Kurt Hetager

From: Thomas Lockamy

Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 8:53 PM
To: Jolene Byrne; Cornelia Hall; Dionne Hoskins-Brown; Irene Hines; Julie Wade; Larry Lower
(ll1485@cs.com); Leamon R Holliday; Mary Davis-Brown; Michael Johnson; Ruby Jones;
Shawn Kachmar
Cc: Ann Levett
Subject: Re: AdvancEd/SACS Response by the Superintendent to the SACS Questions

Ms. Byrne, This is the second time this week that you have accused me of violating
my contract by failure to inform you as board president regarding concerns the
superintendent may have about board and administration relations. Perhaps I should
remind you that the contents of the response sent to SCAS was shared with board
members during executive session on May 3rd. You were not present nor, as I learned
recently, did you follow up with Ms. Cornelia Hall, Vice President of the board, to
inquire about what occurred during executive session.

For your information, I have discussed concerns I may have had about your
leadership with Ms. Hall, as well as other board members, in your absence. I have
documented your failure to notify me when you are in central administration. In
addition, you have not been in my office since February nor did you return may calls
prior to the vote on the program manager contract. Yes, you have been in my
conference room for agenda planning and perhaps you were aware that I had to turn to
Ms. Hall to share concerns in your absence resulting in the elimination of Ms. Hall
from attending agenda planning; however, I find it interesting that you invited the
new assistant board attorney to attend this monthly meeting.

There is nothing in the response to SACS that you should be surprised about. The
school board has met with you on two occasions in executive session regarding your
leadership and nothing has changed. You do not attend school board functions
regularly, or if you do, you are late arriving or leave early. You do not attend school
board committee meetings, including the audit committee of which I do not recall you
ever attending. You slander the superintendent and fellow school board members at
social functions, most recently at the Armstrong faculty end-of-year celebration. It
was at this function I learned from a reliable person in attendance that she shared
with all around you that you despised the superintendent as well as Dr. Levett. You
then continued to speak of your dislike for Ms. Wade, Mr. Kachmar and other board

1
members. I understand the same behavior occurred at a January social in which the
superintendent and board members were belittled as well.

I have four days remaining as superintendent so please do not continue to threatened

me about violation of my contract. A majority of the board is required to reprimand
me for violation of the contract and I doubt you have that count. Yes, I am responding
with very harsh language; however, you continue to ignore the concerns of your board
members as well as the superintendent. It is not unusual for you to try to blame
others for your leadership shortcomings, i.e., superintendent does not communicate
with me as board president. I would have been more than pleased to have
communicated with you; however, you have yet to function as a board president after
51 years of observing board presidents.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the letter to SACS tomorrow during
executive session. It is my hope that board members having issues with your failure
to provide leadership to the board will share those issues as well. I will no longer be
intimidated with your threats nor your social media postings.

May I remind that unless you change the way in which you provide leadership to the
board and the manner in which you work with the new superintendent, this school
district will struggle until a new board president is elected.

g{t UA _v~t? ]A? XwAWA

Superintendent of Schools
Savannah-Chatham County
912.395.5585
thomas.lockamy@sccpss.com
From: Jolene Byrne
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 6:20:58 PM
To: Thomas Lockamy; Cornelia Hall; Dionne Hoskins-Brown; Irene Hines; Julie Wade; Larry Lower (ll1485@cs.com);
Leamon R Holliday; Mary Davis-Brown; Michael Johnson; Ruby Jones; Shawn Kachmar
Cc: Ann Levett
Subject: Re: AdvancEd/SACS Response by the Superintendent to the SACS Questions

Dr. Lockamy,

Nothing in the letter you sent to SACS has been expressed by you to the Board President as is required by your contract with
the Board. It is a shame, and entirely unprofessional, that the media was allowed to access and broadcast this information
before the Board was fully informed.

2
"The Superintendent shall promptly bring to the attention of the Board President and the Board as a whole, as
necessary, his concerns as to any claimed interference by the Board, or any member thereof, with his function as
Chief Executive Officer or disagreement as to the respective roles of the Board and Superintendent as to any
particular incident or circumstance so that such concerns shall be promptly resolved."

We can discuss this further in executive session tomorrow.

Jolene Byrne
Board President
Savannah-Chatham Public Schools
www.sccpss.com

From: Thomas Lockamy <Thomas.Lockamy@sccpss.com>

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 5:14 PM
To: Cornelia Hall <Cornelia.Hall@sccpss.com>, Dionne Hoskins-Brown <Dionne.Hoskins-Brown@sccpss.com>, Irene
Hines <Irene.Hines@sccpss.com>, Jolene Byrne <jolene.byrne@sccpss.com>, Julie Wade <Julie.Wade@sccpss.com>,
Kurt Hetager <Kurt.Hetager@sccpss.com>, "Larry Lower (ll1485@cs.com)" <ll1485@cs.com>, Leamon R Holliday
<Leamon.Holliday@sccpss.com>, Mary Davis-Brown <Mary.Davis-Brown@sccpss.com>, Michael Johnson
<Michael.Johnson2@sccpss.com>, Michelle Hodges <Michelle.Hodges@sccpss.com>, Ruby Jones
<Ruby.Jones@sccpss.com>, Shawn Kachmar <Shawn.Kachmar@sccpss.com>, Thomas Lockamy
<Thomas.Lockamy@sccpss.com>
Cc: Ann Levett <Marie.Levett@sccpss.com>
Subject: AdvancEd/SACS Response by the Superintendent to the SACS Questions

Board Members:

Please find attached my response to the AdvancED/SACS inquiry. As I had previously updated
the Board during the May 3 Executive Session on this matter, my response was required as a
result of the complaints the agency had received. Knowing that an investigation is planned, it
is important that you are all aware of the contents of the letter. It is regrettable that I end my
tenure under these circumstances as I only want what is in the best interest of the district. I
gave great thought to my words and took time to reflect on past experiences with the Board
over my last twelve years. When I came in 2005the Board was on probation, but through hard
work, trust, and collaboration, we were able to overcome our challenges and find our
focus. Unfortunately, the last two years have not followed that same formula, and knowing
this is the second complaint received in those two years, I felt it was very important to state
circumstances that I have observed that have eroded the positive working relationship not
only between the Board and Administration, but among the Board itself.

You will see that nothing in the letter is of any information that has not already been stated,
reported in the media, or expressed as a concern of this Board. I do believe the Board can
recover and instill a strong sense of community and unity. It will take professionalism, trust,
and a leader that can foster positive relationships. I do wish Ms. Byrne the very best and I am
hopeful that this experience will provide a valued learning experience in her growth as a
community leader.

3
Thomas B. Lockamy, Jr.,Ed.D.
Jr.,Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
(912) 395-5585