Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway will return to work Sept. 8 following a period of unpaid leave.
The school board Monday voted 3-1 to suspend Holloway for two weeks after he was charged with two counts of simple assault by threats on Aug. 10.
Holloway was allowed to continue serving as school superintendent after an internal investigation “uncovered a conflict between neighbors that has escalated beyond a dispute,” school board member Keith Coble said.
“While we regret that Dr. Holloway didn’t immediately seek help from law enforcement in this instance as he did in previous incidents which are documented by officers who responded, our investigation did not conclude there was intent to harm anyone,” Coble said while reading from a prepared statement. “The allegations do not involve school personnel or school-related issues, and the alleged incident occurred away from district property.
“This is a private matter that has become very public because of Dr. Holloway’s position. That is understandable. However, it does not exclude Dr. Holloway from a fair hearing,” he added.
Holloway was arrested after he allegedly fired a gun into the air during a dispute with his Mt. Olive Road neighbors. A minor was present during the incident.
After his arrest, Holloway filed charges against Roy Couvion, alleging the neighbor hit him in the jaw and pushed him to the ground in May.
Like Holloway, Couvion turned himself in to authorities shortly after charges were filed in justice court.
Both men bonded out after their separate arrests and will appear in court Sept. 15.
Reaction to the school board’s decision was mostly negative from the small crowd gathered at the Greensboro Center. After the meeting was adjourned, numerous people stopped SOCSD Board of Trustees President Eddie Myles to ask him how the board could continue to support Holloway.
Oktibbeha County NAACP Chairman Chris Taylor said the school board should have removed Holloway from his leadership position and said the three members who voted in favor of Monday’s decision – Coble, Myles and Jenny Turner – should be replaced.
Only Lee Brand opposed the matter. The board’s fifth seat is vacant after Juliette Weaver-Reese tendered her resignation letter last week.
“Dr. Holloway displayed poor judgement. He has fired personnel in this county for less. He has lost credibility with most of the county,” Taylor said. “(Coble, Myles and Turner) don’t need to be there because they’re scared. They’re afraid to make the tough decisions.”
School board members said they have confidence in Holloway’s ability to lead the district.
“(Holloway) has navigated consolidation with a tenacious spirit, determined to build a bigger, stronger (school district) with the support of our community. He’s stood up for our public school families, teachers, students and administrators,” Coble said while reading the board’s statement.
SOCSD Assistant Superintendents Toriano Holloway and Jody Woodrum have led the district in Lewis Holloway’s absence and will continue to do so through his suspension.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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