State senator cries foul in search for new superintendent

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Members of the public are meeting for the first time with two candidates for school superintendent in Henry County.

A local state senator in that area says he believes one candidate is getting preferential treatment.

Sen. Emanuel Jones has lived in Henry County for 25 years. He says he is very concerned about what's going on with the selection process.

"My primary concern is one candidate being given preferential treatment over another," Jones said. He said he has received information that the majority of the school board members favor candidate Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis over candidate Dr. Douglas Hendrix.

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Henry County Schools spokesman J.D. Hardin said no one is getting preferential treatment and the process will be fair.

"Without a doubt. We stand on our fair practices and processes," he said.

Jones said he has received information Davis asked for more money than Hendrix.

"One candidate, Dr. Hendrix's offer back to the school system was tens of thousands of dollars less than the other candidate, Dr. Davis," he said.

Jones thinks that should give Hendrix the upper hand, since the board's last superintendent finalist was not hired after the board said he asked for too much money.

Hardin says contract negotiations are confidential.

"Any information on salary negotiations should not be released to the public," he said.

Jones also said Davis missed an important deadline to send a document to the school system, but wasn't disqualified.

Hardin said it would be unethical for sensitive information about the hiring process to be released.

He said he couldn't comment about any candidate missing a deadline.

"I can't speak to something that can’t be verified," Hardin said.

Hardin said once again the process will be fair and according to the board's policies and procedures. He said both candidates will get a chance to answer questions from the audience during a public forum at Henry County High School on Thursday evening.

Cox Media Group