Superintendent May Have Overreached Authority in Teacher Firings

Superintendent Creg Williams may have overreached his authority when he made roughly 1,000 teachers reapply for their jobs a few weeks ago. The superintendent’s contract expressly states that while he can recommend such firings or reassignments, it is up to the Board of Education to approve such moves. To date, the board has not been asked to vote on these reassignments.

PUB DEF obtained a copy of the superintendent’s contract last week after a formal Sunshine Law request. Under the superintendent’s description of duties, it states that Williams is responsible for “recommending to the Board for approval, all personnel for employment and termination, and directing, assigning and reassigning all personnel in the District.”

As we reported earlier, several board members were upset to learn that Williams had assigned the duties of the distrist’s treasurer to Interim Chief Financial Officer Cedric Lewis without approval or even consultation with the board.

One board member told PUB DEF that Williams should be reminded that the superintendent is accountable to the board, not the other way around.

Hundreds of teachers are still waiting to learn whether they will have jobs in the district next year. Many have expressed anger over the way they have been treated by the district. Some veteran teachers have already accepted jobs in other districts.