Foust ousted: Educators and advocates respond to removal of New Hanover County Schools superintendent
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to remove Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust following a scathing anonymous survey filled out by district employees. Dr. Chris Barnes was appointed as acting superintendent.
Although the climate survey revealed problems with Foust’s leadership, New Hanover County parent and advocate Sandy Eyles worries Foust’s removal is being used to shift blame away from the school board’s own shortcomings.
“It is incredibly frustrating that they renewed his contract, and now it’s going to cost us a whole lot of money,” Eyles said. “If they had concerns about his performance in the summer, they should not have continued that relationship with him.”
President of the New Hanover County Association of Educators Jacqui Dalessio agrees.
“Just the termination of Dr. Foust is not the band aid that’s going to fix what is the actual problem in our district. There also needs to be accountability held on this school board,” Dalessio said.
Eyles feels that the board did not provide sufficient feedback and guidance for Foust to serve effectively.
“It makes me really concerned about who our next superintendent will be,” Eyles expressed. “If the board doesn’t address their own issues and their ability to govern and their ability to manage their single employee, I fear that we’re going to see the same issue happening over and over and over again.”
Dalessio added that the political polarization of school board has hindered their commitment to students and staff.
“The politics have to go if we’re going to be successful in this county, and those people on that board need to come to some kind of consensus on things rather than arguing their own personal agendas,” Dalessio said.
NHCAE Vice President and county staff member Lisa Espy said moving forward, she hopes the board will make meaningful change.
“Colleagues that I work with, they don’t know where they’re working. They don’t even know if they have a job,” Espy said. “That’s still in limbo. Like this are the issues that many employees are dealing with. We want a plan, we want focus, bring us in and get us involved so we can focus on problem-solving, not finger pointing.”
We reached out to all of the school board’s members, none of those who voted would provide comment.
Member Josie Barnhart did said she is going to do her part to “select new leadership and provide opportunities for students and staff.”
WWAY reached out to Dr. Foust’s attorney for comment. We have not heard back as of Wednesday evening; however, Foust did provide a comment through his attorney to the Star News that reads:
“I am proud of the students and all employees of NHCS. We have accomplished so many great things in the last 4 years. I am grateful for how my peers, the state and the community have recognized the diligent work put forth for student academic achievement.”
