Tag: Stewart County

  According to sources, Stewart County Director of Schools Leta Jo Joiner will resign after a drunk driving arrest, but the public does not know when, specifically. School board members last week formally accepted Joiner’s resignation and discussed the process of searching for a new director, sources said. Joiner did not attend last week’s meeting. She submitted her resignation by letter, sources said, adding they do not know if the resignation is effective immediately or if she will remain as director until a set date. Board members will now look locally for a new superintendent, sources said. As The Tennessee Star reported, members of the Stewart County School Board appointed an interim director last month. Members of the Tennessee School Boards Association recommended Stewart County School Board members appoint an interim director of schools now, regardless. Tracy Watson, a retired school administrator, accepted the position as interim director of schools. Watson said she only wants to serve as interim director and will not accept a job as Joiner’s permanent replacement. As The Star reported, authorities arrested Joiner and charged her with driving under the influence. The Clarksville-based LeafChronicle.com said Joiner took the position in Stewart County in 2014. Certain members of the…

  Certain members of the Stewart County School Board waste taxpayer money by having not one but two school directors on the county payroll, says a county resident unhappy with the situation. That man, Dave Vance, told The Tennessee Star Friday that Board Chairman Billy Sexton has mishandled things. As reported, board members appointed an interim director of schools Thursday, even though current Director Leta Jo Joiner has not officially resigned. This, one week after Joiner’s DUI arrest. Sexton said retired educator Tracy Watson was willing to take over as interim director. Board members voted unanimously to make it so. Vance said Sexton had too much say in the matter, while board members didn’t have enough. “We’re paying for two directors and only getting one. This is like the board reacting to the chairman instead of the board being involved throughout this whole process like they should be,” said Vance, who has a grandchild in the school district. “But this meeting should not have been them just coming there to have a name to vote on. This should have been the board involved with asking ‘Who do we want to consider? How long are we looking at?’ If they were…

  DOVER, Tennessee — Members of the Stewart County School Board appointed an interim director of schools at a special meeting Thursday, even though current Director Leta Jo Joiner has not officially resigned, one week after her DUI arrest. Board Chairman Billy Sexton (pictured at the head of the table) told The Tennessee Star he expects Joiner will eventually resign, but he does not know when. Board Member Gary Dacus indicated he had a problem with that. “I don’t want, as a Board, for this to be dragged out,” Dacus said. “I’ve been told she (Joiner) will have seven days on leave. I was also told 45 days. I heard something today about it being six months (of leave). I don’t know anything. But I think we owe it to the community and our school system to not let this drag out. She has more than a year’s worth of sick time, and this could be dragged out over a year.” Sexton, however, told The Star that Joiner indicated to him she will not take a full year’s worth of leave. Members of the Tennessee School Boards Association recommended that Stewart County School Board members appoint an interim director of schools…