Mrs. Isaac Atkins

In a press statement released by the Greene County Board of Education, the board confirmed that Mrs. Isaac Atkins had been discharged for cause from her duties as superintendent. “The

Dr. Emma Louie

 cause is based upon breach of Superintendent Employment Contract, neglect of duty, unprofessional conduct and performance of acts that substantially inhibit ability to discharge duties as superintendent,” according to the board’s media release.

  In a call meeting, July 7, 2011, following action on some preliminary items on the agenda, the board members, superintendent and attorney retired to executive session. Upon continuing in the open meeting, a motion and second were offered by board members that the “superintendent be discharged of her duties under Section 15 of the Superintendent’s Contract and provided proper notice.”  The board voted unanimously in support of the motion.

  Mr. Leo Branch, board chairman, asked Mrs. Atkins if she would like to make any statement, to which she replied: “I would like that in writing.”  The board authorized its attorney to prepare the appropriate notice in writing to Mrs. Atkins.

  Mrs. Atkins was served official notice in writing on Saturday, July 9, 2011. According to Branch, he tried unsuccessfully to serve the notice on Friday but could not locate Mrs. Atkins.

  Following Mrs.  Atkins discharge, the board approved additional actions relative to securing the school system’s property and equipment. These included: naming Dr. Emma Louie as interim superintendent; removing authorization of check signing from Mrs. Atkins and authorizing Dr. Louie as official signature; directing an immediate inventory of all equipment on administrative level; all properties including keys, laptop computer, phones, etc. purchased by the board were to be turned in to the board that evening.

Branch said, ”We tried in every way to work with Mrs. Atkins because she has served the Greene County School System for many years as a teacher and a principal.  She also served four years as superintendent.”

  Atkins was hired as Superintendent of Greene County Schools on May 14, 2007.

 In its official statement, the board explained that under the Superintendent Employment Contract “discharge for cause” ends all salary and benefits.  Atkins will have an opportunity for a hearing before the board if she request one within 15 days.

 “As board members elected by the citizens of Greene County, we are determined to move this school system forward.  We are going to do everything in our power to provide the education every student and our entire community deserves.

“We must get Greene County High School on the right foot.  We must move forward with construction of the new high school.  We must move forward on so many challenges that face us,” said Branch.

  In naming Dr. Emma Louie as interim superintendent, the board announced that a search will be initiated as prescribed by law to secure a long term superintendent.

  Dr. Louie was serving as Special Education Coordinator with the Greene County School System.