Jackson County Board of Education Superintendent Selection

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Scottsboro, Alabama - August 25, 2015 Jackson County Board of Education Superintendent selection, part 1. The first three Superintendent candidates were interviewed Tuesday; the second two candidates will be interviewed Thursday. Full videos will not be released until Thursday evening. Selection will be Friday morning at the Jackson County Board of Education meeting.

Dr. Bart Reeves, a Guntersville School System principal, was selected in a split vote by the Jackson County Board of Education (#-2) as Superintendent. Dr. Reeves was also the finalist in other Board of Education Superintendent searches. http://www.advertisergleam.com/news/education/guntersville-principal-a-superintendent-finalist/article_7f246a46-edaf-11e4-b7cd-b3e5202be376.html

Board Member Cecil Gant, while standing, declared, "Divine guidance led us to seek Dr. Edwards as interim board superintendent." Dr. Dale Edwards was the Guntersville City Schools Superintendent. Daily Sentinel Article: http://thedailysentinel.com/feature_story/article_65c0e548-14f1-11e5-9b3d-23726380c955.html  Further background on Dr. Edwards by, now retired HuntsvilleTimes Staff writer, David Brewer: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/01/edwards_named_guntersville_sch.html

After watching the videos and candidates, it is my opinion that Dr. Angela Guess was the most qualified for the interim position. Dr. Guess will be retiring at the end of her term and she serves as Assistant Superintendent at this time, The next full term county superintendent will be determined by election.

Board Interview segments: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2015/09/jackson-county-board-of-education.html  

The Jackson County Board of Education declines to select the most qualified candidate and maintains its' history of having a male as the county board superintendent. Is the action discriminatory, that is not for me to say. However, there is the appearance of a discriminatory action and it is my belief there should be an investigation into the matter due to the failure to select the most qualified for the position.

Dr Angela Guess, Assistant Superintendent Jackson County Board of Education (photo by G. Morgan)

Opinion on Alleged Discriminatory Practice Regarding Jackson County Board of Education Selection of County Schools Superintendent; by Garry Morgan, Department of Defense Race Relations Equal Opportunity Management Specialist, DRRI-DEOMI, Retired

Dr. Guess was not afforded the opportunity of an initial introduction, as stated by the board attorney. Question #1 was asked immediately after an explanation of how the interview would take place. The Board Attorney ignored his own statement regarding the interview process opening introduction by not allowing Dr. Guess an introductory statement afforded to the male candidates. 
All short video segments - http://arklite.blogspot.com/2015/09/jackson-county-board-of-education.html

Board Member Cecil Gant's long and unrelated statements regarding selection of Dr. Edwards as Interim Superintendent during Dr. Guess's interview. Mr. Gant's statements were unnecessary, peculiar and brings to mind the declaration by Mr. Gant prior to the vote on Friday, August 28, 2015 regarding Dr. Edwards selection as Interim Superintendent was influenced by "divine guidance." ( video:  https://youtu.be/mgreiIJezRY  )  Dr. Edwards is from Guntersville, as is Dr. Reeves, the School Board Superintendent selectee. 

There is the appearance of a discriminatory action. Mr. Gant's diatribes may point to an attempt to cover-up an intentional action of sexual discrimination by indicating that "divine guidance" had taken place. Dr. Guess was passed over for selection as the Interim Superintendent, she was serving as the Assistant Jackson County School Board Superintendent..

It is my opinion, there should be a formal investigation regarding sexual discrimination by the Jackson County Board of Education regarding the failure to select Dr. Guess as Interim Superintendent and the final selection process for the Superintendent. 

It is suggested that the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare should conduct an investigation regarding sexual discrimination as Federal Funds are being received by the Jackson County Alabama School System. Three reasons for investigation - 1) Dr. Angela Guess appears to be the most qualified candidate per the public interview process. 2) The unusual opening sequence by the boards attorney regarding Dr. Guess, and 3) the subsequent statements not related to the selection process by Mr. Cecil Gant when asking questions of Dr. Guess during the public interview.   

Garry Morgan, U.S. Army Medical Department, Retired; Department of Defense Race Relations Equal Opportunity Management Specialist, DRRI-DEOMI, Retired

Jackson County Board of  Education Superintendent Candidates Bios

Click on page image for an expanded view.

Jackson County Board of Education Interim Superintendent videos may be viewed at the Board of Education's web site, Apple Movie Player is requirted, link:http://www.jackson.k12.al.us/  Direct Moodle link: http://moodle.jackson.k12.al.us/course/view.php?id=1325   I will have my short candidate intro videos up later.

Board of Education Meeting, 8-28-15

The Jackson County Board of Education has a very informative "About Us" page listing with area demographics and schools listings, worth the time to check it out: http://www.jackson.k12.al.us/?PN=AboutUs

Ken Harding, Jackson County Alabama Schools Superintendent retired July 1, 2015 

(Ken Harding election photo by G. Morgan)

Past Superintendent Ken Harding retired on July 1st, 2015. A Daily Sentinel article about Harding's retirement by Wes Mayberry quoted Harding as saying, "“God has richly blessed me in my career in the education business. In this job, even though I felt like I was being tested at times, I feel like this is what I was supposed to do,” he said. “I am proud to be a part of this system and am proud to have played a small role in getting the system to where it is today.” Read more at - http://thedailysentinel.com/feature_story/article_12aad77e-ef3a-11e4-8ff6-23c8fb06e374.html

Dr Dale Edwards replaced Mr. Harding as superintendent, passing over Dr. Guess as Interim Superintendent.