No doubt most have seen the discourse in the past couple of months among the Cumberland County Board of Education over the attempt in approving Director of Schools Janet Graham’s contract.  The board has voted it down twice now and yet it’s still up in the air as to whether or not the Board is going to bring the contract up again for another vote or begin a search for a new DOS in their January meeting.  The vote to not renew Ms. Graham’s contract was 5 against, 4 in favor.  CNF has learned there is more activity going on behind the scenes.

Since the last BOE meeting, 9th District County Commissioner John Patterson filed an official records request through the BOE attorney requesting Board Member Stace Karge’s emails she spoke of in the last meeting.  In that meeting, Karge implied the majority of her emails were from people who did not want Janet Graham’s contract renewed.  Patterson, who is vehemently opposed to removing Graham from the DOS position, told CNF he wants to see those emails.  He said  “when they take perhaps the best DOS we’ve had in a generation and say ‘we no longer need your services’ because teachers are unhappy is a shame” Patterson said he thinks Karge exaggerated her statement in the BOE meeting concerning her emails and says he wants to see the emails himself.  Board Member Karge told CNF initially she refused to turn over her emails but has since done so to the BOE attorney Earl Patton who will forward them to Commissioner Patterson.  We have seen the emails Karge turned over to Attorney Patton of which the majority are from citizens in favor of removing DOS Janet Graham.  Karge told CNF that many of her emails which were sent to her in confidentiality prior to Patterson’s request had been deleted by her, but that those emails were also overwhelmingly in favor of voting down the DOS contract renewal.

Meanwhile, School Board member Karge told CNF that right after the records request was made, she called and asked Commissioner Patterson to rescind his request for her emails because the teachers and others asked that their emails to be confidential in fear of possible retaliation if the emails became public.  Patterson said he would not rescind his request. Board Member Karge alleges that Commissioner Patterson made threats if she didn’t change her ‘no’ vote against Graham’s contract renewal it could hurt teachers because the County Commission could vote on a ‘supplement’ budget.   Karge also claims Commissioner Patterson accused her of collusion in the same phone conversation.   Karge stated, “I will not be bullied nor let the school system be bullied”.

Commissioner Patterson told CNF Karge’s allegation that he threatened her or anyone else is a “complete and total falsehood”.   Patterson claims there never was any conversation about Karge’s BOE vote at all during their phone call.

Board member Karge says she has requested a special called meeting of the Board to discuss the matter but has not heard back from Chairperson Teresa Boston yet. BOE Attorney Earl Patton is reportedly checking into the legalities of the accusations from Board Member Karge.