Editorial: School director ruffles feathers with controversial hire

Among the responsibilities of a director/superintendent of schools is to skillfully navigate the political waters of the city or county school district, always supporting his or her bosses — the local board of education — as well as the funding agency if the district does not have separate taxing authority.In that regard, a proficient school director should never drop a surprise of his own making on either board.Thus, some members of the Sullivan County Board of Education and the Sullivan County Commission say they were dismayed to be informed by Sullivan County Director of Schools Chuck Carter that he had just hired a former prominent school board member, Randall Jones, without discussing that intent with either board in advance.Not only that, he apparently tailored the job to fit Jones' needs, dissolving what was created and funded as a full-time position and turning it into a part-time job with fewer benefits, also without discussing that in advance with either board.As well, it is in our view a disservice to county taxpayers to turn a full-time position into a half-time position with fewer benefits, thus flouting the will of the school board. If the position required only part-time service, it stands to reason the board would have created it as such.It's not that the new hire is unqualified — very far from it. The position was created for employee recruitment and retention, and Jones has a bachelor's degree in math and a master's plus advanced graduate work in educational administration.He has seven years of experience as a math teacher and 30 years of experience as a school administrator, including Tennessee High School and Vance Middle School. He worked for 14 years as assistant director of Bristol City Schools and taught part-time at Northeast Community College, Steed College and Virginia Intermont.Jones served 12 years of the Board of Education, losing another term Aug. 1 to Todd McKinley. But by Sept. 12, he had the new job, one that had been approved by the school board in May as part of its budget and the County Commission in August, as a full-time position.We are advised that it was posted as full-time and that at least one other person applied for it as a full-time job."When I saw it posted, I applied for the job," Jones said.But if it was posted as full-time, Jones was incapable of filling it since doing so would threaten his retirement under Tennessee teacher retirement rules that limit how many hours he can work without losing some retirement benefits or suspending his retirement.And so, Carter said, Jones will work 120 days a year for $24,000, a half-time position since most full-time contracts are for 240 days a year.McKinley, having replaced Jones on the school board, and County Commissioner Herschel Glover are among those who say they strongly disagree with the hiring."The people spoke when it came to the election," McKinley said, adding that he fears trying to recruit teachers to the county may be harder when potential applicants realize the details of Jones' hiring. "It maybe hurts us more than it helps us."Said Glover, "The taxpayers and the voters of that district overwhelmingly voted this person out of office. He got beat."Glover called the hiring a "slap in the face" to McKinley, who beat Jones by 724 votes or 1,917 to 1,193, as well as to the County Commission."I have zero, zero confidence in any one of them that made this happen," Glover said.What's done is done, but it leaves strained relations between the director and some on the commission and the school board. And that may lead to issues down the road, including a contract renewal.As well, what happens when Jones, now 75, leaves the job? Will it remain part-time? If so, will it be possible to replace Jones' credentials? Or will it revert to a full-time position, thus demonstrating that it was modified for the benefit of a former board member, rather than the benefit of the district?It is a disservice to county taxpayers to turn a full-time position into ahalf-time position, thus flouting the will of the school board. If the position required only part-time service, it stands to reason the board would have created it as such.