PCSSD holds meeting to discuss personnel matter concerning McGill
An emergency boarding meeting was held Thursday night over confidential documents leaked to the NAACP.
These documents are the result of an investigation into allegations Acting Superintendent Robert McGill made racial comments. Board members were under confidentiality when they were interviewed. The conclusion by Lassiter & Couch Law Firm reads, "We have interviewed the four witnesses." It goes on, "We find that Mr. McGill did not make a racially insensitive remark."
This led to a controversy with the Pulaski County Special School District board. President of the PCSSD board Tim Clark says, ""Until we make the right decisions, clean the board up or out, which ever way it is. It starts with us until we are on the right path, the school district will never be on the right path."
The meeting is a direct result of NAACP chairman, Rizelle Aaron alleging he received the confidential documents anonymously on a school district thumb drive. Others believe someone on the board leaked the information, a violation of the law and board policy.
Board member Gary Gililland explains, "I just want to find out and do an effort and make this known. That way if we do find who did it, then the employees can then act upon their behalf. It wouldn't be our responsibility to file a civil suit against them on their behalf."
In a vote of 4 to 3, board members moved to start an investigation. Others worry about the cost and say it's a civil matter and not grounds to remove a board member.
The meeting only lasted 30-minutes; the end result, the majority of board members voted to begin an investigation. However, no one discussed who would do it or how much it will cost.
Vice-President of the board Charlie Wood says, "It probably won't mean much more money. It will mean something official is being done and the attorney may come back to us with more recommendations about a next step. I hope we find who gave the information to Mr. Aaron."
Aaron insists he doesn't know who leaked the documents, "This is a waste of time and money because the only way to determine who that person is, is by that person identifying themselves and that's not going to happen."
Several employees named in the confidential documents are seeking legal council, which could mean a lawsuit.
This week, McGill accepted a job as superintendent of Academics Plus Charter School in Maumelle.
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