Two JMCSS Applicants Cite Racial Issues as Reason for Withdrawl
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Jackson-Madison County School Board has now recieved new insight on why three of the candidates for superintendent withdrew from consideration. According to a report handed out by BWP & Associates, the firm handling the search, Dr. Dan Lawson and Dr. Karyle Green both cited racial issues the system is facing as the reason for their withdrawal. Green also noted she is facing similar issues in her current position and, since the JMCSS Superintendent job does not pay more than her current job, she did not feel the job was for her. Lawson reportedly told a BWP representative that because almost 60 percent of the system’s students were of color, he felt there needed to be a greater representation of minorities on the school board. He also stated that his he felt his background in working with diverse districts was very limited. A representative from BWP said having four of the six original candidates for the job drop their names from consideration after the interview process was “unprecedented.” Dr. Neyland Clark reportedly advised the search firm that he was not continuing in the search because his mother-in-law is in poor health. The search firm said they have not received any response from Dr. Tim Webb to indicate why he decided he wanted to pull out of the race. However, according to searchers, Webb may have pulled out due to a report in a local media outlet that indicated he would not be selected for the job.
