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.