In a 5-2 vote, the Rutherford County School Board decided to offer Oakland High School Principal Bill Spurlock the top job in the system, according to The Daily News Journal.
The board has spent the last few months conducting a search for someone to succeed Don Odom, who is retiring this summer with more than 50 years in the district.
The board was split between Spurlock and Central Magnet School Principal Don Ash as their top candidate but eventually, Board members Coy Young, Jim Estes, Terry Hodge, Wayne Blair and Jeff Jordan voted in favor of Spurlock. Lisa Moore and Aaron Holladay voted against him.
But Spurlock doesn't come without controversy.
It was revealed last week that he had his teaching license suspended in Georgia for 18 months in the late 1980s. He falsified a college transcript to show he had passed a reading class so he could be endorsed to teach middle school.
He said the record was expunged but the revelation left a stain for Moore, who wanted to renew the search for new candidates.
Here's the school system's press release.
Mayoral candidate Tina Jones owes back taxes
The Republican primary race for Rutherford County mayor is a three-way head-to-head between a well-known politician, a nonprofit executive and the local field rep for U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais.
While it seems like the race may come down to who can out-conservative the others, it might hinge on whether one of them has paid her taxes.
According to The Murfreesboro Post, Tina Jones, former county commissioner and field representative for DesJarlais, "had delinquent county property taxes of $5,670 for 2017 and $6,661 for 2016 on the property at 3200 Manchester Pike, according to the trustee’s office."
Jones issued this statement to The Post.
"During the course of our marriage, my now deceased husband (Johnny Jones) incurred several large personal debts of which I was not aware, did not approve, and for which I had no responsibility. He signed my name to several promissory notes without my knowledge or approval. Ultimately, I was forced under duress to secure those debts with joint real property in an attempt to resolve his debt problems and reduce the 50 to 100 percent interest rates that were being charged and demanded by his ‘lender.’”
She filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2017 to keep the county from seizing the property.
Other stuff
Rutherford County unemployment hits 2.7% (WGNS)
Two-car accident in Milton kills three (Murfreesboro Post)
U.S. Secret Service swarms home on Forrest Pointe Drive in Murfreesboro (WGNS)
Inmate escapes Work Center on Easter, still at large (Murfreesboro Post)
Bredesen could be nation’s richest U.S. senator if elected (Times-Free Press)
House committee kills bill authorizing teachers to carry guns; ‘School Safety Act’ advances (TN Journal)
Legislature approves new $2 tax on strip club customers (TN Journal)
Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.
