Hoover City School rescinds previous personnel decision

A recent employment decision by the Hoover Board of Education was rescinded at its July 14 meeting, and additional positions were filled.

Hoover City Schools voted to hire Chase Holden at the June 9 meeting without the knowledge that his mother-in-law was part of the evaluation process that led to his recommendation. Upon learning that, Superintendent Andy Craig recommended revoking his previous employment at the next meeting.

Although the board voted to rescind Holden’s employment, which would not have been effective until July 28, they also voted to appoint him to a different position where his evaluation was determined separately from his previous one. 

The decision to hire Holden was made based on recommendations from both the principal and a committee that evaluated all the applicants. He was applying for an elementary math coach position at  Green Valley Elementary School. 

After he was appointed to the position, Craig said he learned that the current chief academic officer for math and science for Hoover City Schools is Holden’s mother-in-law, and she was also a member of the evaluation committee.

Craig said that although the mother-in-law was not an immediate supervisor to Holden’s new position, he still felt her participation caused concerns of non-compliance with the law. He recommended that the action to appoint Holden as the math coach be reversed.

Although Holden’s employment as the math coach was rescinded, Craig said Holden is well qualified for another available position as a classroom teacher at Green Valley Elementary School. He said the principal recommended Holden for the position independently from the previous recommendation for the math coach position.

On the recommendation of Craig, which was backed by the State of Alabama Ethics Commission, the Hoover Board of Education voted to hire Holden to the classroom teacher position.

Hugh R. Evans from the ethics commission said the commission believes Craig took the appropriate steps to correct a potential problem, and that the steps he plans to take at the meeting are appropriate as well.

The personnel report was voted in unanimously with the exception of board member Stephen D. Presley