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During a special called Simpson County School board meeting Thursday, April 23, 2020, Dr. Bradley Blake was hired as the new principal at Magee High School by a 3-2 vote with board members Stan Bulger and Patrice Boykin opposing.
Dr. Robert Sanders, Director of Human Resources, presented Dr. Blake’s name to the board for approval. Several members of the board requested additional information about the applicants,(biography or background). Sanders advised the board that information about applicants are not normally given to the board members. Board members questioned how they could approve someone they knew nothing about except for a name.
Board members Stan Bulger and Patrice Boykin agreed they would not approve someone for hire without information regarding who they were hiring, especially at such high position as principal. Magee High School has continued to have low rankings and accountability issues.
Superintendent Paes gave Dr. Sanders permission to tell the the board general information regarding the applicant. Blake comes from Vicksburg High School as an assistant principal.
Because the meeting was a zoom (video) meeting, Patrice Boykin was able to pull accountability ranking for Vicksburg High School during the meeting on her computer. Vicksburg accountability rating in 2019 was a D. The ranking for 2018 was a D. The 2017 ranking was a D, and in 2016 the ranking was a D.
The accountability rankings were discussed. Boykin questioned if this is really what we want for accountability wise as a principal for Magee?
Dr. Sanders assured the board out of the thirty applicants, Blake was the best selection for the position. Boykin reminded Paes that the accountability fell back to him and was a reflection of his accountability if this was not the best hire. Boykin asked to table the decision until additional information could be provided …no action was taken.
When the roll call for votes was taken, Bulger and Boykin voted against the hire and others approved giving a 3-2 approval.
Robert Kight was presented to the board for hire an as assistant principal at Mendenhall Junior High. Another heated conservation between the board and administration took place. Kight was approved for hire 4-1. (Discussion was due mainly to the fact information about the applicant was not provided to the board.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
More information on the Simpson County School system
More information on Dr. Bradley Blake
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