Hickman County School Board voted to install Belinda Anderson as interim director of schools until a new director is chosen, the board decided last week during a special called meeting. Though a prior notice for the meeting included a call for public comment, the final agenda did not indicate a public comment time. Tennessee Open Meetings Act doesn’t require public comment for special-called school board meetings necessarily, but it does require the opportunity for public comment when the board votes or takes other action. No devoted time for this was listed on the agenda. Immediately following the unanimous 7-0 vote for Anderson, board member Jane Herron made a motion to prevent Mullins and Anderson from hiring, firing and transfer of administrative and central office staff until the new director was appointed. “I really think that needs to be done again,” Herron said, citing the procedural decision of the prior director search. Herron rescinded her motion, due to its lack of inclusion as an agenda item for the special called meeting. Board chairman Tim Hobbs capped off the meeting by of deciding the permanent search process and timeline. Board discussion pushed those decisions to its December 8 meeting. “We haven’t determined which way we are going,” Hobbs said. “I would kind of like to decide at the end of December when we see how many apply.” “I think we should go with the way we did this before,” board member Doug Lane said. “Where we retain someone to help us, it’s in depth and we appear before the public.” As previously reported, the board was presented with four options to conduct its search at its regular business meeting earlier this month. Cost is a factor, with some search processes demanding greater time and expense. The big decision came from the acceptance of Anderson’s letter of interest for interim director until the permanent director’s position was filled, the motion introduced by Lane. Herron paused the motion to confirm timelines as the board grappled with ensuring correct deadlines and term periods. “If we cut off applications for the director position by December 31, aren’t we going to be able to interview, hire by January?” Herron said. Directing comments to Lane, Hobbs explained that he understood a need to set the interim period until the permanent director was hired. “It could be January, February or March,” Hobbs said. “I don’t know. But if we wait too long, we run into the problem of the election.” New board members beginning a term mid search could disrupt and slow proceedings to find and appoint a new director. “I think it would be best to keep someone consistently in that spot,” Lane said. “It’s a process. Some consideration is how to proceed for the full time director job.” Herron said the board had to hire by end of the fiscal year, which is June 30, while the other consideration marked June 1 to avoid elections conflict. Board member Sherri Baker prompted Lane to amend the motion for Anderson’s interim term to end May 31 2026. Anderson, who is currently serving as deputy director of Hickman County Schools under the soon exiting John Mullins will step into new responsibilities to execute duties in the absence of Mullins. Deputy directors do not have exact transference of duties, during an interim term, which could position Anderson’s role to introduce some duties that differ from her deputy position. Hobbs called a vote to the list of qualifications sent to board members to review for any suggested changes, which he said were similar to the prior search. Moving closer to December 31 the final work day for Superintendent Mullins, questions remain as to what caused Mullins to make the decision, beyond a failed attempt to renew his contract by Doug Lane at an August board meeting. Background on the Mullins resignation That meeting served to prompt confusion as to why the board did not offer a second to Lane’s motion and did not return to the topic at the August meeting and why the motion was raised when it was. Chairman Hobbs told the Times during a call last week, “those are good questions.” At the time, Lane hoped to secure board support for Mullins prior to moving into scheduled elections next year, which he believed could pose difficulty for a Mullins’ contract extension or collide with the arrival of newly elected board members. Now, as it stands, the board is still navigating the waters of a decision regarding a director. Mullins said in the August meeting that he had asked Lane not to bring it up. Additionally Mullins said in 2023 and at the August meeting this year, there were “some” who did not want him as director of Hickman County schools. No forthcoming elaboration on identifiable opposition to Mullins has been absolutely verified, only his own statement. Board Chairman Tim Hobbs suggested in August that the board should await further data. One matter Hobbs said recently is that the state will soon release its letter grade which all districts receive, assessing school systems regarding a variety of performance indicators. The grade standing works to some extent as a tool of evaluation for a director of schools. One of those indicators reported by Hickman County Times earlier this summer showed that the district, under Mullins, had increased academic assessment scores in most areas. Four indicators determine the state’s letter-grade overall: student achievement, student academic growth, growth for highest need students and college or career readiness as guided by high school curricula. Mullins has declined to comment since announcing his resignation during a September work session to respond to any inquiries further pertaining to his resignation. Hickman County Times has submitted public information requests to gather all job-related documents and communications concerning anything director or superintendent related.
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Belinda Anderson voted interim schools director, permanent director applications due Dec. 31
