PETITION FOR THE REMOVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT DR. JEFF JAMES

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The Issue

PETITION FOR THE REMOVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT DR. JEFF JAMES
We, the undersigned parents, educators, employees, taxpayers, and community members of Iredell County, call upon the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education to terminate Dr. Jeff James's employment as Superintendent of Iredell-Statesville Schools pursuant to N.C.G.S. §115C-274 and the termination provisions of his employment contract.

This request is based on serious and continuing concerns regarding leadership, accountability, transparency, ethics, and public trust within Iredell-Statesville Schools.

These concerns include:

  • Failure to ensure that employees can report administrative misconduct, harassment, intimidation, or retaliation without fear for their careers.
  • Failure of district leadership and Human Resources to adequately address serious concerns brought forward by educators and employees.
  • Failure to consistently follow and enforce ISS Board policies and established grievance procedures.
  • Failure to adequately listen and respond when parents raise legitimate concerns regarding their schools and children.
  • Concerns regarding ethics, transparency, governance, and accountability within district leadership.
  • A significant breakdown of trust between district leadership and the educators, employees, parents, and community it serves.

The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer of Iredell-Statesville Schools. Dr. James's employment contract requires him to perform his duties in accordance with applicable law and Board policies, rules, and regulations.

We believe the documented failures of Dr. James and the district administration under his leadership demonstrate a failure to perform the duties and responsibilities entrusted to the Superintendent.

North Carolina General Statute §115C-274 authorizes a local Board of Education to remove a superintendent who fails or refuses to perform duties required by law and provides for dismissal for persistent failure to perform specified statutory or assigned duties.

We therefore call upon the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education to exercise the authority provided by N.C.G.S. §115C-274, follow the required due-process procedures contained in Dr. James's contract, and terminate his employment as Superintendent of Iredell-Statesville Schools.

We further call upon the Board not to extend or renew Dr. James's current contract.

Our educators deserve leadership they can trust.

Our parents deserve leadership that listens.

Our students deserve a school system that puts their interests first.

Our taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability from those entrusted with our public schools.

The responsibility for district leadership rests with the Superintendent.

Accountability starts at the top.

The Decision Makers

Iredell-Statesville School Board
5 Members
1 Responded
Brian Sloan
Iredell-Statesville School Board - District 1
“I am Iredell county's board of education District #1 representative. My District covers most of Iredell above I-40. I was born and raised here. I self labeled myself the dumb ole chicken farmer on the board. The key board warriors call me "Crying Brian". I understand that my education is far inferior to my fellow board members. I also think my fellow board members would not fit in good with my people, the North end. I felt compelled to respond to this petition. As a board member I have read all my emails and have responded to every email coming from someone other than business or news/media. With that said, I am listening and weighing. I also want to thank my people for paying attention and being involved. Pray for me and your board that we make the right decisions thats best for our students, our future. Brian Sloan [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Doug Knight
Iredell-Statesville School Board - District 6
Mike Kubiniec
Iredell-Statesville School Board - District 5
Local School Board
2 Members
Cindy Haynes
Local School Board
Ronda Hoke
Local School Board
Rhonda Waugh
Rhonda Waugh
Iredell-Statesville School Board - District 2
Cindy Haynes
Cindy Haynes
Iredell-Statesville School Board - District 3

Supporter Voices

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