McComb selectmen on Tuesday put off efforts to cancel the city’s contract with the city school district to run the Martin Luther King Center.
Instead, the board agreed to allow district officials to meet with city officials about their concerns, and asked that Superintendent Dr. Cederick Ellis and school board President Betsy Murrell appear at the city’s board’s work session Aug. 21.
A lengthy discussion led to that point, however.
Selectman Ronnie Brock is spearheading the effort to end the school district’s lease, saying afterschool tutorial programs and other activities were promised but never offered.
“Before the school district moved in, (the MLK Center) was empty,” Selectman Ted Tullos said in the district’s defense. “Now it’s being used and there are activities there.
“At the swearing-in, Dr. Ellis said it was a momentous occasion (electing a majority black board), and now you’re throwing him under the bus.”
Selectman Michael Cameron joined in criticizing the move.
“I think it’s incredible that you would try to terminate this contract and not contact the other party,” Cameron said. “This is our school district, and its leader learned about it by seeing it in the paper. That’s a terrible way to do business.”
Mayor Quordiniah Lockley said he had spoken with Ellis before the Aug. 7 work session discussion on ending the contract was reported in the Enterprise-Journal.
Ellis “asked to have a meeting with (City Administrator Kelvin) Butler, Mr. Brock and anybody else who would like to attend before we take any action,” Lockley said. “I told him I would present that to the board.”
Selectman Shawn Williams said he, too, had spoken with school district officials, and he again questioned the reason for canceling the lease, as he did during the work session.
“What warrants terminating this agreement?” he asked. “We’re in financial difficulties, and they help pay the bills there.”
Selectmen Devante Johnson and Donovan Hill said they believed the city could manage and use the center better than the district.
“I’ve seen staff development in the building, but I’ve never seen any kids there,” Johnson said.
Hill added that while the school district has used and managed the facility, “the city has maintained the building. I don’t think it will add any more to our financial crisis to end the contract.”
If the city does end the contract, “there’s nothing that would keep the district from renting it from the city,” Brock said.
“I wasn’t here (on the board) when the agreement was made, but I don’t see (afterschool programs) listed as part of this lease agreement,” Williams said.
Pursuing that line, Cameron asked, “Was that on a handshake, or a gentlemen’s agreement? I’m sure they’ve done everything that’s in the lease.
“I hope we don’t treat any other associate or business partner like we’re treating this school district.”
Board attorney Wayne Dowdy said the board has a responsibility to see that city properties are used to the best advantage for citizens.
“If we accept those facts from Mr. Brock, you have a responsibility to take back the building,” Dowdy said.
“I think the building can be used to better advantage. We can show the school district what we expect,” Hill said. “The district has its “We Want More” campaign, and we can show them that we do want more.”
The board split 3-3 on moving to end the contract, with Brock, Hill and Johnson in favor, Tullos, Cameron and Williams opposed. Lockley broke the tie with a vote against the motion.
The board split 4-2, with Tullos and Cameron opposed, on a motion to ask Ellis and Murrell to appear at the next work session. Both selectman said a motion was not necessary to ask someone to appear before the board.
Lockley said he would try to get a meeting set up between city officials and the district officials before the work session, but he noted that if more than two selectmen attended the meeting along with himself, the meeting would have to be considered a public meeting because a quorum of the board would be present.
