Richard Hyatt: Recent conflicts show new board already 'fractured'

When a duck peacefully swims across a pond a lot is going on under the water and that's also the case in the latest episode involving Athavia Senior and the Muscogee County School Board.

Her fuss with incoming board member Frank Myers continues as do conflicts with political activist Nathan Smith. It was Smith who filed ethics complaints that led to Senior paying $2,375 in civil penalties and late fees.

Now a lengthy letter to Superintendent David Lewis jointly signed by Myers and fellow newcomer John Thomas really has the water churning. It draws lines in the sand on three issues: no-bid contracts, transparency and implementing a top to bottom audit.

And we thought commotion over who pays for the fried chicken the board eats after meetings was serious.

Myers, Thomas and at-large member Kia Chambers don't join the panel until January and already the board is fractured.

Myers and Thomas will need five votes to deal with the issues they spelled out, and factions are wheeling and dealing. The votes of Senior, Shannon Smallman and Chambers are considered up for grabs, and Senior has already learned that board politics is a full-contact sport.

Her issues go back a year when Myers alleged Athavia's vote was being bought after her daughter, Jonai, was hired as an English teacher at Fort Middle School without a Georgia teaching certificate. Jonai came aboard with a provisional certificate, which isn't unusual in fields other than language arts.

Board members approved her hiring along with a long list of other new personnel and Senior failed to recuse herself -- a violation of state law. A month later, a legal vote was taken.

Last summer Jonai was among teachers eliminated due to a reduction in force. Then, at a recent meeting, the board quietly voted to rehire her, this time at Baker Middle School.

Athavia Senior also was hit with Smith's complaint that she hadn't properly handled state financial filings, leading to those civil fines. Stay tuned. Similar charges are pending against Wells and Beth Harris -- the member Myers replaces in January.

"Why was I singled out?" Senior asked. She said the complaint was a personal vendetta from Myers. She called Myers a bully and Smith his mouthpiece.

Myers said it's odd that Senior blames others for her admitted ethical lapses. "This is reminiscent of the old Flip Wilson routine on 'Laugh-In' where the punch line was 'The devil made me do it.'"

"'But but but other people do it.' Just what we need on the school board," Smith posted on a comment board.

This isn't over. Smith has filed additional Freedom of Information requests and Jonai will probably hear more discussions about her hiring.

Meanwhile, that duck keeps on swimming.

This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Richard Hyatt: Recent conflicts show new board already 'fractured'."