By Fallan Patterson

Staff Writer

A motion failed Tuesday for the Osceola County School Board to terminate Superintendent Terry Andrews based on allegations from Board member Cindy Hartig.

In a 3-2 vote, the School Board voted to retain Andrews despite numerous charges Hartig alleged against the superintendent including his failure to maintain a professional atmosphere and misrepresentation of educational matters.

After School Board Chairwoman Barbara Horn made the motion to fire Andrews, Hartig seconded it for discussion and produced a large box filled with evidence of Andrews alleged wrongdoings.

“The accountability in our school system has deteriorated,” Hartig said. “I believe it's time to do what's right for Osceola County. We cannot fear what others might say.”

Hartig took offense to Andrews stating at an April workshop that board members attend meetings without reading their agendas, lacking preparation on issues and failing to answer phone calls.

Hartig alleged Andrews disparaged the School Board by stating the exorbitant legal fees the Osceola County School District are due to lawsuits because of board members. She challenged his statement by providing multiple examples of legal, issues including 97 discrimination cases from employees and lawsuits pertaining to facilities and imminent domain.

Hartig also alleged Andrews breeched his contract for failing to terminate district employees for a variety of misconduct, including a coach who took a questionable photograph with a student and a teacher who allegedly got drunk at a golf tournament and “mooned” attendees on the course.

She also alleged Andrews said he wanted to fire an employee but wouldn't because the employee is black and Andrews was afraid of a lawsuit.

Andrews called Hartig's allegations “misrepresentations” and said he did not agree with her charges.

“This district is in a good place. We've moved forward. We have a positive environment in terms of the staff,” he said. “I can counter everything you say but I see no point in that.”

Board member Jay Wheeler called Hartig's presentation, in which she cited multiple statues Andrews had allegedly violated, as “political grandstanding” and not the way to win an election.

“I don't believe anything in here. Mr. Andrews has done everything he can to move this school district despite that fact that we have board members who show up (to meetings) unprepared,” he said. “Getting rid of Mr. Andrews is the worst thing we could do for this school district right now with where we're at.”

Wheeler was the lone vote against appointing Andrews as superintendent in June 2011 after the School Board forced former superintendent Michael Grego out of the position and held an extensive replacement search. He was first appointed as interim superintendent in April after Grego left.

“There are board members up here who won't be satisfied with anybody,” Wheeler said.

Andrews was appointed for two years as superintendent and will retire in June 2013.