Is revenge behind Phenix City Council’s ouster of school board president?

Three weeks after a divided Phenix City Council ousted the school board’s president, the official reason still hasn’t been explained, but the speculation and evidence points to revenge.

During its March 20 meeting, the five-member council voted 3-2 to appoint the Rev. Samuel Estrada to replace Paul Stamp on the seven-member school board.

Voting for Estrada were Mayor Eddie Lowe, Councilmembers Arthur Day and Vickey Carter Johnson. Voting no were councilmembers Steve Bailey and Griff Gordy.

Stamp has served on the board for 13 years and has been the board’s president, elected by fellow members, since August 2016. His five-year term expires June 1. It is the only Phenix City Board of Education seat up for reappointment this year.

The speculation and evidence centers around Stamp being the sixth straight board member who wasn’t reappointed since the ouster of the superintendent and the football coach.

Stamp’s pending departure leaves Fran Ellis as the only member remaining since the board unanimously voted in November 2013 to buy out then-Superintendent Larry Dichiara’s contract. It was the year after he was named Alabama Superintendent of the Year.

Then in May 2014, the board and the school system’s administration fired Central High School football coach Woodrow Lowe.

Woodrow Lowe is the brother of Mayor Lowe, formerly president of the school board. At Central, the coach compiled a 33-13 record in four seasons but went 6-4 and missed the playoffs in 2013.

Despite an outcry from the coach’s supporters, the board declined to reinstate him and continued to insist it couldn’t discuss the personnel matter.

The Ledger-Enquirer hasn’t reached Mayor Lowe for comment about replacing Stamp. In April 2016, he denied revenge as a factor when asked why he voted against then-president Brad Baker and then-vice president Kelvin Redd when their board seats were up for reappointment. But the mayor said this about the school board’s abrupt dismissal of Dichiara in an August 2016 interview with the Ledger-Enquirer:

“When that started taking place, the entire council — because of some of the nuances, when it came time for the people on that board to be reappointed — we were going to look at going a different route,” Lowe said. “All five of us said that at the time. Now some people changed their minds, which they have a right to.”

The Ledger-Enquirer also hasn’t reached Stamp for comment. But also in August 2016, the L-E asked him whether the rash of turnover on the board bothers him, and Stamp said, “It does, but I try not to worry about it. We’re all appointed by the city council, and we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. … If they keep replacing people, we’ll just have to continue going.”

Phenix City Schools superintendent Randy Wilkes, who was hired in June 2014 from Crenshaw County, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Sunday night that Stamp did seek reappointment to another term. “I do not know why was he was replaced,” Wilkes said.

Ellis, however, referred to the ousters of DiChiara and Woodrow Lowe.

“It goes back to all the turnover,” she told the L-E in a phone interview Sunday evening. “We’re not supposed to be reappointed. I can’t say too much, but that’s the way I feel about.”

Ellis, who has been on the board for eight years, will have her five-year term expire in 2020.

Referring to Stamp, Ellis said, “It’s not a good situation to take off someone who’s done a good job and wants to stay on the board. I just don’t understand it.”

In an email to the L-E Friday, Wilkes wrote, “Mr. Paul Stamp has served the Phenix City Board of Education faithfully for 13 years. His knowledge and understanding of both school and community cannot be easily replaced. Phenix City Schools is grateful for his time and efforts as rendered. Mr. Stamp has been an integral part of the deployment of 1:1 devices to all students in grades 6-12, the development of the Dyer Family Center, Expansion Facility, addition to Sherwood School and the Transportation Facility, and the Friends of Phenix City Schools initiative which raised more than $1.1 million for school needs.

“During his tenure as Board President, the school system raised its AL graduation rate to 96%, recorded its highest math and ACT scores in system history, and has established a reserve of nearly $11 million. Mr. Stamp is a most visible supporter of extracurricular activities, as well as a consistent contributor of school fund raisers.

“Phenix City Schools will welcome Mr. Samuel Estrada to Board membership in June of this year. At this time, the system has no information regarding Mr. Estrada. The system will continue its pursuit of excellence on behalf of every student and appreciates the support of the Phenix City Board of Education and community.”

Phenix City clerk Melony Lee told the Ledger-Enquirer she doesn’t have any background or contact information about Estrada. An online search shows he listed on MightyRecruiter.com his “previous roles” as a senior pastor, a senior Army instructor and a staff sergeant. Another online listing shows he has been associated with Bethel Radikal Generation Church in Phenix City. Nobody answered the phone at the church when the Ledger-Enquirer called Monday afternoon.

This story was originally published April 9, 2018 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Is revenge behind Phenix City Council’s ouster of school board president?."