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 Questions surround hiring of Brightharp as Title 1 Director for School District web posted April 19, 2007 COUNTY – The Edgefield County School Board voted Tuesday night to offer open positions in the school system to several candidates including the position of Assistant Superintendent to Diane Murrell. Present Assistant Superintendent Roberson said at the meeting the candidates were picked by the Search Committee, which included Dr. Roberson. The additional positions offered are Donna Strom as Director of Special Education; Bruce Lee as Principal of Douglas Elementary; Teresa Clark as Chief of Financial operations; and Myrtis Brightharp as Director of Title 1. It was Ms. Brighharp’s offer that drew opposition. Ms. Brightharp is the widowed sister-in-law of Edgefield County School Board Chairwoman Sallie Cooks. Brightharp was widowed some thirty years ago when her husband (Cooks’ brother) died and the length of the time is why Chairwoman Cooks allowed herself to vote on the hiring of a family member. The vote on the position passed 6-1 with School Board member Andy Livingston voting in opposition showing if Ms. Cooks had abstained from the vote it would have still been favorable. What also drew the attention of EdgefieldDaily.com is the sudden raise that came with the job offer, a 40% increase, now set at $85,000 a year. On Wednesday School Board member Andy Livingston was asked about his “no” vote. Mr. Livingston said after discussing the matter he was not comfortable with the choice due to the pay increase offered with the job. “I could not in good conscious vote yes,” he said. Ms. Brightharp does offer over 30 years of experience and a doctorate, but neither was qualifications needed for the job. The position currently pays just over $60,000 a year. The raise was justified on the basis of an additional 30 days being added to the work schedule (from 210 days to 240), basically making the added month of work worth $25,000 or $833.33 a day. Another issue that was brought to the attention of the hiring is that Ms. Brightharp, in addition to the connection to Chairwoman Sallie Cooks, is a neighbor of School Board member James Bibbs. Insiders say that Chairwoman Sallie Cooks has her eye set on the Director of Human Resources position being left open by the resignation of Angela Cooper. For
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