An Opinion by: Joene DePlancke

The citizens of Gilmer County sent a clear message to the Board of Education on July 31st that they wanted change.Kathy Jones, the Chairman of the BOE was defeated soundly along with two other members. Tonight at the last BOE Board Meeting she would preside over, Ms. Jones had the audacity, as the last act of the meeting, to make a motion to give the current superintendent, Bryan Dorsey, an additional three year contract that will extend his employment until December 11, 2015. One of the newly-elected Board members, James Parmer, who was there as a member of the public, stood up and objected. Mr. Parmer stated that he did not think that her action was appropriate and that this was something that should be taken up by the new Board in January. Kathy Jones stated quite emphatically and arrogantly that this board was still in charge! She then proceeded to repeat her motion, asked for a second and then they all raised their hands in unison, including all three members that have been voted out of office.

These five people sat there defiantly and gave a three year contract to the current Superintendent, without public input, without making any attempt to get feedback regarding the job he has done or is doing or whether or not he is the appropriate person to lead Gilmer County’s school system into becoming a Charter System, if that is what is determined is best for Gilmer County. Dorsey’s contract wasn’t even up for renewal and there was absolutely no precedent for this kind of action in Gilmer County (according to Board Minutes going back to 2005). The action seems to be a deliberate act of spite against the citizens of Gilmer County for voting their conscience. I hope that citizens that are equally appalled at this action by the BOE will let the remaining members, Mr. Hyde and Mr. Bramlett know how they feel as they could have abstained.

I am not saying that Mr. Dorsey should not continue as the Superintendent. I don’t know the answer to that. I am saying that it was not Kathy Jones’ call. What she did was totally disrespectful to the citizens of Gilmer County. My concern is how could someone who lives in this county and supposedly has its best interests at heart, do something that in my opinion, is so blatantly cunning and deceitful. She looked at the public in attendance and basically slapped them in the face. She was saying in effect, you may have removed me from office, but I got the last laugh. And these are the people in charge of our children’s futures where gamesmanship and revenge take precedent over what is right.