Board votes 'no' on McClung

For the second time the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voted 4-3 last Thursday to not renew the contract of Superintendent Michele McClung, but School Board President Danny Benjamin says he will bring the vote back to the table for a third time.

"I plan to bring it back up," Benjamin said. "I've talked to a lot of citizens and they want us to renew her contract."

The school board held a special meeting Wednesday (Oct. 18) at the central office in Brewton, however, McClung said she was not invited to attend. Results of that meeting came after deadline for this edition.

At its Aug. 21 meeting the board voted 4-3 not to renew McClung's contract with board members Cindy Jackson, Loumeek White, Kevin Hoomes and Sherry Digmon voting no. Benjamin, along with board members Coleman Wallace and Mike Edwards voted yes.

Benjamin then recommended the issue to be put back on the agenda for the Sept. 28 meeting. At that meeting, Jackson, White, Hoomes and Digmon didn't attend and with no quorum to conduct a meeting the meeting was cancelled.

At the meeting last Thursday, after public comments, the board again voted 4-3 to not renew McClung's contract with Benjamin, Wallace and Edwards voting yes and Jackson, White, Hoomes and Digmon voting no.

Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steve Billy stood to speak during public comment and noted that he normally would not get involved in an 'employment situation' like this, but he heard that community members had heard from some board members that were 'things about Mrs. McClung' and 'things of vicious personal attacks,' and that she was going to be indicted by a grand jury. He referred to a recent audit that was supposed to reveal any wrong-doing and Billy said they did not find anything.

"That's Washington politics brought to Escambia County, Alabama," said Billy. "I don't control much in Escambia County, Alabama, but I do control a grand jury of this county, and I can tell you, this lady right here is not going to be brought before a grand jury because there is nothing to bring before a grand jury. But there are some other matters that will be brought before a grand jury, that I am not at liberty to discuss because, by law, that's a secret investigation."

Billy said it disturbed him that there are public officials who would be telling things to community members that are not true. He said that he has statements and affidavits from community members stating what was said to them. He then reminded the board members that he sent each of them a letter about the subject.

"I've worked with superintendents before," said Billy. "One thing I will say about Mrs. McClung is that she does not have an agenda. She loves children. Children are first. She considers the children first before she makes a decision. There's been proven progress under her leadership. She's got ethical conduct. She wants transparency. She wants to do the right thing and hold people accountable. Look at what has been accomplished in a short time. You're going to throw that to the curb?"

Billy reminded the board members they took an oath when they entered office, asking them if they took that oath lightly. He referred to an Alabama code that details a board member's duties, reminding them that those are what they are to uphold.

"Each decision, action and vote taken or made as a board member of a local board of education shall be based solely on the needs and interests of students or the system," read Billy. "Are you people that are voting no, is that what your interest is? I don't think so."

He further read that "no decision, action or vote shall be taken or made to serve or promote the personal, political or pecuniary (monetary) interests of a member and that each decision, action and vote should be based on the interest of the school system as a whole."

Billy then recommended that, based on his history of working with McClung, the board renew her contract.

Former Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant attended the meeting and said his phone has rung off the hook with calls from citizens who do not agree with the possibility of not renewing McClung's contract.

"Our representative, Mrs. (Cindy) Jackson, who represents our district, from what I understand, is really behind this, of getting rid of Mrs. McClung," said Bondurant. "Now, I understand that she is supposed to represent our district, but the people in her district disagree with her."

Bondurant said he did not understand what the board is doing and that he has been told Jackson is pushing for it.

"The town of Flomaton, they have called me, and they support Mrs. McClung," said Bondurant.