Lauderdale County school board president resigns

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
June 26, 2002
Lauderdale County School Superintendent David Little said Tuesday he is puzzled over the resignation of school board president and District 5 representative Jimmy Gibson.
Little said Gibson announced his intention to resign after requesting a closed session at Monday night's school board meeting. But Little said he didn't know the resignation took effect immediately.
Gibson could not be reached for comment today.
Little said that Gibson cited additional work assignments at the Georgia-Pacific Corp. plant in Alabama as his reason for stepping down.
But a letter Gibson gave acting school board attorney Robert Compton on Monday night said that the resignation was because of a lack of cooperation with school administration to cut expenses.
Gibson also cited personal threats against him and his family.
Little first heard the contents of the letter in a radio broadcast Tuesday morning.
Gibson's letter
Gibson's letter to Little, dated May 2002, said he recently asked the administration and "all campus leadership to propose cost reduction ideas to help us make it through this desperate time. I appreciate the few responses received.
Little said he does not agree with Gibson's assessment.
Gibson's proposal
Gibson supported eliminating the position of director of curriculum earlier this year, a recommendation Little would not make.
The board voted 3-2 to eliminate the position, held by Clara Godine, anyway, but later reversed its decision.
Little said two other positions held by employees who have retired are not being refilled for the coming school year. He said that move will save the district about $80,000.
Gibson's letter stated that the board had attempted to make an "organizational staffing decision" that would save money by filling open positions with current employees.
Ann Watts, a Lauderdale County Election Commissioner, said Tuesday that she also heard news of the resignation but had not been officially notified.
She said it will be the school board's decision whether or not to appoint a replacement to finish Gibson's term. The District 5 seat is up for election again in November.