An item on the Hancock County School Board meeting on May 27 certified and ratified the suspension of an employee who had been placed on an administrative leave. That translates to an employee on suspension getting paid during the time he/she is off. The employee was not identified.
When Superintendent Walt Saunders reached that section on the agenda, Board President Jeff Woofter asserted that by law the employee needed to be identified. Saunders disagreed and moved on with the agenda cutting off any discussion or getting the Board’s legal counsel on the phone for verification. I guess he was from the State and that made him an expert.
But, it didn’t. Saunders was wrong. Our Board President Jeff Woofter was correct. Woofter has experience in such matters having previously served as a County School Superintendent. Outside the meeting we in the media, employees, community members and others who have become versed in school law were appalled that the individual chosen to lead the school system did not know nor did he suggest the issue be tabled until the question be posed to an attorney. I think, but not sure that Woofter suggested a legal opinion.
In the agenda of the upcoming meeting Monday, the issue is corrected, The employee is identified as Steve McKinney, who was arrested and charged with theft several months ago.
While the State criticized the Hancock County administration and Board for a lack of knowledge and transparency, it seems it’s the State who lacks knowledge on elementary school law.
One wonders? Why would they hesitate to identify the employee. The September term of the Grand Jury is coming up Sept. 11. Perhaps, we’ll know more then.
