Caswell County speakers demand transparency after abrupt superintendent termination

Dozens of residents, parents and community leaders used the public comment period at a Caswell County Board of Education meeting to demand an explanation for the abrupt termination of the district superintendent and to call for greater transparency and stability.

Speakers said the board has not provided a public reason for the superintendent's dismissal and urged officials to explain the decision. "The silence is not just unacceptable. It's unnecessary, irresponsible, and deeply disrespectful to the community you were elected to serve," said Kamika Totten, who identified herself as a lifelong resident and parent.

The concern resonated throughout a lengthy public-comment session. Commenters cited the impact of leadership turnover on student outcomes and staff morale and asked the board to disclose the basis for the personnel action. "We expect and demand, and we will continue to call for accountability until we get it," Totten said. Several other speakers echoed that call, including Tori Foster, who said the board should "carry out the duty that you were placed in your role to do and serve in the best interest of the students and the employees of this district."

Community leaders and parents also offered data and context during remarks. Dr. F.T. Jones, identifying himself as senior pastor at Branch Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, told the board that "of the 325 school districts in North Carolina, this county ranks 250th," and said only about one-third of the district's students score at Level 3 or higher in reading and math on the state report card. He and other speakers urged the board to pursue state diagnostic services and grant funding to address long-standing low performance.

Multiple speakers said the board's lack of public explanation had sown distrust. Several called on board members who they said were not acting in the district's best interest to step down, and representatives from local civic groups submitted a written request under state law seeking records related to the termination and any supporting documentation. Kent Williamson was identified in a letter delivered to the board as president of the voters league; Ophelia Willis was identified as representing the NAACP.

Speakers also noted timing and process concerns: commenters said the dismissal came near the school-year close, that previous superintendent dismissals had occurred within the last year, and that a special board meeting was scheduled for April 11, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Several parents asked how interim leadership would be managed and whether principals or staff would be reassigned to cover duties created by the change.

Board members did not offer a public statement explaining the dismissal during the comment period. After public comments concluded the board took a short five-minute break before the regular meeting. The meeting record and additional board action or explanation were not included in the public-comment remarks.

Clarifying details from the meeting: speakers were allotted three minutes each during a 30-minute public comment period; multiple residents said they had no formal explanation from the board; community representatives requested records under North Carolina law and noted exceptions for confidentiality and attorney-client communications.