Cumberland County school board votes to begin director search, will consult TSBA

The Cumberland County Board of Education voted to start the search for a new director of schools and to consult the Tennessee School Boards Association as part of a blended approach using district resources.

Board members approved an amendment to a motion to begin the search that added TSBA consultation and use of internal resources; the amendment passed in a roll-call vote with the board member recorded as absent. After the amendment passed, the original motion was withdrawn.

The vote follows a public comment from Craig Clark, a Cumberland County resident, who urged the board to renew the contract of Mr. Stepp and questioned the value of a broad external search. "Prudence would dictate that you save the money, time, and effort of conducting a search…