Culpeper County School Board hears from outgoing division superintendent and names an interim

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Date published: 7/1/2008

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Amid a standing ovation last night, David Cox took his seat as Culpeper's school division superintendent for the last time.

At the end of the special called meeting, the ousted superintendent received a second standing ovation from teachers, co-workers and residents who came to bid him farewell.

In between, the superintendent gave the School Board and a packed audience in the Floyd T. Binns Elementary School library a report on the school system's accomplishments during the fiscal year that ended yesterday.

His only personal remarks came at the end of that 15-minute report when he said, "I appreciate the opportunity to have served as superintendent of the division."

Many of those in the audience wore black armbands to show their displeasure for the School Board's decision to cast Cox aside.

Several talked openly of seeking a recall election to remove board members who had voted for the superintendent's ouster.

Others questioned the wisdom of removing Cox and then being forced to pay him what could amount to almost half a million dollars in sal-ary when no school or county employees got raises this year.

Several of the Board members sat with their heads down during the entire 40-minute meeting rather than make eye contact with an unmistakably hostile audience.

There was dissension among the Board when it came to naming assistant superintendent Larry Carter as acting division superintendent for an undetermined length of time. The vote was 5-2, with Elizabeth Hutch-ins and Leanne Jenkins voting against the appointment. Both said their vote was "for financial reasons."

An agenda item to begin looking for a new assistant superintendent failed for lack of a motion.

At the end of the meeting Board Vice-Chairman Bob Beard asked that there might be a show of appreciation for Cox, who came to Culpeper in 2002.

Cox begins a one-year sabbatical today with the understanding that he will resign from the system on June 30, 2009. He will continue to be paid his regular annual salary (with annuities) of almost $150,000 for the remaining three years of his contract.

The School Board has given no reason for its decision to force Cox out, but Chairman George Dasher acknowledged after last night's meeting that the superintendent knew that four of the Board's seven members did not support him prior to last weekend's action.

The board has given no reason for dismissing Cox despite community demands for answers.

During the show of appreciation, Dasher said of Cox's sabbatical: "You will enjoy a year, I hope, as you watch from the sidelines as we open those two new schools."

Cox is supposed to perform consulting duties of an unspecified nature for the school system during the next 12 months.

Former School Board member Claudia Vento, who voted for Cox's long-term contract more than a year ago, called him "an excellent superintendent" and added that "this is going to be a great loss to the community."

Carter said he would not comment on accepting the acting superintendent's job until after he returned from a two-week vacation.

Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 7/1/2008

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