THOMASVILLE — The Thomasville City Board of Education heard favorable comments and opposition Tuesday to reinstating Melvin Hugans as Harper Elementary School principal before going into a lengthy closed session.

Hugans’ contract was not renewed by Dr. Laine Reichert, who resigned recently as school system superintendent.

After a closed session lasting an hour and 34 minutes, the school board voted 4-3 to reinstate Hugans. The first vote on the question was a 3-3 tie. Chairman Todd Bennett voted in favor of reinstatement to break the tie.

Chris Rodd, David Cone and Corey Sumner also voted to reinstate Hugans. Vice Chairman Kejar Butler, Dr. Mary Williams-Scruggs and Dr. Hazel Jones cast dissenting votes.

Prior to the vote, Jones told fellow school board members she had been asked by numerous African American parents, city school system employees and stakeholders to address reinstating Hugans. She said Hugans “has caused a significant division between his staff and the community.”

She said student success should be the primary focus for all students, but Harper fifth-graders were denied an opportunity to enroll at Scholars Academy for the next school term, because Hugans did not provide a list of qualified students to Scholars Academy staff.

“As a District 1 school board member, I cannot vote to reinstate (Mr.) Melvin Hugans as principal of Harper Elementary School,” Jones said, reading from a prepared statement.

Ben Lindquist described Hugans as an outstanding principal and asked that he be reinstated.

When Hugans was hired as Harper principal, he faced a daunting task, Lindquist said, adding that students were leaving the school.

“Melvin and the Harper team attacked the problem,” Lindquist said.

Hugans implemented strong academic standards, and test scores improved by 25 percent, Lindquist said.

A Thomasville attorney, Lindquist said he and Hugans have been friends for more than 20 years.

He said a Harper teacher wrote a letter of support that stated, “(Melvin) Hugans is the best leader we’ve ever had.”

“Harper students are no longer unnoticed, no longer forgotten,” Lindquist said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

Morris Arrington said more students have left Harper under Hugans’ leadership than with any other principal.

“Under his leadership, massive black flight has returned more than with any other principal in that school’s history,” Arrington said. “We are in a crisis. Students are leaving. Teachers are leaving.”

Arrington, a former Scott Elementary School principal, is an adjunct instructor at Albany State University. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820