The search is back on for a new Henry County superintendent.
The Henry County Board of Education announced Thursday that it has reopened the application process for a new superintendent, after rescinding its offer to Dr. Timothy Gadson last month.
Gadson, a former associate superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, was the sole candidate for the position and had already held four town hall meetings when the board abruptly recalled the job offer, citing issues with contract negotiations.
According to copies of contract negotiations acquired by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gadson’s requests exceeded the board’s original offer by close to $550,000. In addition to a higher base salary, Gadson was requesting $4,000 in technology support, $10,000 for expenses to move from Minnesota and 24 vacations days over the standard 10 days.
When negotiations between the board’s attorney, A.J. “Buddy” Welch, and Gadson’s attorney, Maree Sneed, stalled, the board decided to call back its offer.
After a divided crowd at the Henry County Board of Education meeting following the move, claims of racism began to circulate. Four African-American state lawmakers wrote a letter to Gov. Nathan Deal asking him to intervene, saying some of the school district officials were never serious about hiring Gadson because he was black.
Dr. Pam Nutt, the board's chairwoman, sent a statement to the AJC refuting the letter, saying contract demands and possible plagiarism of Gadson's proposed 100-day plan were the driving factors leading to the rescission.
Email communication between board members, Welch, Gadson and Sneed, acquired by the AJC through an open records request, do not mention Gadson’s race.
According to the records, a member of the Clayton County school board emailed the Henry County board members, concerned that the board was not addressing the rise of the county’s minority student population.
Dr. Donna McBride, one of the Henry County board members, replied, saying “it’s unfortunate that race, power and money appears to be the major concern of some board and community members.”
J.D. Hardin, communications coordinator for Henry County Schools, said the board has moved on from Gadson, and is focused on finding a new candidate. Calls to Gadson’s lawyer for comment went unanswered.
To accomodate for the delay in selecting a new superintendent, Rodney Bowler, the outgoing superintendent, has delayed his retirement from the end of September to the end of October. The board has decided to continue working with the Georgia School Boards Association, the same organization it used to find Gadson, to find a new candidate.
Applications for the position officially open on August 4 and close on September 1, with a goal of securing a new superintendent by Nov. 1.
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