School board considers action in search for new director at special meeting tonight

The Dickson County School Board meets in a special session tonight for the purpose of “taking action” in the search for a new director of schools. The board voted last week to open contract talks with Dr. Danny Weeks, assistant director of schools in Robertson County, to succeed Johnny Chandler, who is retiring May 31. Weeks said in an email to WDKN that he expects to have “some answer” in the contract talks by tonight’s meeting. The board’s vote authorized Chairman Tim Potter and attorney Jack Garton to negotiate contract terms, but the contract must be approved by the board. There has been no indication whether that contract will be ready for a vote tonight, and Potter said he is again making the stated purpose of the special meeting broad enough that the board can take any action. The board could vote on a contract if it is ready or could approve final terms to be offered to Weeks. It also could take no action if those negotiations are not complete. Weeks also is one of four finalists for the director of schools job in Robertson County, where the school board completed its interviews this week and is expected to take the next step in its search at a meeting Monday night, possibly identifying two finalists for additional interviews or even voting to begin contract talks with a top candidate. Some Robertson County School Board members unsuccessfully tried to move the board’s next meeting to tonight to speed up the search process out of fear of losing candidates. If terms cannot be reached with Weeks, the Dickson County board has identified Dr. Vivian McCord as its next choice for director. The Dickson County School Board meets at 7:00 tonight in the central office in Dickson.