Superintendents Contract Renewed By Narrow Margin

New Hanover County School Superintendent Tim Markley's contract was narrowly renewed at Junes Board of Education meeting. A vote of 4 to 3 kept Markley as superintendent. Chairman Don Hayes, Vice Chair Jeanette Nichols,  Janice Cavenaugh, and Ed Higgins voted in favor of renewing Markley's contract for another two years.

According to media reports, Markley has been involved in a number of troubling issues during his tenure. Board member concerns about Markley were reflected in a mediocre appraisal by the school board in 2014.  Markley's 2015 appraisal showed slight improvement.  

  

New Hanover County School Public Records Request Remains Incomplete After 9 Months

While school officials talk about openness and transparency, their actions speak louder than their words. A public records request submitted to the New Hanover County Public Schools remains incomplete after 9 months. New Hanover County School General Council Wayne Bullard,  whose email is now at the center of the controversy, is also in charge of completing the associated public records request.

A public records request was submitted by Dejeweski Landscaping September 11, 2014 after concerns arose regarding bidding irregularities for a contract with New Hanover County Schools. When partial information was released, an email from New Hanover County Schools General Counsel Wayne Bullard was discovered that confirmed Dejewski’s concerns had merit. The email from Bullard revealed part of the contracts specification was waived for the other bidder and that bidder was then awarded the contract.

Dejewski’s public records request, which was very specific in nature, has remained unfinished. At a special New Hanover County School meeting on January 20^th, 2015,   Bullard was again asked when the public records request would be complete. Bullard’s response was “Within a reasonable time.” That statement was made nearly 5 months ago.

According the the North Carolina Department of Justice, the government entity "should give a reasonable timetable for a response." Bullard, however, has given no specific time frame for completing this public records request. 

New Hanover County Country School Policy 9020 on Access to Public Records requires staff to provide the requested information "within three (3) business days or provide a written response stating the reason for denial or delay of the request."  

North Carolina General Statute 132 requires government entities to provide copies of public records “as promptly as possible,” but stops short of giving a specific time frame for completion. Without a court order compelling Bullard to complete the public records request, Bullard can withhold the balance of related documents indefinitely.


Click here to listen to a heated discussion on this issue which includes General Counsel Wayne Bullard and Superintendent Dr Tim Markley. The discussion begins at the 4-1/2 minute mark. 

See public records request here

Embattled Ashley High School Principal Reassigned

According to a press release from New Hanover County Schools, Ashley High School's principal Jackson Norvell has been reassigned and will be the new principal of Wrightsville Beach Elementary School.  Parents, teachers, and even students at Ashley have been pushing the school board for a change in leadership at the school since Norvell was assigned there as principal.

A 2014 Teachers Working Condition Survey showed that under Norvell's leadership there were severe issues between teachers and administration at the school. A 2015 Teachers Working Conditions survey showed that there had been slight improvement in some areas, but serious problems remained. Likewise, preliminary results from a 2015 AdvancEd survey were not good. Complete results from the Ashley AdvancEd survey have been kept from the public.

Additional stories on the reassignment:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150613/ARTICLES/150619944/1177?Title=Ashley-principal-Jackson-Norvell-reassigned-for-2015-16

http://www.wect.com/story/29313110/ashley-high-school-principal-reassigned-to-elementary-school-amid-controversy

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/13/first-on-3-embattled-principal-norvell-leaving-ashley-high-school/

News Outlets Confirm NHCSWatchdog Special Report

On May 11th NHCSWatchdogs had a Special Report that Jackson Norvell would be removed as principal from Ashley High School. On June 13th, after a press release from New Hanover County Schools, local media outlets followed with stories that confirmed the earlier NHCSWatchdog report.

Other media reports:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150613/ARTICLES/150619944/1177?Title=Ashley-principal-Jackson-Norvell-reassigned-for-2015-16

http://www.wect.com/story/29313110/ashley-high-school-principal-reassigned-to-elementary-school-amid-controversy

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/13/first-on-3-embattled-principal-norvell-leaving-ashley-high-school/

NHCS assistant principal suspended without pay, reassigned as a teacher

Repost of a WECT report: 

An assistant principal for New Hanover County Schools has been suspended without pay and reassigned to a teacher position.

Wanda Sloan, assistant principal for New Hanover High School, was suspended on May 12. According to NHCS spokesperson Valita Quattlebaum, Sloan was then suspended without pay on June 3, but reinstated June 10 as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher.....

Read the complete story here:

http://www.wect.com/story/29285715/nhcs-assistant-principal-suspended-without-pay-reassigned-as-a-teacher

Release of AdvancEd Results for Ashley High School Delayed

The AdvancEd survey of Ashley High School was completed on April 16^th. According to AdvancEd, the school is to receive the report within 20 working days of the review. Nearly 7 weeks later and the survey results have still not been released to the public. New Hanover County School administrators have not given an explanation for the delay.

The AdvancEd manual states the school is to share the survey results with the community. It says specifically, “Upon receipt of the written report, the school communicates the External Review Team’s findings to internal and external stakeholders. Sharing the results of the review with a wide range of stakeholders helps educate the school community…..”

Donna James, Director of AdvancEd North Carolina, said the results are released to the school’s principal and parents may request a copy.