A special called meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Education has been scheduled for Thursday (TODAY) February 13th at 3:30 pm at the Central Services Offices on Fourth Street in Crossville.

The BOE, at least five of the nine members,  has been under fire recently for releasing the highly popular DOS Billy Stepp from his contract without cause.  There have been two earlier meetings in which a large turnout of the public showed up to voice their displeasure with the dismissal of Stepp. The sole purpose of Thursday’s BOE meeting is to form an evaluation committee which will meet immediately after the BOE meeting however, there is a “community comment” section on the BOE’s 3:30 meeting.  There is an investigation underway to uncover possible personal agenda motives for the five BOE members who voted to not renew Stepp’s contract while, by all accounts of teachers, principals and faculty members, his service as DOS has been exemplary. The investigation is looking into nepotism violation as one motivation for dismissing Stepp.