The winds of change, which swept Troy Bisby from the office of Tullahoma Mayor, almost nixed the contract extension of Tullahoma’s Director of Schools during Monday night's school board meeting.
John Manis, one of three Tullahoma School Board members to oppose Dr. Dan Lawson’s contract extension, said that “there are people in Tullahoma who feel there is a need for a fresh start and a fresh philosophy on how we run the school system.”
The board approved extending Lawson's contract to June 30, 2013 with a 4-3 vote. The vote occurred immediately after Vicki Shelton's motion for an extension, with no discussion from board members. Opposing the contract were Manis, Teresa Lawson and Sharon Vance. Voting in favor were Shelton, Linda Thoma, Daryl Welch and Pat Welsh.
After the meeting, Manis said that his vote was influenced largely by “a difference in opinion on how things are managed within the school system” and not on Lawson's performance as director.
“There are some things that we do very well in the Tullahoma school system, and also some things that we could do better.”
“My biggest thing is a philosophical difference of running the schools as a system and not running them separately, as they have been for the last 25 years.”
Manis believes that the board's vote was a “fairly balanced reflection of how the community feels about the school system. There are some people who feel there should be a change, and others think that things are running just fine.”
According to Manis, he received many calls from administration personnel, parents, teachers and students with views on both sides.
Vance, who was elected to the board last year, said she also had received many emails and calls with concerns on how the system was being run.
“I started receiving them while I was campaigning for the school board,” Vance said. “Basically they feel that it is time for a change.”
And Vance agreed.
Despite their “no” votes, both Vance and Manis said they will continue to work with Lawson.
“I accept the decision [of the board],” said Manis. “We've got great things in Tullahoma. And we'll just continue to move the Tullahoma school system forward.”
Lawson said this was the first time in 20 years that he has failed to have his contract unanimously approved by a board.
Before accepting his position as Tullahoma's school director in 1997, Lawson had performed a similar role in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
“ I would have liked a unanimous vote again, but I'm not truly surprised [by the vote],” said Lawson, adding “A vote like that means you are operating on borrowed time.”
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