Gilmer BOE Set to Fire Superintendent Dorsey

FYN has learned that the Gilmer County Board of Education will vote Thursday night at the regular meeting to discontinue Superintendent Bryan Dorsey’s contract. In its last official act in December of 2012, the previous BOE gave Dorsey a three year contract. The 2012 BOE consisted of Kathy Jones, Foster McArthur , Michael Parks, Michael Bramlett, and Gary Hyde. The only members that remain on the 2013 BOE are Gary Hyde and Michael Bramlett. In 2013 James Waters, Angie Thomas, and Jim Parmer were elected to serve on the board. So the 2012 BOE gave Dorsey an extension, and the 2013 will vote to let him go.

FYN spoke to BOE member Jim Parmer. Parmer told us that Dorsey’s contract ran until December 2015. It will cost a $359,000 to buy him out. When asked if this was the right thing to do considering the enormous cost to the taxpayers, Parmer said,

“For the children, the staff and the community of Gilmer county it is worth every penny.”

When we asked what happened Parmer told us that they just wanted to go in a different direction than the superintendent was leading them. Other sources tell FYN that this decision was a result of Dr. Lisa Schlabra’s resignation last Friday. No other reason was given.

FYN spoke to Gary Hyde. Hyde told us that he was unaware of this decision. He learned of Dorsey’s termination when he received a phone call from Dorsey telling him what had happened. Hyde told us this was a big mistake and had all the possibilities of a disaster, and he felt this could be devastating to the education system in Gilmer. Hyde told us Dorsey has done a good job guiding Gilmer county schools through tough economic times. He went on to say this was the smoothest start to the school year he could remember and this decision was uncalled for, his concern is the children. A source tells FYN Bramlett was unaware of the decision to terminate Dorsey. We will continue to investigate.