Superintendent’s employment agreement terminated

Staff
Published: November 6, 2008

The Orange County School Board voted at its Nov. 5 meeting to terminate the employment agreement of Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. William Crawford, effective immediately.
Per an agreement signed by Crawford and school board members, Crawford will be paid the balance of his salary and benefits through the duration of his contract, which will expire in June 2009
In May 2008, the school board chose not to renew Crawford’s employment contract. Orange County School Board Chairman Jerry Bledsoe said then that the school board’s decision was based on a personnel issue, taken care of in a closed session, and no vote was necessary. At the time the decision not to renew Crawford’s contract was announced, school officials said the superintendent would remain in office for the duration of his contract; the search for a replacement was to begin immediately.
Crawford was hired in 2005 by a unanimous school board vote. The board then consisted of Steve Funkhouser (District 1), John Reid (District 2), Delores Darnell (District 3), Ron Burleson (District 4) and Mike Ross (District 5).
At Wednesday’s meeting, District 3 School Board member Judy Carter announced that current assistant superintendent Roy Walton would assume the role of acting superintendent for the remainder of the school year, or until a permanent replacement for Crawford is hired.
Board members Donna Waugh-Robinson, Carter, Bledsoe, and Jim Hopkins of Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively voted in favor of terminating Crawford’s employment agreement. District 1 School Board member Chris Haney abstained from the vote.
“I don’t agree with the process,” Haney said.