Fayette school superintendent suspends board financial officer

Perkins alleges ‘neglect of duties, insubordination’

By Matthew Hill

The Fayette County school system’s chief financial officer and treasurer was informed Thursday of her immediate suspension, effective today, and her employment could be terminated by the school board in two weeks, according to information obtained by The Register-Herald.

Fayette Schools Superintendent Chris Perkins informed Annette Hughart by letter that she was “immediately suspended” without pay and that he was “forwarding a recommendation for (her) termination from employment ... based upon (her) insubordination and willful neglect of duties.”

A special hearing will be held before the board at 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, at which Hughart “may appear, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, be represented by counsel and otherwise fully participate, if you care so to do,” Perkins wrote. The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept. 15.

In a separate memo Thursday, Perkins advised Hughart to see him about retrieving her personal belongings from her office or making arrangements to do that.

Her computer, he informed her, had been disabled. Anything she might need from it would be made available upon her written request. “Please make sure to leave your keys,” Perkins added.

West Virginia Education Association field staff representative Ben Barkey confirmed Thursday that the organization would provide Hughart with legal counsel.

In his letter to her, Perkins claimed Hughart refused to provide staff development information to the special education department as directed by him on or about April 29.

He wrote that she demanded “a written, sincere apology and a polite request” before she would release the “required” information to another department, which is “insubordinate conduct and willfully neglectful” of the Employee Code of Conduct and the requirements of her job description responsibilities.

Perkins asserted Hughart prevented the personnel director from updating the seniority for all active personnel and otherwise performing his necessary duties. She later, Perkins alleged, refused to remove the block on her computer after direction from him to do so.

She refused to attend a board meeting as directed by him on July 11, Perkins noted.

He added she also refused to issue a purchase order to cover an “engagement contract” concerning an audit review to be conducted by Leland D. O’Neal. She then delayed “in assembling and providing material directed for the performance of the engagement contract,” Perkins observed.

He described as “unacceptable” her alleged initial refusal and delay in complying with a directive to accommodate Nuttall Middle School in its reopening concerning deposits, check writing and bill paying.

She failed to “assist” and refused to “administer leadership, support and assistance to provide direction to the special education department” with regard to budget transfers, allocation of indirect costs, budget reports and advice concerning utilization of Medicaid reimbursement, Perkins argued.

Lastly, he wrote, Hughart refused to permit an accountant in her department to perform her contract or duties.

Hughart could not be reached for comment, and Perkins did not immediately return telephone calls.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com