Cumberland County BOE deadlocks on superintendent evaluation committee as public outrage grows over contract dispute

The Cumberland County Board of Education voted 4-4 on a motion to establish a special committee to develop a new evaluation process and related documents for the board self-evaluation and the director of schools evaluation, and the motion failed.

The vote capped a meeting marked by sustained public comment and sharp questioning from local reporters about the board's handling of allegations tied to fundraising and contract negotiations involving Director of Schools Billy Stepp.

Board members on the prevailing dissent said they lacked time or sufficient boardwide input to hand the evaluation process to a small panel; supporters said a committee would allow focused work so the full board could act on a near-final draft. The motion, as stated on the record, would have required the committee's work to be finalized by May so results could be processed in time for the June meeting and related deadlines.

Craig Clark, a resident who identified himself as living in the county's Third District, urged the board to address what he described as ethical breaches and irregular contract negotiations. "Since that time, I have witnessed 5 board members violate 7 different elements of the boardmanship code of conduct," Clark said…