Friday, August 24, 2007

Board fires Felton: Frazier named interim superintendent

08-24-2007
Dr. Sammy Felton, left, looks at the crowd as Bill Robinson, right, asks the Anniston School Board to fire Felton. Bob Etnire, middle, looks on. Photo: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

The Anniston Board of Education voted 3-2 on Thursday night to terminate the contract of Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton.

Felton’s contract requires 180 days notice of termination, but the board voted by the same margin to place him on immediate paid administrative leave and install Joan Frazier as interim schools chief.

Board members Nathaniel Davis, Bob Etnire and Bill Robison voted to terminate Felton. Jim Klinefelter and board President Vivian Thompson voted against.

Frazier, who has served as Anniston’s federal programs director since 1998, said she will begin work leading the system this morning.

“We have a mountain to climb,” Frazier said. “We will continue our road to improvement. We have some issues to address, which I will meet with our board members about.”

Frazier declined to say what issues she might bring to the board until she first talks with members individually.

After introducing the brief agenda, Felton did not speak during the meeting.

Following adjournment, he said: “I just appreciate the opportunity that’s been afforded to me to serve the children of Anniston.”

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