Morris moved to BOE admin as nutrition director; McGlennen named KBMS principal

Monday, June 13. 2011
Controversial Kings Bridge Middle School principal Debra Morris will become the district’s next school nutrition director, the Jackson County Board of Education decided on Monday.

Her replacement at KBMS will be Howard McGlennen, a former principal at Jefferson Middle School.

The issue over leadership at KBMS has been discussed for months after school test scores have lagged other area middle schools.

The board also named Scott Smith — a former principal and assistant principal at several high schools in Gwinnett County — as the new principal of Jackson County Comprehensive High School. He most recently served as president of North Georgia Christian School in Gainesville.

Gum Springs Elementary School will get two new assistant principals, while West Jackson Primary School will have a new assistant principal, too, next school year.

For more details about the more than 70 personnel changes approved by the Jackson County Board of Education, see the June 15 edition of The Jackson Herald.
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#1 ha on 06/14/11 at 06:10 AM [Reply]
why would an elementary school need two assistant principals?

throwing away more money BOE?
#2 2 on 06/14/11 at 08:07 AM [Reply]
Maybe because the school has around 800 students? But why do your research and be informed? That would be crazy.....
#2.1 Former Teacher on 06/15/11 at 09:10 AM [Reply]
I do know that there are quite a few schools within the Jackson County School System with a higher number of students than the actual capacity of the school.

That being said, the role of an assistant principal is by far not as important as the other positions that have been removed from each school.

We are losing hands on teaching and help, and adding more over head leadership. With grades failing and communities growing, I do believe the focus should be on each individual classroom rather than administrative overlooking.
#3 Page Chapman on 06/14/11 at 08:43 AM [Reply]
Mike -- I'm disappointed that you've become trash news. It is certainly legitimate for you to editorialize about school administrators that you find wanting. It is quite another to create your own news. Dr. Morris is "controversial" only because you made her so. Earlier, I think, you said "embattled." Same thing, along with one parent who appeared to be inspired by you. It would be good if you would keep the news separate from your opinion.
#3.1 Agree on 06/14/11 at 10:53 AM [Reply]
I could not agree with you more. I am hoping he leaves her alone now!
#3.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/14/11 at 11:17 AM [Reply]
I am very happy to see that the Jackson County Board of Education accepted Dr. Adams recommendation to approve Dr. Morris as Food Service Director. Dr. Morris is a good woman and she will do an excellent job in her new position. Likewise with the hiring of Howard McGlennen. I know Mr. McGlennen personally and just as he did an excellent job at the Jefferson Middle School, he will do an excellent job at KBMS.
#3.2 Tom Hays on 06/14/11 at 02:02 PM [Reply]
I don't know about "trash news", but the repeated lack of performance by her students on standardized tests is very newsworthy.
Her apparent lack of skills in composing a letter sent to all parents at her school is also newsworthy as it is an example of something that should be completely in her control-her own mastery of the English language.
The lack of control she has over her teaching staff - or the allowance of students to waste half of a school day (or more) to post letters online "bashing" Mike and the newspaper in response to the aforementioned news articles is also newsworthy since we are paying high school taxes, teaching positions being cut and a lack of time spent actually "teaching" children Basic English Reading and Writing skills.
Yes, I would agree that Dr. Morris is "embattled"-but that is only because of the poor performance demonstrated so far in her career. In the corporate world, her performance review would reflect that and possible termination would be the result.
The Jackson Herald is simply keeping this in front of the taxpayers. That is all.
#3.2.1 Darcy on 06/14/11 at 04:47 PM [Reply]
Students spending half a day (or more) wasting time bashing Mike? Really? How about 33 minutes? And from my rereading, it appears to be maybe 8-10 kids. Do you think it's ok for Mike to bash Dr. Morris? Is it not bashing/harassing to have a poll concerning her qualifications and answered by whomever w/o any knowledge of her qualifications? Principals ( or heads of businesses in the corporate world) have others to write or proof their letters. Did it occur to you that this may have been the case with Dr. Morris' letter last summer? Have you ever met Dr. Morris? Have you spent any time at KBMS? Have you polled a majority of the employees, parents, and students to see if they agree with you? One or the other of the two high schools didn't make AYP for the past two years, yet we didn't see harassment for their principals in the newspaper. Most of corporate America would appreciate someone of her caliber and leadership qualities and work ethic. Don't talk about something of which you are uninformed or ill-informed. What you read in this paper and online are not accurate representations of Dr. Morris or the students and teachers at KBMS. I'm proud that all four of my children have had the privilege of going to school there. I've spent time with my children's teachers and volunteered to help out on occasions. Therefore, I know of what I'm speaking, unlike most of you who bad mouth her w/o just cause!
#3.2.1.1 Mike Buffington on 06/14/11 at 05:08 PM [Reply]
What about our reporting has not been accurate?
#3.2.1.1.1 Page Chapman on 06/14/11 at 06:50 PM [Reply]
The inaccuracy of your reporting that I was referring to was your characterizations that were created totally by your newspaper. As I said before, reporting the facts as you find them is fine. But, any "controversy" was created by your reporting, and, except for one individual, it seems to be totally contained in these comments following your articles. Perhaps the data you report deserve to create widespread "controversy" or "embattled" school system personnel, but that hasn't happened except on these pages. Again, report the news and leave out the characterizations that exist only in your newspaper articles and the comments that follow. Just good journalistic ethics and practices.
#3.2.1.2 But ... on 06/14/11 at 08:42 PM [Reply]
Concerning your argument about Dr. Morris having someone proof her letter - why would anyone hire a proofreader who has no grasp of proper English grammar? If true, this just further proves incompetence.
#3.2.1.3 mamaj on 06/15/11 at 12:49 PM [Reply]
I had 2 daughters that went to KBMS and both hated it while there. They are great students so that was not the issue at all. My youngest had an experience with Dr. Morris that made me very happy that I would never have another child in that school. So I do not have anything nice to say about her, there are however a few teachers at that school that deserve a change. So I wish them all the best.
The students have suffered from the past leadership and they deserve a principal that cares about ALL the students not just a handful of them.
#3.2.1.4 Tom Hays on 06/15/11 at 10:35 PM [Reply]
Darcy,
With all due respect, I think your emotions are running rampant over the basic facts presented.
Looking back at the "Do Gooder" article on April 29, it was actually 37 minutes according to the time stamps. The fact that it was only thirty-seven minutes is NOT the point. The point was WHY were these students allowed on the internet to "bash", "comment", etc instead of spending those 37 minutes learning something constructive? You just don't get it do you? These children have how much time in each class? One hour? An hour and a half? Why waste a third or half of one class period to exact revenge on a newspaper? It does not make sense and is very foolish and wasteful of MY Tax dollars.
You also state that "heads of businesses in the corporate world) have others to write or proof their letters..". The head of Coca-Cola might have an assistant draft a letter, but would probably still look over it before affixing their signature to it. In reality, a school principal is merely a mid to upper level manager if you tried to place it on a corporate scale. (Remember they answer to various "managers" at the Board of Education)
In a corporation, a mid to upper level manager (including the Vice President at my employer (which is the single largest cable television, internet and phone provider in the world) all draft their own correspondence and all of them know how to use "Spell Check" and "Grammar Check" in Microsoft Office.
Finally, no I have not "polled the majority of the employees, parents, and students to see if they agree with you". To be honest-I don't care. I look at the facts. I look at my tax bills. I look at the kids I see around Jackson County who will work for minimum wages because their schools have let them down, their parents have let them down and I have let them down because we let mediocrity be the acceptable education level here.
If one my my engineers in the real (corporate) world had repeated results similar to those that Dr. Morris' students showed, she would be let go and a better qualified person hired.
The real world is not a charity (except in many government jobs). Sorry, but that is life. I wish her well in the food service department.
#4 Qualified? on 06/14/11 at 11:17 AM [Reply]
Is Dr. Morris qualified for the Nutrition Director position?

She may hold more degrees or certifications than are listed on the county employee directory shows. I'm just curious if any of those are even remotely related to nutrition?
#4.1 informed citizen on 06/14/11 at 08:38 PM [Reply]
The original job announcement listed must have qualifications for a degree in food service management, dietetics, nutrition or family and consumer sciences; ServSafe certified, S-5 certification (which is different from a Leadership certificate), supervisory experience in school nutrition, hospital dietetics or family and consumer science teaching and a preferred School Nutrition Association credential. Does she have these? Another applicant had all the must haves!
#4.1.1 Just a thought on 06/15/11 at 09:51 AM [Reply]
The qualification is that she is a black female who was incompetent in her previous position. Due to her being black and female, the BOE couldn't fire her without an expensive lawsuit. Therefore, the best course of action for the BOE is to find another place for her.
#4.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/15/11 at 03:41 PM [Reply]
Shame on those of you that would bring up the fact that Dr. Morris is a black female and that the school board is afraid of being sued. Before Dr. Morris came to the Jackson County School System she was a respected employee of the Clarke County School District and she did an excellent job as the Assistant Principal at the Gordon Street Center before going to KBMS. If you are so concerned about color as a tax payer, why don't you ask why there are no black patrol deputies at the Jackson County Sheriff Department. Why don't you ask why there are no black department heads in the Jackson County Government. Why don't you ask why there are no black police officers in the city of Jefferson, Commerce, or Braselton. Why don't you ask those questions if you are so concerned about color. Dr. Morris is no longer at KBMS so it's time to leave her alone. Mike Buffington, now that Dr. Morris has been replaced at KBMS, could you please find some answers to the questions that I purposed in this comment section.
#4.1.1.1.1 are there any on 06/15/11 at 08:59 PM [Reply]
Dexter'
Are there any cities that have black officers in Jackson?
#4.1.1.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/16/11 at 08:16 AM [Reply]
From my understanding there are no black police officers or sheriff deputies in Jackson County. I know that the city of Jefferson had done a pretty good job of hiring black officers. When I worked there, there were 5 black officers employed there. I know that Jefferson had a black officer to resign last year in order to take a job in Suwannee. I just believe throughout the county it needs to be addressed. I am not trying to promote myself, I work in the public safety department for the Clarke County School District and I enjoy working there, but it just needs to be more diversity in our law enforcement community. Those are issues that I believe Mr. Buffington should give some attention to and back away from Dr. Debra Morris. She deserves to be left alone.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/17/11 at 10:28 AM [Reply]
Mike Buffington, I am still waiting on some answers for my questions concerning diversity within our county government, county sheriff department, city of Jefferson, Commerce and Braselton Police Departments. It's easy to pick on Dr. Debra Morris, don't you think it's time to pick on someone else. It's 2011 not 1970, don't you feel that these questions need to be addressed. At lease Dr. Adams is trying to promote diversity in our county school system. How many black department heads or principals do the Jefferson or Commerce City Schools systems have? I believe these questions are news worthy, Don't you?
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Come on Dex on 06/18/11 at 08:46 PM [Reply]
Leaving people in place who have shown incompetence is NOT promoting diversity - in fact it's doing just the opposite. Leaving such an employee in place is a way of saying it's acceptable for a minority employee to not measure up to the same standard expected of others - and that makes many folks cynical of diversity efforts who might otherwise be supportive.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/20/11 at 08:05 AM [Reply]
I understand what you are saying and I agree with you, but Dr. Morris was a very good educator in the Clarke County School District and was a very good Assistant Principal at the Gordon Street Center. Her performance at the Gordon Street Center is the reason the Board of Education named her Principal at KBMS. She just did not go from being qualified to incompetant. It don't happen that way.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Come on Dex on 06/20/11 at 11:12 AM [Reply]
Can you back up your position on her performance in Clarke County and at GSC with facts? Because those on the other side of this argument certainly have plenty of facts to back up her having been removed from KBMS.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/20/11 at 01:56 PM [Reply]
You should ask the Jackson County Board of Education about the facts. She went from the Gordon Street Center to KBMS to become Principal. The people that we elect every four years gave their vote of approval.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Come on Dex on 06/20/11 at 05:58 PM [Reply]
Sorry pal, that line won't float. I realize the board made those decisions, but YOU made the argument that she was successful in Clarke County and at GSC, now I want to see you back that up.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Dexter Sims on 06/21/11 at 08:04 AM [Reply]
I don't have to back it up. My argument was not that she should not be removed from KBMS, my argument is that it's time to leave her alone. She has been transfered to Food Service Director and for some people that's not good enough. There are people that want her out of the district and is calling for her to be fired. That is just wrong, she has a family to support also. I have lived in Jackson County all of my life and there are just some things that disgust me. As I said in a earlier comment, it's easy to pick on Dr. Debra Morris, but Mike Buffington still refuses to answer the questions that I proposed for him. He don't want to look into it because it will uncover the ugly truth that so many already know. It's sad in 2011, but the spirit of Jim Crow still lives in Jackson County.
#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Come on Dex on 06/21/11 at 03:54 PM [Reply]
And that, ladies and gentlemen is what is commonly known as a COP OUT.
#4.1.2 Qualified on 06/16/11 at 01:46 PM [Reply]
Dr. Morris is a former Consumer Science teacher which means she is qualifed for her new position.
#5 concerned taxpayer on 06/14/11 at 11:35 AM [Reply]
it's called taking care of your buddies. knew the BOE did not have the guts to remove her. too afraid of a lawsuit from an angry black woman. rewarding failure at one job by giving her a higher paid position which she is not qualified for.
#5.1 cheapertokeepher on 06/14/11 at 12:02 PM [Reply]
Taxpayer, your correct. It's cheaper to keep her.
#5.2 CHARLES FLETCHER on 06/18/11 at 11:07 AM [Reply]
Incompetence thy name is The Jackson County Board of Education! Why should it surprise any one that hese bozos continue making the same STUPID mistakes. It never ceases to amaze me how they continue the same mistake over,and over. Until we vote out a board in that neither has any conection with teachers or their family or friends we will continue to have these finacial and personel boondoggles around or necks!
#6 responsibleparent on 06/14/11 at 09:16 PM [Reply]
I always hear complaints about school employees being held accountable but what about parents? Wake up, it is just as much our job as it is the schools to educate our children. It seems many of us blame our failures on the school system.
#6.1 concerned mom on 06/15/11 at 12:54 PM [Reply]
I do not blame Dr. Morris for all the failures, I do however blame her for bad decisions she has made in the past. Only a few that I know of that involve my children directly. One of which is calling my child in and telling her she is part to blame for another child committing suicide simply because she did not report an incident of bullying. Maybe that was part true but hello folks why tell a 13 year old this at a time she was already upset. Just one of many times I can recall.
#6.2 frog mom on 07/14/11 at 12:10 PM [Reply]
Wake up? I am a parent of kids in this school system. I teach my children what is right and wrong but realise some parents do not care. How hard is it to care about kids as your job? Yes, some you don't reach but most you do. If Dr. Morris did not do her job- fire her! I don't care if she is pink with purple dots. Maybe she will do a better job in a different county. But now she will have someone eles job and get paid more then people who deserve a raise. Jackson County teachers have to commit murder to be fired. Some of them are just terrible,my kids have had their share. Some are great,and my kids have been lucky enough to have some of them too. BOC is not smart enough to get rid of the terrible ones and start having a county with good eductional power. I didn't grow up in this area but have lived here for 8 years. I trully believed that the "Goood Ole Boys" would have been booted out by now. The BOC and BOE are full of rednecks that have no understanding of life outside of a 50 mile radius. Either they are power or money hungry, scared to fix the wrong, or afraid to make old friend Bubba Jones mad. Adams seems to make wrong decisons over and over for whatever reason. Maybe he is 2 out of the three reasons I gave earier why we talk about BOC and the admin. issues every other month! Sorry to vent, but I pray and hope we get smarter people with charcter in the BOE and the BOC. ;0)
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