As of Thursday, May 3, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Newton Citizen
Jackson, MS -- The Jackson Public Schools' Board of Trustees in Mississippi did not offer a superintendent contract to finalist Dr. Dennis Carpenter, deputy superintendent for Operations at the Newton County School System.
The Mississippi school board voted Tuesday after meeting in executive session, approving fellow finalist, Cedrick Gray, superintendent of schools for Fayette County, Tenn., according to Peggy Hampton, director of Media Relations at JPS.
Some board members had visited Newton County on Monday, after previously visiting the hometown of Gray.
Hampton said Tuesday that the board members offered no explanation about the decision. She did say that two of the seven board members, Dr. Otha Burton and Tim Collins, voted against the selection.
The two finalists were chosen from a pool of 71 applicants using a national search firm, Ray and Associates. Earlier this month, the two finalists visited Jackson to meet with the board and community members.
NCSS Superintendent Gary Mathews had recommended Carpenter for the position.
When contacted by the Citizen about the decision, Carpenter responded that he had no comment.
JPS has 30,000 students, compared to about 19,000 in NCSS. It's made up of eight high schools, 12 middle schools, 39 elementary schools and two special schools.
Carpenter was hired as associate superintendent for Human Resources at NCSS in February 2008 after working as assistant superintendent for Support Services for Appling County Schools and a fourth-grade teacher, assistant principal and principal before that. He was named deputy superintendent for Operations in July 2009, when Deborah Robertson retired as associate superintendent of business and administration; he oversees the directors of Operational Services, Human Resources and Support Services, as well as the business manager, maintenance coordinator and School Nutrition Program coordinator.
In July 2011, Carpenter also was not chosen for the superintendent position at Peach County Schools, where he was one of three finalists.
More like this story
- Carpenter not offered Mississippi contract ( May 1, 2012 )
- Mississippi school board to make superintendent decision Tuesday ( April 25, 2012 )
- Mississippi school board may decide on Newton deputy superintendent this month ( April 12, 2012 )
- Carpenter up for Mississippi superintendent position ( April 3, 2012 )
- Carpenter not selected as finalist for Florida system ( August 20, 2012 )
Comments
amp72 1 year, 1 month ago
"Carpenter was hired as associate superintendent for Human Resources at NCSS in February 2008."
Laquanda Brown was hired in July 2009.
They were married last year.
(All facts, so you can't sue me for that).
I'd sure like to know when they met.
Frustrated 1 year, 1 month ago
If he is trying so hard to get a position with another system...why not let him go so he cant dedicate all his timeat finding another job? Seems like handling problems with NCSS is getting in his way.
ShannonBlack 1 year, 1 month ago
We have been told that they met in Bibb county before they came here
Calisweetheart 1 year, 1 month ago
He promoted himself when Robertson left but his buddy in districts 2 and 4 could not follow the same precdent with Mrs. Fuhrey. Sounds like an agenda. We need new blood in 2 and 4.
amp72 1 year, 1 month ago
I think people need to be aware of who they are buddies with. This whole mess could potentially take down a lot of people. I have also heard these two knew each other in Bibb County. I smell a rat and hopefully the newspaper is doing its due dilligence to get to the bottom of this. Good people are getting hurt!
cpatterson_22 1 year, 1 month ago
He never worked in Bibb County and she was only there fr two years
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