Jackson Free Press

George Schimmel, member of the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees, drove the board's consideration of whether to replace Superintendent Lonnie Edwards, said Otha Burton, his fellow board member, today. Testifying at an ongoing hearing on Edwards' contract, Burton said that he did not see adequate reasons for replacing the superintendent when his contract expires at the end of June.

Burton, associate dean of Jackson State University's School of Policy and Planning, was the only member to vote for renewing Edwards' contract at a Dec. 7 board meeting. Along with Schimmel, Monica Gilmore-Love and board president Kisiah Nolan also voted against extending the contract.

Edwards appealed the board's decision and requested the public hearing now in process. Burton is the first witness Edwards' attorney, former Jackson Mayor Dale Danks, called following two days of the school board presenting its case for non-renewal earlier this month.

Burton said that when he took his seat on the board, he felt positive about the district under Edwards' leadership.

"I felt a lot of positive energy in the district that I hadn't seen in a while," Burton said. "I'm seeing kids doing well, performing well. I'm seeing parents excited about Jackson Public Schools."

With "no preconceived ideas" about the superintendent or the board, Burton said that he was "surprised" when the board began discussing the possibility of replacing Edwards at the end of his contract.

"This is a discussion primarily being pushed by Dr. Schimmel," Burton said.

In earlier testimony, Schimmel said that he favored replacing Edwards because the district has lost ground in its academic performance even as test scores statewide have risen. Burton said today, however, that he did not find the academic performance data convincing.

Moreover, Burton said, academic data from the 2007-2008 school year, although it was released in 2008 when Edwards took his position, does not reflect Edwards work as superintendent.

"If you're looking at his tenure, the first year wasn't his watch," Burton said.

"I think coming on in Augut 2008 and coming behind some turbulent times the district was going through, we all needed to be working on image-building, solidarity and leadership that shows the district family that we're working to build a better district," Burton said. "Within two and a half years to be now fighting another battle, with questionable motives, was not productive. We should've been focusing more on our fiscal issues, the curriculum and building on the positive things that have been taking place."

Danks' second witness, JPS Deputy Superintendent for Schools and Administration Wilbur Walters, also testified that Edwards needed more time to let his programs and administrative changes take effect.

Previous Comments

ID

163529

Comment

Burton has been on my short list ever since his comment about moving the district offices to the ghetto "Metro Mall and South Jackson". I tend to disagree with the argument that the district was in poor shape when Edwards took over. The data supports the fact that the district only begin to DRASTICALLY DECLINE when Edwards took over. And here you have Burton saying that he didn't find the "academic performance data convincing". Well what the h*ll are you going to use to judge his performance if it's not the academic data. Oh I know, Edwards dresses nice and he's athletically fit. give me a break people.... And thank God Dr. Schimmel recognized the handwriting on the wall!

Author

833WMaple

Date

2011-05-13T12:38:38-06:00

ID

163530

Comment

Why does it matter who started the conversation? If 3 out of the 4 voted that way, then who cares who initiated the discussions? This is another example of us all being so easily side tracked.

Author

News Junkie

Date

2011-05-13T14:17:57-06:00

ID

163531

Comment

@833Maple Your comment about Burton being on your "short list" every since he made the comment about moving the district's offices to the "ghetto - Metro Mall and South Jackson", is mind boggling! I am reminded of similar comments that were made when Dr. Aaron Shirty wanted to move Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center into Jackson Mall. Jackson Mall faced the same kind of issues; businesses moving to Madison's N orthpark after they had financially raped the black community, taking a sizeable tax base and leaving a dark hole. Dr. Aaron Shirley had a vision that many, at the time, could not see. He pushed forward in a negative climate of many nay sayers. That Mall is now known as "The Medical Mall" and you can hardly find a park on a daily basis. Business is booming! Please understand that Jackson can not improve as a City if we give cruel and insensitive labels such as "ghetto". Do you know what the term "ghetto" represents? We must embrace areas that many others have moved away from and have left a hole. Instead of dogging this area, we must support it and Burton's comments were in keeping with Mayor Johnson's present strategies for positive developments. Many South Jackson residents are also working to improve the area. The "Shop Jackson" slogan is catching on and residents here are embracing the notion that we do not have to follow merchants to other towns to buy their goods. I am not making an argument for or against Edwards because I personally do not know. I am taking issue with anyone who thinks that there isn't any hope for certain parts of this City and that nothing of substance should be given or done. Think about it!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-05-13T22:25:09-06:00

ID

163533

Comment

@justjess She was referring to the comments Burton himself said. HE called it "ghetto". So 833Maple agrees with you.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2011-05-14T07:05:05-06:00

ID

163534

Comment

@ 833WMaple and Kamikaze My deepest apology to you and my heartfelt thanks to Kaze for correcting my misread of your comment. I didn't realize that Edwards was the person making the statement about "ghetto and South Jackson". As you can see, this is a sore spot with me so Edwards goes on my "short list", also. Please accept my apology!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-05-14T09:25:11-06:00

ID

163535

Comment

No Justjess :-). OTHA BURTON made the comment NOT Edwards.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2011-05-14T09:53:46-06:00

ID

163536

Comment

Actually Justjess Otha Burton called it a "slum". http://www.wapt.com/education/24460634/detail.html

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2011-05-14T10:05:43-06:00

ID

163537

Comment

Otha Burton needs his behind kicked! He was a part of government responsible for dealing with areas that were hard hit by some of the issues I talked about in an earlier blog. It doesn't matter who the messenger is, wrong is wrong. I am sure that residents in South Jackson and businesses that are trying to hang on could not believe their ears. We will have to continue our struggle, because is South Jackson goes, so will North, East and West. This could be a domino effect; however, I know that there are too many problem solvers in this City to let this happen. There are many good things happening here and the future looks even more promising. Thanks for the link and thanks for putting me "Back on Track". LOL!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-05-14T15:55:03-06:00

ID

163542

Comment

Thanks for clarifying my point; I was upset because I do in fact live in south Jackson and plan to stay in south Jackson. Otha Burton is short-sighted and we must have a school board with visionaries rather than short-sighted people who would rather just keep the status quo. And regardless of who started the effort to remove Edwards, the arguments were more compelling and convincing to other members that they too voted for him to GO!

Author

833WMaple

Date

2011-05-16T08:54:23-06:00

ID

163543

Comment

@ 'kaze, you know Burton is frat too? Them brothers over in A.E.L chapter are something else - lol!!!

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-05-16T08:56:19-06:00