the system to seek bids.

Following the closed-door session, Brantley announced that a number of the current employees working on 49 percent contracts would start being paid on a T-4 salary (beginning teacher salary) basis due to the current budget crisis. She stated that there are three positions that will be eliminated. Brantley recommended that the board adopt the pay scale for these positions. The board unanimously approved the recommendation.

Due to not having a budget in place, the superintendent asked the board to approve a resolution allowing her to sign checks and also adopt a spending resolution for July. The board approved both requests.

At the close of the meeting and right before the board voted to adjourn, NAACP President Gerry Moore stated that he wanted to set up an appointment to speak with the superintendent and board members about what he called a disturbing tape he had received prior to the meeting. Moore did not go into detail about the audiotape, but he did say that the tape included some “very discriminating issues”. It was assumed that the tape included information about the school system.