The Columbus Municipal School District board of trustees on Monday voted 3-2 to retain former interim superintendent Dennis Dupree as a consultant at a daily pay rate nearly twice that of the district’s permanent superintendent.
The recommendation was given to the board by Ellis, who said having someone who knows the district and community will be beneficial to him.
“Dupree has the experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent and recently the interim superintendent for (CMSD),” Ellis told The Dispatch in an email. “In addition, he is very familiar with this community and has a deep understanding of the day-to-day operational and institutional issues that a new superintendent in (CMSD) would invariably face.”
The consulting contract details Dupree will not work more than 50 days during the 2023-24 school year and that each day worked will range from 6.5 to 8 hours. His pay rate will be $800 a day, and the maximum amount the district can pay him is $40,000.
The district is paying Ellis $160,000 annually, which equates to approximately $438 per day.
Board members Robert Smith and Cynthia Stewart Brown opposed the contract. Smith asked board president Telisa Young why a consultant was needed when Ellis had the option to use other superintendents in the state to consult informally on issues.
Smith also pointed out that when Dupree’s interim superintendent contract expired with the district, he was retained as a consultant for Craig Chapman, who served as interim superintendent from mid-March until Ellis took office on June 19. Chapman now serves as assistant superintendent.
“I’m not saying you don’t need to compensate (Dupree). What I’m saying, as a board member, is that I think we’re putting the cart before the horse as far as hiring a consultant at the present time,” Smith said. “Now I could see later on if Dr. Ellis needs some assistance from a consultant, we could always come back. … I don’t see why there’s a need.”
Young said the district has not hired a consultant for a new superintendent before, and noted the district has gone through four superintendents in 10 years.
She said the board discussed hiring a consultant with its lawyer, David Dunn, last year before a new superintendent was hired and before Smith was appointed by the Columbus city council to serve on the CMSD board of trustees. Smith previously served the city as its mayor.
“We have some concerns as a board,” Young said to Smith. “We’ve done this (hired superintendents) since 2012, and we’re not where we need to be as a district. We’re just trying to make sure the superintendent has all of the resources he needs. … If (not having a consultant) has not worked for us, then we try something that may work for us.”
During the Monday night meeting, Ellis gave an update on how his first days in office have gone and what he is planning to do as employees and students return to school at the end of the month.
Ellis said in the next week, he wants to start up the superintendent’s roundtable meetings that Dupree held with various community stakeholders, students and teachers. The roundtable meetings are working lunches in which those attending can discuss their ideas, concerns and suggestions for district improvements.
“We have done the same thing over and over for quite a long time, but we haven’t gotten results,” Young said. “So there are some major broken systems, and I’m quite sure you know that from the seat you used to hold as well. So how do we learn and get rid of that gap that’s there? … What we were doing before hadn’t worked.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion