NORTH CARROLLTON — The Carroll County School Board went into executive session at the end of Thursday night’s meeting to watch a security video that has initiated a public records complaint.
The video, taken on April 6 outside the shop area at J.Z. George High School, was requested by the Commonwealth after school board member Donnie Wiltshire said he believed the video would show “inappropriate behavior” between an administrator and a teacher.
Superintendent Billy Joe Ferguson has refused to turn over the video, prompting the Commonwealth to file a complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission, which enforces the state’s Public Records Act.
A preliminary finding by the commission has determined that the tape is public record and Ferguson has no legal standing to withhold it.
Ferguson has asked for a hearing next week to challenge the preliminary finding, but it is uncertain whether the commission will grant his request.
In a letter faxed to Ferguson on Thursday, Chris Graham, the Ethics Commission’s assistant director and counsel, who conducted the investigation, said that the superintendent’s request for a hearing failed to provide any specific objections to Graham’s factual findings. He gave Ferguson until 5 p.m. today to provide those objections and identify witnesses who could support them.
Until Thursday night, the school board had not viewed the video in question. Wiltshire tried unsuccessfully in June to force Ferguson to show the video to the board but was outvoted 3-2.
Now that Wiltshire has seen the security footage, he has adopted, at least initially, a close-lipped attitude about it.
“I don’t have any comment right now,” he said this morning.
No action was taken after the board saw the video, according to Mimi Alldread, board clerk.
Ferguson has said the video does not show anything inappropriate. He claims the two on the video — a female teacher he has declined to name and Anjuan Brown, assistant to the superintendent — were simply talking about a personnel matter and needed a private space, so they met in an empty vocational room.
Ferguson also has said that he has learned of unspecified potential criminal activity that could be linked to the video, and he has asked the FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to look into a possible conspiracy.
Brown has said he has no problem with the video being made public.
Earlier in Thursday’s meeting, Wiltshire quizzed Ferguson on why Brown and a school police officer have their office windows covered. Ferguson said it was for privacy.
“Sometime they’re watching videos. They may have a student come in to complain of being bullied. Teachers may have issues, maybe parents,” he said.
“If you have a student or employee in there by themselves, it’s not a good idea,” Wiltshire said.
“Some things are private,” Ferguson responded. “When you go to the bathroom, it’s private. We have a police department.”
Wiltshire also questioned Ferguson about the district recently being put on probation by the Mississippi Department of Education. Ferguson said deficiencies cited by state regulators were things such as windows at Marshall Elementary that had to open a certain way; playground issues; and policy and procedures that had to be upgraded.
“School buses were cleared,” Ferguson said. “Some other things are being completed, like lighted exit signs. I think we’re 95 percent done.”
Ferguson also said the district’s test scores in algebra and English, released earlier that day, were “surprisingly good.” He compared Carroll’s scores to national and state averages and said they showed great progress.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “In the past, we’ve had four levels. Now we have five. It’s hard to compare them.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved by a 4-1 vote the purchase of band equipment and amended the budget to reflect the $12,500 purchase. Ferguson said band director Lane Thompson has a large middle school group and needed the instruments.
“In October, our band rated all superior. ... It’s encouraging to have something we can take pride in,” Ferguson said.
Kenneth DeLoach cast the lone dissenting vote.
• Accepted a vocational grant of $9,525 and bids on computerized touch boards.
• Accepted a Walmart technology grant of $1,500 to purchase refurbished computers.
• Accepted a donation of $250 for the band from Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson.
• Accepted donation of a foosball game, a sofa and two loveseats from First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood for a teacher’s lounge and library.
