David Cox is out as superintendent of Culpeper County's public schools.
School Board Chairman George Dasher made the announcement last night during the School Board's annual summer retreat at Graves Mountain Lodge.
Dasher said that Cox, 46, will take a one-year sabbatical--effective immediately--during which he will do unspecified consulting work for the School Board. After June 30 of next year, he will resign.
While no official action was taken until last night, sources said that last week, following his yearly evaluation, Cox was told there were enough votes to remove him unless he resigned.
It is unclear why the superintendent fell out of favor with the board.
Under a negotiated agreement, Dasher said, the School Board will pay the superintendent his full salary plus benefits next year and for the remaining two years of his four-year contract, unless Cox takes another job before June 30, 2011.
Cox's $130,000-plus yearly salary and an annual 12 percent tax-sheltered annuity could add up to almost a half-million dollars at a time when the school system is so strapped that teachers got no raises this year. Cox's contract has no buyout clause.
The unfolding situation with Cox became evident
Dasher confirmed last night that Lacy, who according to Beard's motion is "known for his expertise in school law," has been acting this week as the board's negotiator. Attorney Craig Wood represented Cox.
Beard, Rusty Jenkins, Anne Luckinbill and Jimmy Lee voted for hiring Lacy, while Dasher, Elizabeth Hutchins and Leanne Jenkins voted against it. Rusty Jenkins, Luckinbill and Lee are new members who took office Jan. 1.
At Monday's meeting, Leanne Jenkins, who along with Hutchins and Beard was on the board that gave Cox the long-term contract, voiced surprise that Lacy had already been contacted.
"[Ms. Jenkins] said she [was] confused how the Board functions because
Problems between Cox and School Board members began to surface in April when Luckinbill and Rusty Jenkins were openly hostile to the superintendent during a public meeting. At issue on that occasion was a response Cox had made to the Board of Supervisors about where students would be temporarily housed if Yowell Elementary School did not open on schedule.
Cox's six-year tenure in Culpeper has been a paradox of sorts. While some public officials with whom he has worked--in particular some supervisors--have been openly critical of his inter-action with them, co-workers and school system employees hold Cox in high regard.
Joyce Tyree, president of the Culpeper County Education Association, called it "a dark day for this county when decisions that affect the students and the future of Culpeper County become about politics and not about education and what is best for the students."
She called him a teacher's advocate, adding that Cox's departure is ill-timed since the county will be opening two new schools in August.
"[Dr. Cox] has worked hard to have the salaries of the teachers reach a regional mid-point," Tyree said. "Teachers do appreciate that he works for them in this area."
Cox arrived in Culpeper during a tumultuous era of unprecedented residential growth and has been instrumental in getting Eastern View High School and Yowell Elementary School built. The superintendent helped secure an 8 percent raise for school employees last year.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com