As most of the community is aware, the Cumberland County Board of Education shocked the county with the dismisal of popular Director of Schools Billy Stepp by not renewing his contract which ends in June.

Board Chairman Chris King told CNF he was disappointed in the Boards vote and fielded calls all night following the Board meeting from people in the community who support Stepp wanting to know why the BOE released him and how his contract could be renewed.  Mr. King told us more than ninety percent of the many calls he received were in support of DOS Stepp.  Mr. King alluded to calling for a special meeting of the BOE to take up the contract issue again and inviting the public to attend that meeting to voice their opinions. There is an online petition circulating that has received more than 1,100 signatures as of this writing asking for the renewing of Mr. Stepps contract.