Search for Phenix City Schools superintendent reopens after contract negotiation fails

The search for a new superintendent of Phenix City Schools has reopened.

One week after selecting Huntsville City Schools deputy superintendent Clarence Sutton Jr., the Phenix City Board of Education announced he has decided to not become the next leader of PCS.

“The Board respectfully accepts his decline and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” PCBOE said in the news release.

That means the meet-and-greet that was scheduled for Thursday to welcome Sutton to Phenix City is canceled.

The Nov. 28 news release announcing the selection of Sutton said he would assume the leadership of PCS on Jan. 1, pending contract negotiations.

Darrell Seldon, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in PCS, has been the school system’s interim superintendent since Randy Wilkes ended his eight-year tenure June 30 to lead a new school system in Alabama. The Orange Beach Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Wilkes on June 7 to be the Gulf Coast resort city’s first superintendent.

PCS public relations specialist Carol Ann Underwood wrote in her Nov. 28 email accompanying the news release, “PCBOE members and employees are unavailable for interviews or comments” and referred questions about the situation to board attorney Bob Meadows, who hasn’t replied to the Ledger-Enquirer’s queries.

The L-E also didn’t reach Sutton for comment before publication. This story will be updated with more information when available.