Race divides Russell County School board's votes

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (AP) — A vote by the majority-white Russell County School board against renewing the contract of the system's second black superintendent has led to allegations that race played a role in the decision.

All four white members of the board voted not to renew Superintendent Yvette Richardson's contract this week while two black members wanted to extended it after it expires June 30, 2010. The board's seventh member, who is black, was absent.

Although the four members were asked to explain their reasons for voting to remove the superintendent, they did not give any explanation to the more than 50 people at the meeting, but some later spoke out to dispel the racial allegations.

Board member Charles Johnson said Wednesday the perception that he and others who voted against renewal were racially motivated was "embarrassing.''

"I did not vote to hire Dr. Richardson and it had nothing to do with her color and had nothing to do with her gender,'' he said. "There's no issue there with gender or race, but I just did not feel comfortable for several reasons.''

Johnson said he felt Richardson's contract ties board members' hands because it requires them to give her a year's notice and he didn't like that her permanent residence is in Birmingham, which is about 140 miles from Phenix City.

Richardson was voted in by a black majority in December 2007, but the racial makeup of the board changed in last year's election.

Joseph Williams made the motion during Tuesday's meeting to extend Richardson's contract by three years and told the Columbus-Ledger Enquirer that the outcome of the vote caught him by surprise.

"I was under the impression she was doing a good job,'' Williams said. "Because of her accomplishments and things of that nature, I took for granted we were going to renew her contract. She is a very good superintendent, but apparently the other board members feel different.''

White board members Keith Mitchell, Dillie Elliott, Larry Laney and Johnson voted 'No.' Black members Williams and Rufus Jordon voted to keep Richardson, and Kenneth Barnes was not at the meeting.

The board's makeup has changed over the years. But, since January 2001, each of the 17 board votes dealing with the superintendent's position has come down on racial lines.

Johnson said the board "basically gets along'' but racial lines tend to be drawn when it comes to personnel issues.''

Laney said Wednesday that he did not raise his concerns at the meeting because he did not feel it was appropriate. He said he's decided to speak out about reasons for his decision to quell the racial allegations.

He said Richardson spent 62 days away from the system this school year either due to illness, dispatched duty or while serving on a state education committee. He said his real problem was the 26 days she spent away while working for that committee and thinks she should have spent more time at the district.

He said the superintendent at times did not follow the board's recommendations or instructions and he took that to be insubordination.

"The job of the board is to direct the superintendent,'' he said.

Russell County Commissioner Ronnie Reed said the vote shocked him.

"They're going to have elections on the school board next year,'' Reed said. "We'll get a chance to change some things then.

"I think the lady has done an outstanding job. They need to be careful how they treat people. You go spitting in the wind, and it may come right back in your face.''