Milan school board votes to ‘release’ superintendent
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MILAN, Tenn. — During a specially called meeting Wednesday night, the Milan Special School District Board approved a motion to release their superintendent of eight years from her contract. It is a transition that has some excited for the future but leaves others still wondering why. “I cannot believe they made this decision,” parent Jessica White said. “I cannot believe that they think this is the best decision for our school system.” More than 200 people packed into the small conference room at the district’s central office for the meeting. In a 5 to 2 vote, board members voted to let Dr. Mary Reel go from her contract. “It’s no joy in releasing anyone, but you have to make a decision,” school board member Greg Horton said. “It’s for your students. Your teachers and moving forward.” Board members said it was a decision based on research of state laws they say were not followed when renewing Reel’s contract. “The board has to give 15 days notice to terminate but also to extend the directors contract,” school board chairman David Nelson said. Nelson said since that notice was not given, Reel has since been working as an at-will employee. The board could have asked her to stay, but the majority of the board wanted her gone. “It’s nice for your constituents to be able to tell them a reason why,” Nelson said. “But I don’t have one.” Last month, board member Greg Horton said he was dissatisfied with Reel’s management. But now, out of a job, Reel said she is just focused on being professional about the situation. “At the end of the day that’s what I want my son to see,” Reel said. “That I didn’t do some of the things that some of the board members did. They’re not going to see that out of me.” Now looking to the future, Nelson said even more changes could be on the way. “We’ve got teachers and we’ve got administrators that have said if this happened they would be leaving,” Nelson said. “I hope that’s not the case, but if it is we’re going to lose some very valuable people.” Starting Thursday, Deputy Director of Schools Vera Jones will replace Reel until the school board can appoint an interim director, which is expected to happen at their next meeting. The system also will compensate Reel for 90 days of her base salary, pay her insurance until she turns 65 and pay six months of her current salary as severance pay.
