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By Christian Jennings - bio | email
CUTHBERT, GA (WALB) - The Randolph county school board voted Friday to fire Superintendent Bobby Jenkins, but Jenkins plans to ignore that vote.
His attorney says the hearing was illegal.
It's the latest turn in a long controversy among school board members that many outraged people in the community says is hurting education in the county.
Tempers flared during the five hour hearing to determine whether Randolph county superintendent Bobby Jenkins should be fired.
"This proceeding was an outrage," said Mary Kearney, Concerned Citizen.
"It's an embarrassment," said Kitty Bass, Concerned Citizen.
The majority of the board of education Don Smith, Dymple McDonald, and James Mock have made it clear they want the Superintendent out. Just after 3 p.m. Friday they voted to terminate him.
"I don't think this is a legal hearing, said Maurice King, Jenkins' Attorney.
After the hearing ended, Jenkins made no comment, but his attorney said Jenkins will show up for work next week.
"This is illegal and Mr. Jenkins will go back to work," King.
School Board Attorney Tommy Coleman believes if that's the case, Jenkins will eventually face the consequences.
"He would perhaps be guilty of criminal trespass, conducting business without authority," said Coleman.
But Attorney Maurice King says it's the majority of the board that is breaking the law, by conducting business outside called meetings. Many say it all boils down to a bigger issue, race.
"This has been going on for years, ever since we had a black superintendent they've tried to dismantle the system," said Kearney.
Others say it's a power struggle between the old, and the new.
"When we voted in some new ones the trouble started. They just can't stand defeat," said Edwin Andrews, Concerned Citizen.
It needs to end they need to put the children first," said Cindy Whitehead, Concerned Citizen.
Whatever the motivation may be, it seems as though Friday's hearing proved nothing except that the saga will continue.
Board members who voted to fire Jenkins say they'll start looking for another superintendent, but that may be difficult with Jenkins at work.
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