We, the parents, grandparents, friends, and students of Utica Elementary Middle School petition the Hinds County School District Superintendent School Board and MS Department of Education to remove Mr. John Neal from his position as Associate Superintendent of Hinds County School District, effective immediately.

There is substantial evidence of John Neal’s poor leadership practices, lack of managerial integrity, and an overall inability to create a safe and positive learning environment for the students and staff of Hinds County School District. For many years, the parents of Hinds County School district have filed complaints with the Associate Superintendent John Neal, but their complaints fell upon deaf ears. John Neal does not validate the concerns of the parents in Hinds County School District and has exhibited a pattern of not following up with parents about their concerns. An effective Associate Superintendent is expected to foster good communication in a timely manner. When John Neal does investigate issues, he ALWAYS fails to produce evidence against the accused. John Neal facilitates interviews with thorough incompetence by asking broad questions and creating loopholes in his questions to avoid obtaining information to address the accusation. He does not ask direct questions related to incidents. His goal is simply to make the issue go away without being resolved. This tactic might have worked to conceal the embezzlement scandal that was uncovered within Hinds County School District, but this is a very ineffective way to handle the concerns dealing with children. John Neal is more invested in protecting the image of the school district than protecting the actual kids in the district. John Neal’s lack of action is impacting our most defenseless, vulnerable citizens, the students of Hinds County School District schools.

For these reasons, the parents of the Hinds County School District are calling for the removal of John Neal. We need an Associate Superintendent who shows a genuine concern for producing effective outcomes that will benefit the students, parents and staff, so that students can thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically in the school setting. We demand immediate action to safeguard our children and this community as a whole. Associate Superintendent John Neal should be terminated as soon as possible.