👀 Thomasville City School Board Meeting 1/24/23 👀

Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Raymond L. Bryant is under scrutiny for his leadership skills. Below is just an example of the type of letters being written to the Thomasville City School Board Members.

*
*
Dear Kejar (Board Chair) ,

I was at last night’s school board meeting. I was contacted by several teachers who know of my involvement in attending board meetings. I heard an overarching theme from these teachers. They are dissatisfied with their jobs and are contemplating leaving their positions due to poor administrative leadership by Dr. Bryant.

They were promised by Dr. Bryant that he would visit each one of their classrooms and listen to their concerns. The teachers have indicated that their morale is at an all time low. They are overwhelmed by paperwork and want to be able to focus on teaching their students. Currently, the School Resource Officer for Thomasville High School is on maternity leave. Although teachers state that while she is on the job, she’s on her phone. However, her mere presence does curtail the fights. There is no substitute for this important position while she is on leave and the fights have escalated according to teachers. There is no support from administration in sending in a substitute.

Also, there is no consistency in discipline. A student smoking marijuana in the bathroom is suspended but a student found with a knife gets a slap on the wrist.
Good leadership from the top down addresses discipline in a way that corrects the child but protects other students.

The most egregious circumstance that has caused the public to be up in arms is the renovations completed on the second floor of the federal building. Teachers are being told that the system is broke and there is no money for supplies and yet, a second floor building can be renovated to provide larger office space for whom? I spoke of transparency when I attended one of the school board meetings on raising the millage rate. There was absolutely no transparency in regard to these renovations. That is wrong! The teachers don’t have a budget for supplies but office space is renovated with no transparency. Good leadership is accountable for their actions and they are transparent with how they manage the public’s money.

The last issue I would like to address is to add one more nomination for the name that will go on the gymnasium. I did not realize that nominations were being taken for this honor. Coach Ken Manwaring died this week. He played football at Indiana State University and was even drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. He was later inducted into the Thomas county sports hall of fame. He taught science and coached football & tennis at Thomasville High School. The most important part of Coach Manwaring’s life was how he lived for Christ. After retirement he went on to work at Habitat for Humanity helping countless Thomasville citizens have the opportunity to own their own home. He volunteered with Wyldlife and served on the board of DFCS. While serving at First Presbyterian Church, he was an elder & deacon, youth fellowship leader and made many mission trips.

The city schools used to be known as the “Harvard of the South”. You as a board member have an important role of recognizing when it is time for a change in leadership who can move forward with making the city schools a model for other schools. Will you listen to the staff of Thomasville city schools?

I have also reached out to Jason Downey, the representative for our district on the State School Board and made him aware of my concerns. I have instructed other citizens to do the same.

Sincerely,

Angie Durham