

Public remains in dark over Johnson departure

3:07 PM, Sep. 11, 2013  |  Comments
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Why was Allen Johnson forced out as superintendent of Asheville city schools?

Oh, we know. Johnson "was absolutely not fired or asked to leave," as school board chair Jacquelyn Hallum put it. Then why was he given a $175,000 buyout? There was no requirement to pay that sum if Johnson left voluntarily.

"Given the outcry from taxpayers, it would seem to me that a full accounting of the reasons for payment of severance is due the community," City Councilman Cecil Bothwell wrote in an email. "(T)he fact of the payment renders the 'voluntary' retirement stance absurd."

It's hard to argue with that. For the most part, school officials aren't. Rather, they are silent. Chris Campbell, the board's consulting attorney, told school board members and district spokesman Charlie Glazener not to comment and said he would not comment, either.

We wouldn't know even this much had not the Citizen-Times pried loose some 10,000 emails under a public records request. Not included were emails dealing with confidential student or personnel information, or attorney-client issues.

Evidently, the personnel exemption has been interpreted so broadly as to cover anything regarding Johnson's performance. If the law in fact is that broad, it should be changed. The voters have a right to know what the board thinks of the superintendent.

What makes all of this so puzzling is that Johnson appeared to have performed very well. Under his leadership graduation rates were up, dropout rates were down and the district's first new schools in 30 years were planned.

"He has been an exceptional leader," Hallum said. "I think you've demonstrated under your tenure you can be a leader, you can be successful and at the same time to be honest and have integrity," said former board chair Gene Bell.

So what happened? There are any number of guesses.

When Matt Buys was appointed to the school board in March he said the district needs to do a better job of reaching out to children of poverty. The achievement gap between white and African-American students remains stubbornly large. Is this why Johnson left?

Two school district employees, one a teacher and the other a teaching assistant, have been accused of sexual abuse involving students. District Attorney Ron Moore reportedly said the district was obstructing his investigations. Is this why Johnson left?

When he announced his retirement, Johnson said, "With the new board, I think this will be a great opportunity for them. It will be a great opportunity for them to select a superintendent." Had board members indicated they wanted the opportunity?

As we said, these are guesses, only guesses. And that is all they will be until the school system stops denying the people the right to know why the superintendent departed.

A lot of attention has been focused on the $175,000 payout. That concerns us, but not nearly as much as the news blackout does. If there is something wrong in the Asheville school system, the people need to know what. Just as importantly, they need to know what is being done to correct the situation.

The schools foundation, which raises money to supplement public funds, fears the dispute will hurt its efforts. "Our donors have questions about the financial needs of the district when such a payout has been awarded," Steve Dykes, president of the foundation's executive committee, wrote in a letter attached to an email.

"This may harm our ability to raise support in the future. The faith that this community holds for this board is in jeopardy."

The school system has two choices: Come clean or keep the system under a cloud.

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