DOJ: MCSB should be held in contempt
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the Monroe City School Board, its members and Superintendent Brent Vidrine to show U.S. District Judge Robbie James why they are not in contempt of court.
According to the motion, the district has failed to meet 18 of 20 deadlines set forth in the consent decree, including failure to: take the required steps to desegregate the faculty, adequately improve the Carroll High School Medical Magnet Program, equalize access to specialized academic programs and provide information and personnel needed to the independent court monitor. The DOJ also filed 32 sealed exhibits in the case.
The DOJ requests that if the board and Vidrine cannot show just cause why they should not be held in contempt they be granted two weeks to come into compliance. If that two week deadline passes, the motion that a fine of $100 a day for each day of noncompliance be instated and that the fine will double for each calendar week of noncompliance.
On Monday afternoon, James had a phone conference with Doug Lawrence, counsel for MCSB; Franz Marshall and Michaele Turnage-Young, of the DOJ; Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Vincent; and law clerk Kayla Dye May.
Lawrence, according to minutes of the call, informed the court he would have a better sense of the board's position on the motion after a 5 p.m. Tuesday board meeting. The board is set to discuss the consent decree in executive session at that meeting.
The court set a follow up phone conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
James also set a hearing on the motion for 9 a.m. July 6, because "counsel and the undersigned have serious concerns about resolving the issues raised by the DOJ before students return."
Vidrine evaluation Tuesday
While in executive session Tuesday, the board will conduct an evaluation of Vidrine to determine whether to renew his contract.
On June 13, the superintendent's evaluation committee adopted the evaluation tool that will be used in the evaluation. Questions pertaining to the consent decree will make up about half of the document. Board Vice President Brenda Shelling said all questions and sections will be equally weighted and the score will be entered into a scoring rubric.
On Monday, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo endorsed Vidrine.
Vidrine said he appreciates the mayor's support. He said they've worked together well to serve Monroe for the past three years, and he plans to continue that positive work.
Also on the agenda
The board also will consider a resolution to increase the base pay of nonclassified employees who make $30,000 or less a year by three percent.
Another resolution would require that bus drivers be paid for down time on any trip of more than 150 miles unless that trip coincides with the six hours of route time for which the driver already is paid daily.
There will be a first reading of a proposed change to the board's policy on agenda preparation and dissemination. The proposed change would add the sentence "No school board member shall be denied the right to have an item placed on the published agenda of a school board meeting."
Previously, some board members have said they had problems getting items placed on the agenda because of current board policy, which places the agenda solely under the president's purview.
The board also will consider policies and procedures to evaluate Excellence Academy, a charter school, and get an oral report of student test score results.
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Want to go?
- What: Monroe City School Board meeting
- When: 5 p.m. Tuesday
- Where: 2006 Tower Drive, Monroe