It's a controversy with two parts that now is embroiling the Barnwell 45 school district and has already resulted in the suspension of one district employee.

One part of the controversy stems from a longstanding issue about bus drivers driving sports teams to away games. As early as March 2009 the district transportation director, Marcus Fields, has drawn criticism from parents and others for his handling of this issue.

Fields is also an assistant principal at Guinyard-Butler Middle School.

The controversy took on another dimension when Fields organized a meeting Feb. 23 of African-American community leaders and some African-American district staff.

The meeting was announced only by district e-mails to African-American faculty and staff or by a flyer which was circulated by hand.
The flyer stated "Let's take back our community!"

The language and apparent exclusiveness of the Feb. 23 meeting alarmed some people in the white community.

That meeting and the bus issue became the focus of the Feb. 25 Barnwell 45 school board meeting as some aired their views that Fields' actions were discriminatory and driven by a social or political agenda.

The next morning after the school board meeting, Feb. 26, an assistant administrator within the district was placed on "administrative leave" pending an investigation.

The Barnwell 45 Superintendent, Roy Sapough, would not reveal the identity of the suspended administrator.

"An assistant principal was placed on administrative leave. This is standard operating procedure when we have an investigation to put an educator on paid administrative leave," he said.

Sapough said the investigation involved "specific allegations that may or may not have happened" that involve "violations of district policies and procedures."

When contacted by The People-Sentinel, Fields would not answer whether he was the suspended assistant administrator or not, but referred the question back to the district office.

Full reports from the Feb. 23 community meeting organized by Fields as well as the Feb. 25 Barnwell 45 school board meeting will be in the March 3 edition of The People-Sentinel.