AND THEN AGAIN……by Tamara Pettit

…….What now?  With the resignation from her position as Principal of Oak Glen Middle School and the financial settlement of Mick vs Hancock County Board of Education, one would think the Board had closed the door on dealing with the Administrative Judge’s Ruling.  Not so.    Only the financial part has been settled.  While the judge ruled that favoritism had resulted in Sarah Parson’s selection as Human Resource Director, it stopped short of ruling that Mick be given the position.  Rather, the ruling said the position needed to be bid out and interviews conducted.  The Board now needs to decide whether or not they should continue the appeal or accept the Judge’s ruling.   Abiding my the ruling will mean advertising out the position and re-interviewing all the candidates who apply.

……..The Board meets in regular session tonight (Monday  and the agenda does not include the Board accepting the resignation of Mick although the position is advertised on the Board’s website.    I would think that has to happen prior to making the decision as to either continuing the appeal in Kanawha Circuit Court or abiding by its terms.    If the Board continues the appeal they will rack up more legal costs and run the risk that the  Circuit Judge will rule in favor of enforcing the Administrative Law Judge appeal.

……..Deciding to abide by the ruling, however, will mean the Board will have to proceed very cautiously over a legal land mine.  Do they vacate the Director of Personnel position to put it out for bid or wait for a replacement to be selected?    Will Parsons elect to apply again?  The third candidate was Oak Glen Principal Dave Smith.   Will he apply again?  While the last selection committee for the position was Finance Director Joe Campinelli and Superintendent Dawn Petrovich, will the Board return to the standard process and have a five-member committee.  One would hope that selection committee would abide by a rating system and keep notes this time around.

…….If Parsons does not apply again or is not selected, does that mean the Board has to place her in one of the vacant positions?   Looks to me like a chess game.

…….My opinion?  The Board needs to drop the appeal and bid the Director of Personnel job out again.   This time around, however, they need to make sure they dot their I’s and cross their t’s in adhering to the rules.  The Board also needs to pay attention to what the Administrative Law Judge decision wrote about Petrovich’s actions in the hiring, interviewing process and the action they deem appropriate.

….As we begin the school year it’s important to note the County is still looking to fill vacant positions of both school service personnel, teachers and now administrators.   Most job candidates take a good hard look at the County system; it’s fairness; and  adherence to personnel law when deciding whether or not they want to work for a school system.  The County is already at a disadvantage with neighboring states having higher salaries so it’s vital they don’t give our county a black mark by mishandling this decision.