Johnny McDanielCLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Their black T-shirts say "Johnny Mac -- We Got Your Back," but the Facebook community group known as the Bradley County Education Alliance has much more on its agenda than selling apparel to boost awareness of its campaign to keep Johnny McDaniel as the director of Bradley County Schools.
A Change.org petition started by the group received more than 1,000 signatures in two days, with a number of supporters identifying themselves as Bradley County educators, students or parents of students.
"If people believe Johnny McDaniel is doing a good job, they need to step up," said alliance member Chuck Evans, a motivational speaker whose children attend county schools.
The petition to the Bradley County Board of Education bluntly describes signers' support and fears for McDaniel, stating he "is on the verge of being ousted from his position by an inept school board, several of whom are driven by revenge and personal vendettas."
"You can see and feel the disdain when some [board members] are talking down to him," Evans said.
School board Chairman Nicholas Lillios said he was not aware of any discussions between board members to remove McDaniel before his contract ends on June 30, 2016.
"At this time, the plan is to engage in the director's evaluation process at the end of the semester, which would be followed by a vote regarding any renewal of his contract," said Lillios.
The school board is supposed to give the director a year's notice whether it intends to renew his contract, Lillios said.
Lillios also addressed rumors that the school board intends to fire McDaniel in the next few weeks.
"I believe the rumors and speculations are driven by people's concerns [originating from] when the board voted not to extend the director's contract by one year at the end of every school year," Lillios said.
In September 2013, the same year McDaniel was named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, four board members blocked an attempt to extend the director's contact past 2016.
Lillios was one, along with Vicki Beaty, Charlie Rose and Chris Turner.
Perpetual contract extensions without established strategic goals and measures override the intents and needs of the voters, Turner said at the time.
In June, McDaniel received an overall score of 3.58 out of a possible 5 on his annual evaluation, though board members' individual scores varied greatly.
In a public farewell last fall after he lost his re-election bid, then-board member Troy Weathers cited high graduation rates as evidence of the director's achievements.
Weathers also addressed friction between the board and McDaniel.
"I'm not promoting him, but we all know he's on the block," said Weathers.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.