A state senator says he believes one of two candidates for Henry County school superintendent is getting preferential treatment.
Sen. Emanuel Jones, a 25-year resident of Henry County, told Channel 2 Action News he is concerned about the selection process between the two finalists to replace retiring superintendent Rodney Bowler.
He said he has received information that the majority of the school board members favor candidate Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis over candidate Dr. Douglas Hendrix.
Henry County Schools spokesman J.D. Hardin said no one is getting preferential treatment and the process will be fair.
"Without a doubt. We stand on our fair practices and processes," he said.
Davis has been the Chief Academic Officer for the state's second largest school system for the past three years, according to Henry County Schools. She also served the Cobb County School District as an assistant superintendent at the start of her academic career.
Jones told Channel 2 he has received information Davis asked for more money than Hendrix, who currently serves as assistant superintendent for school improvement in Clayton County Public Schools, the state’s fifth largest school system. He is a former human resources director for the district.
"One candidate, Dr. Hendrix's offer back to the school system was tens of thousands of dollars less than the other candidate, Dr. Davis," he said.
That should give Hendrix the upper hand, Jones said, because the board's last superintendent finalist was not hired after the board said he asked for too much money.
But contract negotiations are confidential, Hardin told the news station.
"Any information on salary negotiations should not be released to the public," he said.
Hardin said it would be unethical for sensitive information about the hiring process to be released.
Both candidates had a chance to answer questions from the audience during a public forum at Henry County High School Thursday evening.
In other news:
