Several speakers addressed members of the Patrick County School Board Thursday, expressing concerns about the handling of some personnel issues, response to previous concerns, meeting place, time and others.

Walter Scott said the previous meeting was well-attended by educators, many of whom were working at the noon hour of the October meeting. He thanked the board for meeting at noon “to ensure they don’t come.”

A majority of school board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m., according to school officials, who said it was necessary to change the time of the October meeting due to scheduling conflicts.

Scott also discussed the handling of a personnel issue with a previous principal of Woolwine Elementary School, and encouraged board members to contact the former employee to discuss it.

“I think some questions need to be asked” and answers provided, Scott said.

“That’s not going to happen,” Kandy Burnett, of the Dan River District, said. She said the person is no longer an employee of the school division, and not every employee’s experience is the same.

J.D. Morse, of the Smith River District, said he had “spent a lot of time … close to four hours that night, following up”  with the employee in question. He said he received conflicting information.

Scott asked the board to talk to the former employee and find out how the issue was handled. He said he would return to the November meeting for answers.

Burnett’s term is set to expire at the end of the year. She did not seek reelection to the post.

Brandon Simmons, the single candidate for the Dan River District seat, encouraged the board to hold meetings in a larger space to accommodate attendees.

He also asked whether the school board approves the hiring and firing of employees.

Board chairman Ronnie Terry said personnel reports are presented to the board for approval. However, when new employees are hired, their pay is based on the overall pay structure, including stipends and pay raises, that also is set by the board.

Terry said board members do not know the salary of individual employees.

The school division is audited annually, and Terry said that he will email the most recent copy to Simmons.

Jim Allen also expressed concerns about the time, space restrictions and location of the meeting.

“We went for about two years without a single person at the meeting” aside from media representatives, Burnett said.

“We trusted you guys with our school system, our money and our employees. That’s why we haven’t been here,” Margaret Blevins said.

Betty Kirkpatrick said “there doesn’t seem to be any old business” on the board’s agenda. “The elephant in the room is there should be discussion about Nancy Carlson’s letter. When is that going to be addressed?”

At a recent meeting, Carlson – a history teacher at Patrick County High School – shared a myriad of concerns, including pay raises for some but not all employees. At that meeting, Terry told Carlson he would respond to her concerns.

Terry said on Thursday he responded to Carlson. He said he did not receive a response.

Kirkpatrick said she thought there would be a public discussion since Carlson’s concerns were brought to light in a public forum.

Burnett said the board could not control whether Carlson shared Terry’s response.

“I would like what the board decided to be publically known,” Kirkpatrick said. She also asked about the handling of a situation with former employees.

Kirkpatrick asked board members if they had reached out to determine what prompted to former employees to leave the division.

“Why would you not find out? Why would you not care,” Kirkpatrick asked. “There are two different sides to a story … The only way to know what is right is to have three people in the room, two people and you.”

Noting that Morse talked to one of the employees in question, Burnett said that person asked to be left alone, and the board honored those wishes.

Kirkpatrick said she was not aware of that request.

“We had a conversation” as a board that Kirkpatrick and other non-board members were not privy to, Burnett said. “I was.”

*The board also learned that special events are planned in several schools in observance of October’s designation as Bullying Prevention Month.

*School board members, Schools Superintendent Bill Sroufe and Board Clerk Sara Leigh Collins were recognized for their efforts in the annual Virginia School Board Association Award of Honor program.

*The board also met in closed session to consider the monthly discipline and monthly personnel reports.

The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m.