Not Without A Fight

Bryant Hawkins

JPS Superintendent Lonnie Edwards is challenging the school board’s decision not to renew his contract.

by Ward Schaefer
February 9, 2011

Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards won’t go quietly. Edwards announced Feb. 5 that he would appeal the JPS Board of Trustees’ decision to let his three-year contract expire with the current school year.

Since disclosing its Dec. 7 vote at a Jan. 26 meeting, the board has come under fire from several City Council members and some residents who have argued that Edwards’ personal charm, visibility in the community and concern for JPS students should justify his renewal.

Under state law, Edwards is entitled to a hearing in front of the board or a board-appointed hearing officer within 30 days of his request, or by March 6. The board will meet this week to set a hearing date, JPS Board Attorney Dorian Turner said.

Before the hearing, Edwards and the board will exchange documents detailing their respective arguments.

The documents, as well as the hearing itself, will be closed to the public, unless Edwards decides to request a public hearing. That appears unlikely, however, as Edwards cited the confidentiality of personnel matters in a brief comment to The Clarion-Ledger Feb. 5.

Following the hearing, the board has 30 days to render a decision on Edwards’ appeal. If it still decides to not renew Edwards’ contract, he has the option of appealing the case to chancery court, where the proceedings would become
public record.

Supporters of the board’s decision have pointed to JPS’ lackluster performance on a variety of statewide accountability measurements under Edwards’ tenure. Last year, 14 schools in the district received the “At Risk of Failing” rating from the Mississippi Department of Education. The state’s rating system for schools and districts tracks performance on standardized test results, year-to-year growth in those test scores and—for high schools—graduation rates.

Of the district’s 37 elementary schools, 18 did not meet state growth targets for the 2009-2010 school year. In six of those schools (Isable, Johnson, Smith, Timberlawn, Wilkins and Woodville) test scores have dropped every year, from 2008 to 2010.

Only two of the district’s 10 middle schools met state growth targets, though none have seen their test scores drop for two consecutive years since MDE introduced the new accountability system in 2008. Out of eight high schools, only two met growth targets, with three showing drops in their test scores from the previous school year.

There are some bright spots in the district. Forest Hill High School’s test scores have risen every year from 2008 to 2010, and this year, the school earned a “Successful” rating, with the district’s third-best high-school graduation rate.

Similarly, Rowan Middle School’s scores have improved each year since 2008, as have four JPS elementary schools (Baker, Bradley, French and Green).

The furor over Edwards’ contract comes during a standoff in City Council over Mayor Harvey Johnson’s nominees for two additional seats on the JPS board.

Council President Frank Bluntson has been unable to assemble a quorum to vote on Johnson’s picks: Mississippi Housing Partnership Executive Director Tim Collins and Jackson State University administrator Linda Rush.

Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman has refused to be present for the vote because, he claims, Johnson did not consult him on Collins’ nomination. Tillman told the Jackson Free Press Feb. 7 that he favors a different candidate, but he would not divulge the name.

“We work to be inclusive in government, but we’re getting back to the old ways of when we weren’t included,” Tillman said. “It’s supposed to be government of the people, to look after their welfare, and education is so important.”

Tillman said that he believes that the board should give Edwards more time to turn the district around.

“It takes more than three years to get something done,” Tillman said. “You’ve got some issues that have been with the city a long, long time, and since he got here, they changed the rating system. Some of the schools that were doing well under the old rating didn’t do so well under this. You’ve got to get adjusted for the system.”

Collins said that he has not spoken to the mayor or any council member about how, if confirmed by the council, he would vote on Edwards’ contract.

“I certainly wouldn’t want my opinion regarding the superintendent to be swayed by one side or the other,” Collins said. “I think it would be fair to Dr. Edwards ... that I give myself ample time to look at the same documents that (current) board members looked at in making their call. I have not been privy to documents right now.”

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