A meeting to discuss employee bonuses turned heated in Staunton on Monday morning, with several board members calling for the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Steve Nichols.
The board had convened the meeting in order to discuss bonuses that are to be paid to school employees on Tuesday.
At issue was whether employees who had resigned at the end of the 2010-2011 school year were eligible for the bonuses.
The board voted to approve the bonuses only for current full-time salaried employees, part-time and hourly employees who work a regular weekly schedule and employees who retired at the end of F.Y. 2011.
But that vote came after heated discussion during which several board members accused Superintendent Dr. Steve Nichols of mismanagement.
At the end of the meeting School Board Chair Angie Whitesell opened the meeting to discussion from board members.
It was at that time that board member Amy Darby said she had lost confidence in Dr. Nichols and addressed him saying "I do not have confidence in your leadership abilities when you make those kinds of statements and that it is time to call for your resignation."
That statement was met with applause and cheers from about 5 audience members.
Darby's sentiments were echoed by board members George Ballew who told Nichols that "I will not sit here and listen to someone else pass off the blame!" and Sarah Crenshaw who said "this has gotten out of hand."
Darby pointed to several recent incidents, including the demotion of the Assistant Superintendent Dori Walk, a case of embezzlement at R.E. Lee High School and issues with accreditation of city schools as reasons for her lost confidence in Nichols.
Board Chair Angie Whitesell said after the meeting that she was very surprised with the calls for Dr. Nichols resignation.
"That was a complete surprise to me. It was directly contrary to conversations I had with certain board members last week regarding that issue so at this point that is my only reaction," Whitesell said.
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