Accomack School Board Meeting highlights controversy

The Accomack County School Board met Tuesday night and the public participation portion of the meeting reflected the growing dissatisfaction with some members of the community over various issues from cooperation with law enforcement to issues regarding Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Hall.

Sheriff Todd Wessells addressed the board over what he says is the inconsistent treatment by the school administration over providing basic information on students who are suspected of crimes.  Wessells said that information, such as residential addresses and parents names, is available in some cases but not in others.

Wessells said “It is critical that my deputies and investigators are provided the necessary information to conduct a thorough investigation to make sure every child is safe. In recent months we have investigated cases in our schools including blackmail, pornography, assault by a mob, bomb threats and threatening to bring guns and other threats to the schools.  The providing of information in these cases has been inconsistent… We need cooperation, sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t.  All I am asking is that the school system cooperate with us.”

Others were concerned about issues surrounding Superintendent Dr Rhonda Hall. Quintavion Washington of Onley said that he feels that justice and fairness have been compromised.

Washington said “Dr. Hall has been the subject of public humiliation, news articles and Facebook statuses. The School Board has stripped her of the very respect and protection she deserves as our Superintendent.”

On the subject of a recent raise for the Superintendent that was retracted by the School Board, Washington said, “no one has received this level of scrutiny.  Why does this Board suddenly want to go by the book, play by the rules, forgetting the practices of the past?… By failing to support our Superintendent, this board is threatening the trust and integrity of this community. By failing to support the Superintendent, we are setting the precent of division and discord.”

Also speaking in Dr. Hall’s defense was Dr. James Fedderman of Keller. Fedderman said “Democracy enables people to determine who will represent them. The ongoing effort to divide us must stop.  We must maintain a protocol for dialogue that encourages citizen leaders to address their own prejudices before tampering with rules and regulations. I have to remind everyone that we are never without he power of influence and persuasion. We must just use it.”

Fedderman went on to say that a group of people in District 7 have successfully acquired enough signatures on a petition to recall School Board member and chair Janet Turner. The petition is being filed in the court system.

There were other speakers who echoed similar sentiments. Sam Sellard produced a letter from the State Superintendent of Education stating that the Accomack County School system had not formed a crisis assessment board as required by the state.

The full meeting audio can be heard below: