Editor's note: This article was modified since first posted to add clarity about the source of the information and provide a link to a related article.
Mark Kephart, past chair of the Cherokee County Needs & Assessments Advisory Committee established by the board of commissioners more than a year ago, submitted a resolution to the school board calling for Superintendent Keevin Woody to be fired and Shannon Raper to be removed from her role as school board chair. See related article here.
Proposed resolution by Mark Kephart
Regarding the Removal of the Cherokee County School Superintendent and replacement of the Board Chair.
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Education has a vested interest in the quality and administration of education within Cherokee County, and is charged with ensuring that the local school district operates in a manner that serves the best interests of all students, staff, and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County School Superintendent and Board Chair have demonstrated neglectful practices that have resulted in significant financial losses, a decline in the quality of education, diminished teacher and student morale, and a failure to provide equal opportunities for all students as required under North Carolina law, including the Leandro decision; and
WHEREAS, specific instances of financial neglect include the failure to adhere to enrollment and staff requirements, resulting in the loss of a "paid" principal's position at The Oaks Academy and a subsequent loss of over $100,000 to the local budget, which has been misleadingly presented to the public as a cost-saving measure; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Board Chair’s inability to maintain a cooperative relationship with the County Commissioners led to the Central Office's eviction, costing an estimated $80,000 for the renovation of the Marble School as a temporary location, causing embarrassment and making the school system the subject of ridicule; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent allowed a $62 million grant, which had been funded and could have been utilized with existing district funds, to be returned without any attempt to formulate a plan for its use, thereby neglecting the district’s financial and educational responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, several Exceptional Needs students did not receive the legally required appropriate education during the 2023-24 school year, forcing the district to incur additional costs for summer school, while failing to comply with federal law and budget regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent demanded a salary increase of over $40,000, placing an undue burden on the local tax budget, and has neglected to engage with faculty and staff in a meaningful way, leading to a disconnection within the school community; and
WHEREAS, the enforcement of an out-of-district policy at the elementary level only, without similar enforcement at the middle and high school levels, has led to overcrowded classrooms at Murphy High School and Murphy Middle School while leaving other schools underpopulated, undermining the best practices for class sizes and contributing to inequities within the district; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Board Chair have failed to respond to multiple communications from concerned parents and community members regarding important issues such as school safety, indicating a neglect of duty and a disregard for community engagement; and
WHEREAS, the district has experienced a significant loss of students and families to neighboring counties and states, with these concerns being voiced publicly without any response or action from the Superintendent; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Board Chair have not complied with the state law requiring a current plan for the improvement or replacement of facilities and curriculum programs, with no steps taken toward fulfilling this obligation during the two years of his tenure; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Board Chair have repeatedly violated North Carolina Open Meetings Law, including attending meetings without proper notice and creating a quorum in committee meetings, as well as interfering in the hiring process in a manner that violates personnel laws; and
WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Board Chairs lack of involvement in key issues and his failure to produce any tangible documentation of perceived benefits from school mergers have further eroded public confidence in his leadership; and
WHEREAS, the district’s once-esteemed reputation as one of the highest performing in the state has been severely damaged, making Cherokee County Schools a political laughing stock in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Assistant Superintendent John Higdon, a local individual with a full understanding of the district and community needs, could assume the position of Superintendent with a small supplement, thereby saving the district significant salary costs while restoring effective leadership; as well the School Board could elect a new Board Chair at its next called meeting
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cherokee County Board of Education calls for the removal of the current Cherokee County School Superintendent and Board Chair due to the cumulative neglect of duty, financial mismanagement, failure to comply with legal obligations, and the erosion of trust within the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cherokee County Board of Education strongly recommends that Assistant Superintendent John Higdon be appointed as Interim Superintendent to restore stability and effective leadership to Cherokee County Schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be communicated to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and all relevant state authorities to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to protect the interests of the students, staff, and residents of Cherokee County.