THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508090407
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Nearly 150 people crammed into every seat of the Camden County High School cafeteria Tuesday to protest the switch of two principals by the county's Board of Education.
The board remained in closed session well into the night after hearing an hour of complaints from frustrated students and parents who wanted to know why the change was made and demanded that it be reversed.
Residents also presented petitions with more than 600 signatures protesting the switch.
School officials were unclear before closing the doors on whether the decision to move JEB Stuart to the middle school and Ron Melchiorre to the high school would be reconsidered.
``It's a done deal. It's not a vote that needs to be cleared up,'' board Chairman David Meiggs said after the public comment session, referring other questions to Superintendent Carole Smith.
But Meiggs had told the crowd before ending the comment session, ``We've heard you. I can't promise you anything. I can't tell you what action we'll take.''
Smith, who recommended the switch to the unanimously approving board last month, said the board would hear more information from citizens who were to speak with them during closed session.
School officials have repeatedly declined to give details on the principal change, citing personnel issues that could not be revealed.
On Tuesday, they brought in a lawyer to back them up. Attorney Brian C. Shaw of Raleigh explained personnel confidentiality law to the crowd and said that any negative comments about the principals should be made in ``executive session.''
Closed-door meetings by public bodies are no longer called executive sessions; the term was changed to ``closed session'' last year.
The 30-some residents who spoke out during the public session repeated what they had been saying to themselves, to officials and to the media in the month since their favorite principal, Stuart, was taken from the high school position after a year on the job.
They argued that Stuart, who has put in 25 years at the school, had a remarkable rapport with students and that he had done an excellent job at the school's helm. They said that if there were areas he needed to improve in, the board should have given him a chance.
Officials had said they were changing the principals because each man's strengths better suited the school to which he was moving. The residents were frustrated that they couldn't get more details. Some accused officials of acting out personal agendas.
Many students were among those who spoke, saying that Stuart was a fair and caring principal and complaining that they had not been consulted in the decision.
``You all are losing the respect of the children in this community, which is this county's future,'' said parent Mary Jo Hoover. ``You don't have to listen to us, but for God's sake, listen to the kids.''
Many who spoke threatened that the high school would suffer a discipline breakdown with Stuart gone. But one resident said that if Stuart had done his job, the students would continue to respect their school and staff.
``Whether JEB Stuart is principal at this high school or not, these kids are gonna be here tomorrow,'' said Richard Hassell. ``These kids are not going to turn into the hellions and street gangs that you see on TV.''
After the meeting, Hassell added, ``I'd just like to see everyone calm down and take a good look at things before they go crazy.''
Board Member Rickey Wilson was the only official to speak during the session. He said board members were doing their jobs.
``Let's look at what's best for the whole system,'' Wilson said. ``I'd rather not be elected for doing what I was elected to do than be elected for not doing what I was elected to do.''
Melchiorre declined to comment on the situation. Stuart, who did not attend the meeting, had previously declined to comment. by CNB