County School Board member Rhonda Thurman told the Pachyderm Club on Monday that the early contract renewal for Supt. Jim Scales "was politics at its worst, and I'm sick of it."
She said the move that was approved in a 5-4 vote "exhibited arrogance, disregard for the public, deceit and abuse of power."
Ms. Thurman said members of the central office "were willing accomplices. Somebody had to spend a lot of taxpayer time drafting the press release and working up six pages of Dr. Scales' accomplishments. I am told it took months."
She said she disagrees with many of the items on the accomplishment list.
Ms. Thurman said the five board members who approved the early contract renewal had to have gotten together to line up the votes before the other members, including the chairman, were notified.
She said Chairman Kenny Smith, who voted against it, "had the press release read over the phone to him after it was already out. He was livid." She said the chairman is supposed to pre-approve all press releases.
Ms. Thurman urged support for the ouster of two board members who voted in favor - Chip Baker and Debra Matthews. She said voters should replace them with Joe Dumas and Gregg Juster.