Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
During the regular meeting of the Madison District School Board on Tuesday, June 6, discussion about the candidate for the position of principal at Madison County High School (MCHS) turned racial as the qualifications of the candidate came into question. The discussion began when a list of suggested candidates for several jobs were presented to the Board for approval. District 3 member VeEtta Hagan said that she had been asked by several members of the community to challenge the candidate for the position of principal at MCHS.
“I don't know, this is what I've been told, but rumors are that this person was let go from his present job because of low job performance,” said Hagan. Hagan brought up the fact that Hamilton High School has received low grades from the Department of Education and is currently in a two-year turn-around plan. According to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Hamilton County High School's school grade for the 2015-16 school year was a “D.” This is the latest information available from the FDOE.
The candidate is former Hamilton County High School Principal Kip McLeod. McLeod is originally from the Dasher/Lake Park area of Georgia. He is a graduate of Lowndes County High School and Valdosta State College. He has coached baseball and football for over 30 years and spent 10 years in the Valdosta/Lowndes County school system before going to Hamilton County.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Pickles said she was aware that McLeod had not been recommended for re-hire at Hamilton County High School. Pickles said he had received a positive recommendation from his previous supervisor in Lowndes County, Ga.
“That was then, this is now,” responded Hagan.
“I also have the same concerns about that particular principal [McLeod], that he never received above a 'C' while he was at Hamilton High School,” added District 4 School Board member Reginald Daniels. Board Chairman Bart Alford asked for a motion to accept the personnel recommendations. District 1 Board Member Susie Williamson made a motion to accept the personnel recommendations; however, there was no second. A motion was made to accept the personnel recommendations with the exception of the MCHS principal. That motion passed.
The Board then considered a motion to accept the recommendation for the MCHS principal candidate. Hagan continued with her objection. “Somebody who didn't perform well at another high school can't come to this high school and perform well. He doesn't have a proven track record,” added Hagan.
“It's my understanding that someone from the Department of Education wrote a recommendation for him,” said Alford.
“Who wrote that recommendation is not in charge of the Department of Education,” replied Hagan. “We've got all kind of stuff that can happen here, all kinds of lawsuits with this particular man [McLeod].”
At this time, acting attorney Clay Schnitker suggested taking a vote on the current motion, which was to accept the Superintendent's recommendation. If the vote failed, another vote to not approve should be taken showing “just cause” for not approving the recommendation. The Board then voted to approve the recommendation of the Superintendent on a three-to-two vote. Hagan and Daniels casted the dissenting votes. “We've got school choice, and we've got all that stuff, and a lot of black children will be leaving the school system because the parents are not satisfied. We already have 'white flight' [that] has gone to the two charter schools, and we're left serving black children, so that lets us know you don't care about their education, you Board members who voted for this,” said Hagan.