Former principal settles case, takes counselor position

FLORENCE - Former Weeden Elementary Principal Brenda Smith will return to work in August as a counselor and testing supervisor.

Smith, whose career in the Florence school district has spanned 30 years with the past eight as principal, appealed the school board's Feb. 20 decision not to renew her contract. Superintendent Kendy Behrends gave a list of several reasons that she said contributed to her recommendation not to renew the contract.

A Circuit Court hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but the case was settled Wednesday.

The school board had a called meeting Wednesday, approving Smith's new position, which includes a salary of $78,000, which is approximately $7,000 less than her principal's salary.

"These are two assignments that were needed in our district, and I am fully confident that she will do well," Behrends said.

Smith will work as a counselor at Florence Middle School, primarily with at-risk students, and will be a district testing supervisor. Smith has a counseling background.

Behrends said the principal's job at Weeden will be posted next week for a two-week period with the hopes of filling the job in time for the start of school in August.

Weeden Assistant Principal Chris Westbrook has been serving as interim principal.

Smith could not be reached for comment Thursday, but her attorney, Gayle Gear, of Birmingham, who represented her through the Alabama Education Association, said Smith was pleased with the settlement.

"Any time two sides of an issue come to a settlement agreement, it's a positive and the real positive here is that this treasure of an educator will continue contributing to the school system," Gear said. "She wants to be able to move forward with what's best for the school district, and in the testing supervisor capacity, she'll be in all the schools. She has always looked out for the greater good of the school district and she did in this scenario as well."

Gear said there was concern that Smith was being accused of doing something wrong, when in actuality, "she'd always received very good evaluations and has impeccable credentials."

"Sometimes a district just wants to proceed in a different direction," she said. "I'm hoping that people don't see this as a loss to the (Weeden) community as much as an opportunity for her to move forward and continue to contribute greatly, working with even more students."

Gear said both Smith and Behrends deserve accolades for working together to settle the case in a way that puts the best interest of the district first.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or e-mailed at lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.