Talley speaks about ECPS – Source: Daily Southerner

TARBORO — Dr. Wayne Talley served Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) as superintendent for 13 months. Monday finalized Talley’s resignation, while Tuesday marked the beginning of Dr. Dell Burns new career.

Even though Talley is excited to spend more quality time with his wife and children, he still stores wondrous memories as superintendent that he will never forget. (Read more)

See related:

Video/Pictures – Breaking News: Dr. Adelphos (Del) Burns Was Sworn In As Interim Superintendent For Edgecombe County Public Schools Beginning Tomorrow Instead Of October 1, 2011

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Video/Pictures – Breaking News: Dr. Adelphos (Del) Burns Was Sworn In As Interim Superintendent For Edgecombe County Public Schools Beginning Tomorrow Instead Of October 1, 2011

Dr. Adelphos (Del) Burns was sworn in as interim Superintendent Edgecombe County Public Schools Board of Education this evening. Dr. Burns will begin on tomorrow Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Dr. Burns was welcomed onboard and Dr. Wayne Talley was thanked by the board for his services.

I am looking forward to Dr. Burns doing some wonderful things during his stay here. Dr. Burns didn’t like the things that the Wake County Public Schools Board of Education chair and other board members were implementing while he was the Superintendent there so he decided to resign.

I have been following Wake County Public Schools for several years now and I believe that Dr. Burns did a wonderful job. My good friends in Wake County one being J. Ronald White President South Central Wake County NAACP and 4th vice president NC NAACP State Conference of Branches all have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Burns.

Although I spoke to Dr. Burns on tonight I want to welcome Dr. Burns to Edgecombe County.

Keith Pittman Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Member was presented a plaque in honor of South Edgecombe Middle School Gymnasium being named in his honor during the past board meeting.

Click on picture to view video (1 hr. 43 mins. 48 secs. total).

Dr. Aldelphos (Del) Burns Interim Superintendent (Click on picture to view pictures.)

Dr. Wayne Talley Former Superintendent (Click on picture to view pictures.)

Keith Pittman Board Member (Click on picture to view pictures.)

The following is from ECPS Lauren Edmondson Communications Specialist.

Picture courtesy of Lauren Edmondson ECPS Communications Specialist.

See related:

Tarboro NC – Breaking News: Adelphos John (Del) Burns former Wake County Superintendent Was Appointed Consultant and Interim Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools Beginning October 1, 2011

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Tarboro NC – Edgecombe County Public Schools, Closed Session Meetings, Dr. Wayne Talley Superintendent, John Westberg Former Principal, Sandra Jones Former Associate Superintendent, Juanita Westry Former Superintendent/Board Secretary

I must address the Edgecombe County Public Schools because I believe they are not following procedures for coming out of Closed Session meetings. Although many times I am the only citizen that stays until they come out of closed session I have begin to wonder about the board actions. Problem number one is before I get in the room they be gone back into open session. Problem number 2 they don’t discuss anything about what happened in closed session.

Today I just happen to run into Sandra Jones former Associate Superintendent in Walmart. She did not see me so I hollered out to speak to her. After I caught up with her I questioned what was she doing these days. I also asked her did she live in Tarboro in which I thought she did but was not for sure. The conversation with her  was the longest I have ever held with her since she came to Edgecombe County Public Schools.

Ms. Jones told me she was working in Pitt County as an Associate Superintendent of K-8 something. I was just totally shocked because I thought I had heard or read somewhere that she had retired so I thought she was not working anywhere.

So obviously what I had heard several months ago that Faye Taylor board member had said that it was too many blacks in the Central Office must have been true. I am going to say I got my confirmation today. I say that because Ms. Jones said she was told by Dr. Wayne Talley that he was going to renew her contract for 2 years and then he did a 360 on her.

Recently I was in New Bern visiting the in-laws and mother-in-law was telling me that a female from Craven County Public Schools was coming to Edgecombe County Public Schools. Well I was on my laptop at the time and I did a search online in the Sun Journal Newspaper in Craven County. This is when I found out who the female was. I did a post on my blog about her and I thought maybe she was replacing Roland Whitted to later find out in the Daily Southerner that Dr. Renee Franklin replaced Sandra Jones. Someone that read my blog said they were shocked when they read it and that they didn’t think the job had been advertised. They said they would have applied for it. And then later I ran into someone else who lives outside of the county at the moment and they said they may would have been interested in the position. I don’t know if the position was posted on the Edgecombe County Public Schools website or not because I don’t check the link to employment.

I was told that the position was posted but under a title that folks probably didn’t know it was the position that Sandra Jones had held.

I remember one night at a board meeting whereby John Westberg was there with an attorney and they met in closed session with the board. I understand the other person was an attorney to mediate Westberg’s complaint as he addressed the board and the board attorney. I was told Westberg was trying to have his records sealed. So if that was the case why was he in the newspaper recently where he is suing Edgecombe County Public Schools?

So I wonder who else has a lawsuit?

I wonder is Diane LeFiles and Dr. Lana VanderLinden suing?

I wonder is Sandra Jones suing because I believe she may have a lawsuit if it is true that her contract was not renewed based on race Faye Taylor said it was too many blacks in the Central Office? I don’t know that much about Ms. Jones and I have not heard anyone say anything negative about her unlike LeFiles and VanderLinden.

So I wonder did Dr. Talley run Juanita Westry away because I wonder was she really ready to retire? I don’t know her like that but maybe I will run into her in Walmart one day. However I don’t know if she lives in Tarboro so that may never happen.

So I wonder why is Dr. Talley really leaving? Is he really sick? It is funny that I have not seen anything in the newspaper about if the board renewed his contract. I can’t remember if the terms of his contract was for one year, two years or what? Can someone tell me? Maybe I will call him on tomorrow to see better yet I will send him an email tonight along with the board members.

You know it is funny that when school board issues arise, I don’t hear about any meetings in the black community. But I did read in the local newspaper about a group that met to support Quincy Robinson and also they were going to hold a forum to invite all 3 candidates but I could not attend. Of course Robinson nor the other candidates Rev. Roy Gray and Thomas Edison were appointed because the board deadlocked on Gray and Edison for 2 consecutive meetings.

What I have been told is that meetings have been held in the white community pertaining to recent/past Superintendent issues and other. I received a call from a white person asking me to meet with them about supporting Dr. Lana VanderLinden last year. 

I thought I was going to like Dr. Talley after meeting him at the College Round Up back in March and then after seeing that he was going to make some changes in the Central Office. But for some reason I have had mixed emotions about him because he kept stressing that he was going to do the right thing.

In my closing I find myself dealing with the following, “With all of the recent happenings surrounding Dr. Talley I am questioning why he has resigned?” So is he really sick physically or mentally? Some folks have been saying he is crazy but I was willing to give him a chance.

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Note: Updated 8/22/11 22:14.

Former principal suing Board of Education – Source: The Daily Southerner

TARBORO — Former SouthWest Edgecombe High School Principal John D. Westberg has filed a  lawsuit against the county Board of Education seeking a job as principal. (Read more)

See related:

John Westberg

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Video/Pictures Edgecombe County Public Schools Accepted Dr. Wayne E. Talley Superintendent Resignation

Click on picture to view video (5 mins. 41 secs. total)

Click on picture to view pictures (8 total)

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meets To Accept Dr. Wayne Talley’s Resignation

Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meets To Accept Dr. Wayne Talley’s Resignation

Ann Kent board chair opened the meeting. Board members Evelyn Wilson vice chair, Attorney Teresa Bryant, Keith Pittman and Attorney Janice Davidson were present. Dr. Evelyn Johnson was out of town and Faye Taylor has family illness. The board approved the agenda. Kent stated the purpose was to meet about personnel matters. Kent read her letter in response to Dr. Talley’s resignation that she read at the meeting on Monday and that she also sent to the local newspapers. She then asked Dr. Talley did he have anything he wanted to say and he said no.

Kent asked Evelyn Wilson board vice chair to take the board into closed session.

Diane LeFiles was present along with former Principal SouthWest Edgecombe High School John Westberg’s wife, daughter and son. I see they are still hanging together. Oh I know they probably goes to the same church.

LeFiles response to anyone that asked how she was doing was she was awesome. LeFiles was hired to be the Communications Director for North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount NC and she began on July 18. Sometimes folks fight against change but sometimes they don’t realize they are fighting their blessing. It is my opinion that LeFiles has moved on to a higher level in the education field. From dealing with elementary, middle and high school moving on to the college level is a good move in my opinion. I am quite sure it is more money.

I am sitting here listening to this crazy music the board plays while they are in closed session so that you can not hear what is going on in the room. They have got to change this station because I can’t take it any longer.

The board opened the door and had a side discussion. They made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 19:44.

Stay tuned for video of meeting coming soon.

See related:

Dr. Wayne Talley

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Note: Also by the way I wonder who posted this response: “Hey, it was in the Daily Southerner and The Rocky Mount Telegram – here is the link for the Telegram http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/nc-wesleyan-college-hires-local-public-relations-veteran-586971” Oh I have an idea but they once said to me they didn’t read The DCN News Blog. I just love it.

Note: Updated 20:17.

 

 

ECPS superintendent cites health for abrupt resignation – Source: The Rocky Mount Telegram

During a special staff meeting Monday at Edgecombe County Public School’s central office, Superintendent Dr. Wayne Talley announced he would be stepping down, tendering his resignation effective Sept. 30. (Paid Content)

Note: A little more information was included in this article about Dr. Talley’s health issue. “Talley said his departure is due to medical complications involving stomach ulcers and deterioration of his esophagus.”

See related:

Dr. Wayne Talley

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Edgecombe County Public Schools Press Release: SUPERINTENDENT OF ECPS ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

SUPERINTENDENT OF ECPS ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

For immediate release on August 1, 2011

Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools, Dr. Wayne Talley announced his resignation Monday, August 1 at a 9 a.m. staff meeting.

Dr. Talley stated that after speaking with his doctor about some health concerns he decided to leave ECPS affective Sept. 30. The Edgecombe County Board of Education will meet Wednesday, Aug. 7 to discuss plans for the district and decide Talley’s official final day with the system.

“It doesn’t matter who is sitting in this seat, as long as our students are learning and growing, and we are equipping our teachers and staff with the proper knowledge and means to help them do so,” said Talley.

The entire Central Office staff and all 15 principals from the district schools were present at the meeting. Also in attendance were Board member Dr. Evelyn Johnson and Board Chair Ann Kent who gave a statement saying she and the rest of the Board had met with Dr. Talley and accepted his resignation over the weekend.

Dr. Talley joined Edgecombe County Public Schools as superintendent August 12, 2010 after serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction of Avery County Schools in Newland, NC.

During his time at ECPS, Talley has reorganized and restructured the Central Services to staff to eliminate more than five positions, reducing the local budget by $500,000. He also helped reduce the overall operating budget from 71 million to 59 million dollars without eliminating essential student services.

Dr. Talley and his wife Nancy intend to remain in Tarboro after his resignation from the school system.

See related:

Dr. Wayne Talley

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Edgecombe County Public Schools – Ann Kent Board Chair Responds To Resignation Of Dr. Wayne Talley and Announces Meeting Notice For Wednesday Evening

The Edgecombe County Board of Education certainly respects Dr. Talley’s decision to resign. The board appreciates all of Dr. Talley’s time and energy that he has dedicated to our system during his tenure, and the board wishes him the best in the future.

To the staff of Edgecombe County Public Schools – be assured – that your board, along with Dr. Talley, is committed to tackling the challenges facing our system. We are dedicated to successfully kicking off the 2011-2012 school year.

As you know, this school year is critical for Edgecombe County Public Schools. We are moving towards system wide accreditation and with the help of Dr. Meghan Doyle are undergoing a transformation for Race to the Top. Your board is committed to providing all of our resources and support to fulfill these goals. We owe it to you our staff, our students, and to the community.

For the next two months Dr. Talley will remain at the helm of Edgecombe County Public Schools to assure a smooth start to this new school year. On Wednesday night, August 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the boardroom, your board, along with legal council will begin discussions to address plans for an interim superintendent.

As always the board invites your constructive ideas to help improve and move our students and system forward.

Thank you.

Ann Kent Board Chair

See related:

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Superintendent Dr. Wayne Talley Will Be Resigning Effective The End Of September 2011

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Superintendent Dr. Wayne Talley Will Be Resigning Effective The End Of September 2011

Sources say Edgecombe County Superintendent Dr. Wayne Talley will be resigning effective the end of next month September 2011. There will be a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, 2011 7:00 PM.

When I first met Dr. Talley at the College Round-Up earlier this year I felt he would not be here long. I believe that the climate here is not a good fit for Dr. Talley. It is fact that he came into a mess when he entered the Edgecombe County Public Schools System. The good ole boys/girls have been riding him every since he has been here because they didn’t like the change that he brought forth.

I liked Dr. Talley however I never did go sit down in his office and as I have all the previous Superintendents and or interim Superintendents. I did see him in action at Conetoe Chapel Church when he did a presentation during a Sunday morning service. I felt at that time he was genuine and wanted what was best for all children.

Well I hate to see Dr. Talley leave so soon however a man has to do what a man has to do. Everyone can only take so much. I believe the good ole boys/girls pushed him to the limit and I don’t have a problem with him quitting if that be the case. The older I get the less I want to fight ignorant folks who want things to stay the same.

Oh well here we go again. I guess the good ole boys/girls will be trying to get the same person they pushed for during the past hiring of a Superintendent. I don’t have to tell you where I stand on that.

See you on Wednesday.

See related:

Dr. Wayne Talley

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Board Member Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Responds To Formal Meeting Called For Monday July 18, 2011 12:30 PM

Thank you Attorney Teresa D. Bryant for responding to my request in such a timely fashion. Thank you for sharing with me and my viewers your response.

The following is the response from Bryant, “It is my understanding the meeting will address closed session personnel matters only. I am on the trial calendar and will be unable to get away during the day for the meeting. I do know that there is a quorum but I have to direct all questions regarding how notice was given to the public of this meeting to Dr. Talley who handles this.” Teresa DeLoatch Bryant District 2

So again what is so important that this meeting must take place on Monday knowing that Attorney Bryant can not be present. Damn I have set in many of meetings whereby the board has tried to accommodate all the board members so they can be present. So why this meeting could not have been held later in the evening?

See related:

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Of Education Website Says They Are Having A Formal Meeting On Monday July 18 In The Middle Of The Day, But Why?

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Racism And Power? Edgecombe County Public Schools July Board Meeting Deadlock On The Appointment And The Switch Of Officers

First of all the whole thing with the appointment of a replacement to fill the unexpired term of Attorney Teresa D. Bryant turned out just like I knew it would. But what I want to know is how each individual voted. During the July meeting names were put on the ballot so I have to ask at the next is the way they voted public record.

It is my opinion that Evelyn Wilson, Evelyn Johnson and Keith Pittman voted for Rev. Roy Gray which leaves Ann Kent, Janice Davidson and Faye Taylor voting for Thomas Wayne Edison. However I could be wrong.

Those who have a problem with me making it a race issue so be it. I didn’t know the exact numbers of the district until Friday when Terry Smith editor of the Daily Southerner posted a poll on their site. However I did know that it is majority black so thank you Smith for the numbers 53.76 percent black to 37.80 percent white and 8.3 percent Hispanic.

But I repeat again that Thomas Wayne Edison has no clue of what the issues are in the district because he did not answer the questions during the interview process. He wants to reduce classroom sizes which is not doable. Hell we all would love that but I be damn if I want someone to represent me when they are not focused on the real issues. I will also repeat that he was not the one for the appointment but if he ran and the people who live in the district voted for him, then I would have to honor that but since I don’t live in the district and could voice my opinion on the appointment during public comments, there you have it.

Since the board is already a 4-3 white majority what was the problem with keeping the board a 4-3 majority? So just like sources say Faye Taylor said there are too many blacks in the Central Office that must be the case with the board members. LMBAO!!

Since the board deadlocked again in the July meeting following the deadlock in the June meeting, I want to thank Attorney Teresa D. Bryant for rescinding her resignation. I had tried to get her not to resign from day one but I respected her decision.

I am still trying to figure out what in the hell was going on with the election of officers thing. Former board chair Evelyn Wilson seemed to have an attitude and was angry when she moved to the election of officers on the agenda. Wilson said don’t waste time on this election of officers because so much time was wasted on trying to appoint a replacement for district 2.

Wilson said she had heard she wanted power and she was going to show them what power is from wherever she serve. She said Ann Kent wanted to be chair so just give it to her. And then Kent gave some comments about why she wanted to the chair position which sounded like a damn victory speech before the voting process was carried out. I agree with Attorney Bryant that the other board members ought to decide who they want to vote for and that Kent’s speech sounded like a victory speech.

In a response from Attorney Bryant in response to my email interview with her after the July meeting I agree 100% on how long a person should serve as officers. I believe everyone should get the opportunity to serve especially if they are on the board to do what is right and just about all children, staff and etc. However I know that some is not going to do what is right but sometimes I feel strongly that holding offices limit you to some power of what one could really say and do. This is why I don’t care to hold offices in the organizations that I am a member of. I will not be limited to what I can say and do.

So this leads me to my next question why would Evelyn Wilson except the role of vice chair? This means she and Ann Kent switched roles. Janice Davidson and Keith Pittman are the other senior board members so why didn’t she recommend one of them. Talking about showing them how she could use her power wherever she serve, then I would have not accepted the role of vice chair. But then again I can’t follow Wilson in what she says sometimes. I have not been a great fan of hers since the 90’s when she didn’t use her power when a former principal at SouthWest Edgecombe kicked an organization out of the school because he was racist as hell on top of him inviting me to the cornfield because I was an advocate for the children and 1st Vice President of the Rocky Mount NAACP. I also have some other reasons as well as it relates to going to the board about how another principal at South Edgecombe retaliated against me through my daughter who attended the school by trying to keep her from receiving the “A” Honor Roll. Another principal that followed him had me banned from the school because I questioned a teacher about a math question but that was because some racist teachers wanted me off the School Improvement Team because he said they told him they were afraid of me because I had a talk show on a local radio station. Also I shared my concerns with her when Dr. Florence A. Armstrong was blackballed during an interview process when I set in the interview process when we were trying to hire a principal at G. W. Carver Elementary School several years ago. I walked out of the interview because they wanted to bring Cheryl Omstead who as an assistant principal at Pattillo to Carver as an assistant until she received her certificate and I said oh no. But when I talked to Wilson she was so damn negative about Armstrong and had nothing to say about the person supposed to have a principal certificate to be hired at Carver.

So Wilson I have yet to see you use real power so I am going to wait and see just what you do in the vice chair role. However don’t get it twisted because although I have some issues with you, I still supported you when you did the right thing in other areas and I will still do so. But again I have yet to see you use some real power over the many faithful years I have attended the meetings advocating for children and staff.

Now that Ann Kent has the chair position I can’t wait to see how she perform. I was shocked to hear her finally have some good things to say about the Boys and Girls Club whereby she had been trying to kick them out of the Edgecombe County Public Schools and wanted them to get their own facility. The Boys and Girls Club was good because the school system didn’t offer after school programs to help the children so therefore the Boys and Girls Club was just that.

And the most recent early this morning I read on the Board of Education website there is a formal meeting at 12:30 PM. So maybe Wilson has used her power to tell some folks about the meeting but I be damn if I have heard from her. And if that be the case those she told are not faithful board members like I am and they damn sure do not come to the meetings and stay to the very end like I do. I don’t know  of any of them having a blog and/or network that they share information with others about Edgecombe County Public Schools as I do and I know I am the only one that video the meetings, hell the board do not have them videoed.

Oh well I guess I can close by saying it will be some interesting meetings from this day forward.

I have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies only permanent interest. So there you have it.

See related:

Tarboro NC – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Interview With The DCN In Response To The Edgecombe County Public Schools Board Meeting On Last Night

Breaking News – Attorney Teresa D. Bryant Has Rescinded Her Resignation

Breaking News – Edgecombe County Public Schools Voted Again 3 For Rev. Roy A. Gray And 3 For Thomas Wayne Edison, Here We Go Again

Edgecombe County Public Schools Resignations, New Hires, Transfers, Reduction in Force, Leave of Absence and Transfers/Reassignments For July 2011

Edgecombe County Public Schools

Have You Heard? – Open Letter to Dr. Wayne Talley Superintendent Edgecombe County Public Schools

Note: I have received several request from folks who were not on my mailing list whom wanted to read this letter. I am going to share it on my blog. Have not received a response however didn’t ask for one because I recognize and understand this is a personnel issue. Curmilus Dancy II – The Political Agitator

Sunday, May 15, 2011 11:20 AM

Dr. Wayne Talley Superintendent
Edgecombe County Public Schools

Dear Dr. Talley:

I have been informed that Faye Taylor board member visited the central office and stated that there were too many blacks working there. I understand that she requested that Sandra Jones Associate Superintendent be fired and that she suggested that a white person whom I can’t remember the name be placed in her position.

I have no problem with a person being fired because of performance and other things that grant such however I have a serious problem when a person is requested to be fired because they are black.

I had heard that Faye Taylor was going to seek a position on the board because she had a problem with our former Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon (black) and Jones so she decided to retire from G.W. Bullock Elementary School to persue her mission. I also heard that she spent up some unnecessary funds before leaving to get back at the system.

Dr. Talley I hope you are not buying into this ignorance and I hope you will not be trying to appease Faye Taylor and some others in the white community because they have a problem with you eliminating Dr. Lana VanderLinden Associate Superintendent and Diane LeFiles Communications Director positions at the central office.

I trust that you will continue to do some good things in Edgecombe County and I hope you will not become one of the good ole boys because we have had enough of that and because of that not only have our children suffered but the system as a whole.

Thanking you in advance for doing what is right and that way Edgecombe County Public Schools can begin to grow with the right people in place to make it happen.

Sincerely yours,
Curmilus Dancy II
Advocate For Education/Parent

See related:

Edgecombe County Public Schools

More school layoffs coming – Source: The Daily Southerner

TARBORO — I love sitting down with The Daily Southerner because it does give news from the local area and this is what interests me. Tuesday I read Mr. Dancy’s defense of Superintendent Talley after another editorial ripped him and I still see that the real point is being missed. Fact is people can get petitions, write letters or even file lawsuits but it will do no good. (Read more)

See related:

School Board should table study plan

On ECPS cuts:’ It is sad… but truth is it is necessary’

"Give Dr. Talley a chance"

In support of Dr. Talley

Bryant Focused on Positions Not Persons

Dr. Wayne Talley Superintendent Edgecombe County Public Schools

Thank You Daily Southerner For Publishing My Most Recent Editorial “Talley is doing his job”

Thank you Terry Smith for printing my letter to the editor “Talley is doing his job” in response to SIGN THE PETITION AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

See related:

School Board should table study plan

On ECPS cuts:’ It is sad… but truth is it is necessary’

"Give Dr. Talley a chance"

In support of Dr. Talley

Bryant Focused on Positions Not Persons

Dr. Wayne Talley Superintendent Edgecombe County Public Schools