Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said the local city school district is operating in secret, and he can’t support the school board’s recent superintendent hire of a candidate who has “a lot of baggage.”
“I am displeased with how the public-school board operates now,” Brent said. “This city council knew nothing about this appointment. The citizens knew nothing about this appointment. The students knew nothing about this appointment. If you are a public servant, be transparent about everything you do.”
The Yazoo City Municipal School District hired Dr. Frederick Hill last week during a special call meeting. Hill had a very controversial history in his former seat as leader of the Natchez-Adams School District, which resulted in a discrimination lawsuit against Hill and that district.
“This hire was done very secretly,” Brent said. “Hill does not have a proven track record as a successful leader as far as moving our district forward. The community had no input in this hire. There was no community buy-in. No one knew anything about Hill. This was all done in secret.”
Brent added that the school board is not a “secret organization.”
“Every superintendent in the past…there was always public input,” Brent said. “Citizens are spending the tax dollars on the salaries of these individuals.”
Brent said there needs to be communication, transparency within the city school district. Under the current administration, he said there is none.
“Most things done in secret are also done with a little corruption,” said Mayor Diane Delaware. “Most things are not transparent because they don’t want the people to know. When your board makes a decision and you don’t ask the people and just do anything you want to do, then you are going astray.”
“It all boils down to personal agendas,” Brent said. “The school board has given Hill what they want for themselves. I would make the motion to remove the whole board. They are not representing the community.”
