DATE: Wednesday, August 20, 1997            TAG: 9708200427

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: HERTFORD                          LENGTH:   86 lines

CROWD BERATES PERQUIMANS SCHOOL CHIEF DISMISSAL OF POPULAR PRINCIPAL COMES UNDER FIRE.

A crowd of about 200 threw verbal barbs at Perquimans County Superintendent Randall Henion and called for the reinstatement of fired principal William D. Tice at Monday's school board meeting.

``We love and support our teachers and principals like Mr. Tice,'' said Nancy Hagan, PTA president at Hertford Grammar School, where Tice was principal until three weeks ago. ``Most of our problems seem to point in the direction of our superintendent.''

The raucous crowd that had gathered in the Perquimans County High School auditorium cheered Hagan's comments. Henion and board members showed little emotion as they and attorney Richard Swartz sat behind a row of tables under the bright stage lights.

Henion announced Friday that Tice was retiring from the school system after 32 years. According to a news release, Tice submitted his resignation Aug. 15 and planned to retire Dec. 31. Tice countered publicly Saturday that he did not voluntarily resign and did not know why he was being fired.

School board chairman Wallace Nelson defended Henion's action before he opened the meeting to public comment.

``. . . Mr. Tice has apparently made several statements to various individuals in the county and to the news media which call into question the integrity of this Board of Education and the superintendent,'' Nelson read from a four-page statement. ``Mr. Tice was called before this Board of Education. . . in the spring of 1996. At that time the board had serious concerns over the manner in which state-required evaluations of teachers were being conducted and, in particular, Mr. Tice's performance of these duties.''

Nelson said Henion warned Tice in evaluations going back two years to improve his performance and noted 18 different concerns. Tice agreed to the resignation and press release issued by Henion, Nelson said.

``We are sorry to have to release this information, but, as citizens of this county, we feel you should know the truth,'' Nelson said.

Nelson's lengthy statement did not satisfy the crowd as they cheered and gave standing ovations to four speakers, including Tice, who denounced Henion. All but Tice asked the board to reinstate Tice.

Gary Stubbins, a Perquimans principal who retired this past school year, said he was not ready to leave but was pressured to do so by Henion.

``Dr. Henion told me I did not support him, and I was not in his corner,'' Stubbins said. ``He took my evaluation, tore it up and threw it over his shoulder and said, `This conference is over.' I felt Dr. Henion had a personal vendetta against me.''

Finally, Stubbins turned from the audience to the board. ``Prove to me that you have some backbone and do what is right,'' he said. The crowd cheered loudly.

In the most dramatic moment after nearly an hour of comments, Tice came to the front of the auditorium and requested the microphone. For several seconds, Nelson refused to give it up saying Tice had not signed up to speak to the board as required. Several individuals in the crowd called for Nelson to relent.

``We're not going to leave until you let him speak,'' said one member of the audience, drawing cheers. Nelson finally allowed Tice to have the microphone and the floor.

``I will be willing at any time to defend what I've done in public or private,'' Tice said.

Tice said several principals had retired or resigned, draining the system of valuable experience.

``Thursday morning when the schools open their doors for your children there will be four principals with a grand total of four years experience,'' Tice said. After Tice spoke, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

The board concluded the public hearing portion and returned to the school board building next to the high school to continue board business without changing its decision.

``The PTA and the citizens of Perquimans County are going to pursue this matter,'' Hagan said Tuesday morning from her home. ``We'll be back.''

Tuesday morning, Henion seemed unaffected by the events. He acknowledged that five principals - Morris Kornegay, William Byrum, Henry Felton, Stubbins and Tice - had all resigned or retired since he took over as superintendent in January 1991. Their total experience was 150 years, he said.

Much of the friction between Henion and his principals stemmed from the strict implementation of evaluations.

``I have high expectations from the principals,'' Henion said. ``Change is tough. It is difficult. Our board wanted to see our school system achieve more. Our goal was to improve the staff, not remove staff. If they could not make the adjustment, then we had to go the other route. But we have seen significant improvement in this system.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]

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