The Chesterfield County School Board announced last week that it intended to appoint former Middlesex County School Superintendent Donald “Rusty” Fairheart as Chesterfield County Public Schools’ interim superintendent during a special-called meeting Tuesday, May 29.
Fairheart will replace James Lane, who is leaving to become the state superintendent of public instruction. Lane has been in the post since July 1, 2016.
Fairheart has served as Chesterfield County Public Schools’ chief of staff with oversight of day-to-day operations since joining the school division in 2016. Prior to joining the school division, he was executive director for the multijurisdictional Southeastern Cooperative Education Program in Norfolk. Fairheart served as superintendent in Middlesex County from 2007 to 2011.
“The school board is excited to have a leader with Mr. Fairheart’s credentials ready to continue our important work,” school board chair John Erbach said in a press release. “Since joining us, Mr. Fairheart has immersed himself in our school division’s efforts, and we have full confidence in his ability to close out the current school year strong and continue preparations for the 2018-19 school year.”
“I am humbled to be chosen to lead a school division already recognized as a state and national leader in public education,” Fairheart said. “Every day, my primary focus will be on how we can best support each student and every staff member in our award-winning school division. Serving as chief of staff has allowed me to work closely with the school board, and I am keenly aware of the expectations our community has for this school division.”
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A strong leadership team thanks to James Lane and Rusty Fairheart……let me count the ways ……
The Chief Operating Officer, Nita Mensa Joseph since joining CCPS in Nov 2015 has managed to successfully destroy the entire facilities department. It has resulted in outrageous turn over of not less than 50% . No one wants to work for her. Anyone with any sense has jumped ship at CCPS facilities department.
Under Lane’s and Fairheart’s leadership tenure we have and continue to have dirty filthy schools.
Thank you Diane Smith School Board member since you and Carrie Coyner School Board Members were so instrumental in the hiring of Nina Mensa Joseph.
A big thanks is also owed to Carrie Coyner Bermuda District School Board Member for master minding and pushing so hard for outsourcing janitoral services in order to save money. THE OUTSOURCING OF JANITORAL SERVICES HAS BEEN A TOTAL FAILURE AND HAS COSTS MILLIONS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS and resulted in dirty filthy schools. Let’s hear it for Carrie Coyner.
Under Lane’s tenure he and the members of the School Board accomplished illegally qualifying Sharon Thomas, former executive assistant to Marcus Newsome, for participation in the Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) enabling Thomas to illegally collect at the taxpayers expense in excess of $300,000 in cash payments.
Under Lane’s tenure and the tenure of the current school board members we the taxpayers and citizens have been repeatedly lied too including but not limited to Lane’s and School Board Members refusal to release the information / specifics pertaining to the work performed by the the law firm Sands Anderson pertaining to the Supplemental Retirement Plan which has to date cost the taxpayers and citizens over $180,000.
Under Lane’s and the current School Board Member’s tenure taxpayers are having to will continue to fund annually millions ($3.5 to $7) for SRP because Lane and School Board Members refused to terminate the SRP. It needs to be noted this annual funding is necessary because CCPS executive management and School Board members in prior years intentionally failed to fund the SRP Trust Fund and instead used the funds for other initatives. In essence the money was stolen.
Under Lane’s tenure the internal audit of the Supplemental Retirement Plan was a total sham. The Director of Internal Audit for Chesterfield County / Schools, Greg Akers reports to Lane and Joe Casey. This is not independence!
Under Lane’s tenure the forensic investigation performed by P B Mares pertaining to Sharon Thomas, SRP too was a total sham and window dressing at best. This forensic investigation was intentionally controlled to produce desired results.
Under Lane’s tenure Shawn Smith, son of Clover Hill School Board Member Diane Smith was made Director of Goverment, Policy and Media Relations. Nepotism at its best.
Under Lane’s tenure the Chief Financial Officer resigns
Under Lane’s tenure there have been two Directors of Finance
Shall I continue to count the ways ? Trust me there are many many more!
So everyone what do you think? John Erback and the rest of the School Board James Lane along with Rusty Fairheart in two short years has knocked it out of the park?
I hardly think so!