VALDOSTA —
VALDOSTA — William E. Aldrich of the Valdosta City School System was fired after 43 years of service to the school system, four months prior to the end of his contract.
“Dr. Cason called me in Tuesday afternoon [Feb. 14] and told me he had some bad news,” Aldrich explains. “The board had voted Monday night [Feb. 13] to terminate me.”
According to Aldrich, he had no idea that this was coming.
“Absolutely none,” said Aldrich.
Dr. Cason gave Aldrich no real explanation for his termination other than some board members felt he was too outspoken and set in his ways, stated Aldrich, adding that Cason explained to him that he tried to talk the board out of firing him, but the board members were unable to be swayed.
“They’re not willing to give me any reasons for what they’re talking about,” said Aldrich.
Aldrich came to the Valdosta City School system in 1969. He was a teacher, a coach, an assistant principal and then principal of Valdosta High School from 1984 to 1997. He became the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for the school system and in 2004 retired but remained on as an “at will” employee working at 49 percent.
In an e-mail to the members of the Valdosta Board of Education, Aldrich accuses the board members of being heartless.
“The callous manner in which you ended my 43-year career with the Valdosta City School System was unnecessary and inexcusable,” wrote Aldrich in a letter to the board.
He goes on to write that there was no thank you for his service to the school system, just a “get out and good riddance.”
“That speaks volumes about you as a board and as individuals,” wrote Aldrich.
According to Aldrich, the board members, individually and collectively, expressed to him that he would stay in his position until the new South East Elementary School was completed. The board even chose another employee to work with Aldrich who was going to take over the job once Aldrich’s contract was up in June.
“That person had been sitting in facilities meetings with you and working with me in planning projects for several months,” wrote Aldrich. “Now I learn that after I was terminated he was informed he could forget about being placed in the position.”
Aldrich expressed that in these two actions lay the motive for his termination.
“Just for the sake of supposition, let’s say some relative or friend of a board member needed or wanted the job,” wrote Aldrich.
Aldrich posed the following questions: Will the job be an open application? Will the job description be written so that only that person meets the qualifications? Will some board members have to excuse themselves from voting because of conflict of interest?
“Your action towards me will have only accomplished the result of bringing attention to yourself and your conduct personally and in the conduct of the business of the school system,” Aldrich wrote.
Economically, Aldrich and his family won’t completely suffer. He is still drawing his teacher retirement. However, this was a traumatic event for he and his family to go through.
“Most of it is basically the way they did it,” said Aldrich. “You don’t want your family to go through that.”
Aldrich stated that he will not fight the termination and will not take legal action.
“I’m through with it,” said Aldrich. “I gave 43 years to the Valdosta City School system and if this is the way they decided to end it, then it’s really not worth my time or effort to do anything.”
The Times contacted Jennifer Steedley, Director of Public Relations for Valdosta City Schools. She informed the Times that Dr. Cason is out of town and unavailable for comment. The schools were closed for President’s day on Monday. However, Steedley stated that legally the school cannot comment on personnel issues.
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