Officials want more minority teachers

Eufaula City Schools board president Otis Hill and board member Louise Connor are concerned about the racial gap of teachers in core classes.

“We’re concerned about the lack of African American teachers in the core classes, especially at the high school,” Hill said at this month’s board meeting.

He also asked administrators to look at options for hiring minorities whenever possible.

Superintendent Dr. Barry Sadler stated that principals have been told to consider minority candidates for positions.

“Yes, the numbers are bad and we need to do more, but a lot of effort is taking place already,” said Sadler.

Sadler mentioned several statistics. The school lost 32 people and rehired 17 last year.

Demographically, the school lost 13 white and 3 black teachers during the change and gained one Hispanic teacher.

In addition, Sadler stated that when he came on as superintendent in 2003 there were 32 certified African-American employees in the school system and now there are 38.

Certified means teachers and administrators and does not include support personnel. Only two African Americans held leadership positions when he came. Now there are eight.

“One reason it looks like we have fewer (African Americans) in the classroom is because we have more classrooms,” Sadler said, though he agreed the numbers should be better.

“I think we need to hire the best teacher for the position,” said board member Dr. Jimmy Lockwood. “If you look at these numbers, we’re losing a lot of our minority teachers because they aren’t getting recertified. We’ve got to keep our minorities certified.”

Connor agreed that the school needs to work toward hiring the best qualified teachers, especially the best qualified African American and Hispanic teachers.
Sadler added that the school’s policy for posting jobs requires them to post for longer than most schools.

Since minority teachers are in such demand, he says, “A lot of times, these teachers have already taken jobs by the time we are ready to hire. So, I think that policy that was supposed to help us attract minorities by posting longer actually hinders us in some cases.”

Hill commented during the discussion that he wasn’t naïve enough to think that change occurs instantly, but that the board will look into the matter closely.

Other matters
Alumni Beth Jones and Bill Richards appeared before the board, asking them to consider re-naming Senior Stadium at the Eufaula Elementary School in dedication to Coach Bill Buchanan who was the EHS head football coach for 14 years.

The Board passed the annual budget after the second hearing. They also approved various fall activities and fundraisers.

The board approved the following personnel matters: resignation of Kathy Atkins, counselor for Eufaula Primary School and Shemika Robinson, instructional aide at Eufaula Primary School; transfer of LaSonya Johnson from EES instructional aide to AMMS instructional aide, Vincent Rick Butler from EHS instructional aide to EPS instructional aide, Jennifer Roberts from 4-hour CNP to 6-hour CNP at EHS, Jarvis Parks from EPS custodian to EES custodian, Ronnie McClintock from Head Custodian at Bluff City to HOPE Academy/Central Office Custodian, Bernice Smith from HOPE Academy/Central Office custodian 6 hour employee to 8-hour employee; employment of Christal Patterson as English/reading teacher at AMMS, Jan Betterton as Humanities Teacher at EHS, Shawndrisa Malone as instructional aide at EHS; the following were approved for extended day programs: Tameka Wright, Tameka Jackson, Christi Green, Amy Martin, Cindy Sanders, Terry Lane, Celeste Clements, Susan Hall, Katrina McNear, Rosie Mitchell, Regina Robinson, Jan Watson, Crystal Lewis, Star Abbott, Will Howard, Judy Marshall, Yvette Westbrook, Lillie Whitehead, Stephanie Paris and Rita Bonner; Pam Thompson was approved to be a 21st Century Instructor at EES, Erma Cunningham will fill the same position at AMMS, and Anne Beasley will fill the position of Media Specialist at AMMS for the program; Carla Douglas will be EHS assistant girls basketball coach, Jan Betterton will be EHS assistant band director, Kim Harris will be EHS senior sponsor, Lori Holland will be EHS SGA sponsor, Lori Williams will be EHS National Honor Society sponsor, Eric Swain will be AMMS yearbook sponsor; leave of absence for the following was approved: Gloria Williams, instructional aide at EES, Bonnie McCullough, counselor at AMMS, and Joe Smith, EHS head custodian, all requests were for Family Medical Leave.