In a “special called meeting” of the Gwinnett County Board of Education, its members voted to renew the contract of superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts. The Tuesday night vote was 4-1 in favor of Watts’ return.
The decision comes amid criticism from some parents of Watts’ handling of disciplinary policy in the district concerning student violence on school campuses. Most recently, there’s been controversy over the school system’s sex-ed curriculum.
Channel 2 reports the school board’s chair voted not to retain Watts. But other members said it would cause too much instability to remove Watts without a better option. Those in favor of renewing Watts’ contract say they will hold him more accountable, and make sure the pace of any district policy changes moves slower.
“We need a leader who’s going to be consistent and that our educators actually want to work for to stay here and help our kids,” parent Steve Smith said.
But from Verdaillia Turner of the Georgia Federation of Teachers: “All of the indicators, well I’m not going to say all, but the majority for Dr. Calvin J. Watts, are positive. If you fire this Superintendent it’s not because of education.”
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