New allegations leveled against Superintendent Hill

Hill declined to comment on the specific allegations last month, citing district policy involving potential legal matters, but said the schools were “committed to maintaining an open and nurturing environment, free of discrimination of any type, where all our students can thrive.”

The Philbecks pledged to return to the February School Board meeting, and so they did last Thursday to offer additional public comment that they had experienced tremendous support from the community after sharing their story about discrimination and retaliation in January.

In coming forward, Naveela said she learned from others that she was “not the only one” to be subjected to “this pattern of behavior by the superintendent.”

“I have heard from former teachers, current teachers, former students, parents, that he has a history of basically pushing things under the rug, using unconventional methods to resolve problems, bullying tactics and things like that,” Naveela said.

“I believe this complaint of mine could have been resolved in 30 minutes or less,” she continued, adding that the school district has been a welcoming place in all other regards. “Had I been approached, ‘Mrs. Philbeck, come on in, let’s talk; we assure you we advocate for a safe environment for your child’ – I would not be standing here today.”

Naveela also accused a woman she described as Hill’s girlfriend, former school employee Crystal Beach, of harassing her outside the Board Office following the January School Board meeting, saying there were witnesses to the event.

When reached for comment, Beach said, “I emphatically deny all of the fallacious allegations Ms. Philbeck made regarding me harassing her. I did not get in her face; upon exiting the building, I went one way, and she went another; and I did not shout at her in the parking lot.”

Bringing the new allegations against Hill during public comments on Feb. 20 was Young Harris College Professor Dr. Matthew Steven Bruen, a parent of two young students at Union County Schools.

Bruen said he, too, had been professionally targeted by Hill last fall after he lodged complaints about “a couple of issues” at the schools.

“I emailed the school about those issues,” Bruen said. “Rather than take them seriously, the school, under the leadership of Superintendent Hill, engaged in a conspiracy to enact professional consequences on me in what I can only describe as being a complete outrage.”

Bruen said the alleged attempt was “ultimately unsuccessful” because he is a tenured professor, “but what I would like to say is that we should feel like we can bring complaints to the school and not have to deal with this kind of unprofessional behavior.”

“I am an educator myself; the conduct here is completely unbecoming of educational professionals,” Bruen said. “I think that the people in the room know this.

“I would also like to point out that if you have been victimized or abused or targeted by Mr. Hill, now is the time to come forward and tell your story. You’re not alone anymore; the ice has been broken.”

Continuing, Bruen said he could “corroborate every single thing that Mrs. Philbeck has said because it happened to me as well.”

“This is also not an opinion – it is a fact,” he said. “I have all of the evidence to prove everything that I’m saying right now. So, just to be clear, this is not just me spouting off but rather reflective of a reality.

“And I would implore you as the board, please take action to make sure that this does not happen to any other families in the school system again.”

Hill did not respond to a request for comment regarding these latest allegations.

The Feb. 20 meeting had above average attendance from the public, with many in the standing-room-only crowd apparently there to show solidarity with the schools.

Scotty Jarrard, who preaches at Harmony Grove Baptist Church, offered comments addressing the controversy surrounding the publicly made allegations, asking that the School Board make sure to follow due process in investigating any claims, which he feels are very one-sided right now.

As a parent in the system, Jarrard said he had seen “nothing but the utmost care for our students and for our parents as well,” adding that, in light of the recent accusations, “everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.”

“It is crucial for everyone to understand, ladies and gentlemen of the board, that due process is rarely swift,” he said. “I am sure you’re acting on these things. And it must be carried out in a manner that brings about privacy to all the people involved.

“Therefore, my request to the School Board is straightforward. Once investigations of accusations have been conducted, do your best to communicate to the public what has happened. I understand fully that you cannot share every detail, but I urge you to inform the community in some way if at all possible.”

Retired House of Prayer Pastor Jerry Helton, who worked for the district years ago, praised the longstanding culture of Union County Schools. Helton graduated locally, as did his children and grandchildren, and he has other grandchildren currently enrolled here.

“It is my opinion that we all benefited from a good education while maintaining a moral culture and moral values,” Helton said. “For the last three years I’ve been in the middle school and high school often, on a regular basis.

“I try to attend as many of the sporting events, plays, chorus and band concerts as I can. So, I know the importance of giving earned thanks when they’re deserved, and that’s why I’m here.

“I want to thank you, the administration, the board, and I want to thank the educators and everyone involved, all the support personnel and all the teachers who have worked so hard to make Union County School System one of the best systems not only in the state of Georgia, in my opinion, but in the nation.”

Retiring Assistant Superintendent Tiffany Setzer was one of the five people allowed to address the board for three minutes at the end of the meeting, per public comment rules.

Setzer lauded the district’s commitment to “Success for All” and requested that the board continue to uphold the level of excellence that has become synonymous with Union County Schools.

“As a special educator, I have witnessed firsthand how Union County Schools has excelled in inclusivity, striving to meet the diverse needs of all learners,” Setzer said. “The ongoing support from this board has been vital to ensuring every student, regardless of background, ability or circumstance, feels safe, valued and welcome.

“That commitment to creating an environment where all students can thrive is something that’s always stood out to me, something I’ve been very proud of, and something I know will continue here at Union County.

“As I prepare to step into retirement, my hope for this district is simple. Please, continue to prioritize what is best for our children. Continue to hold onto the values of our community, values that have always made Union County Schools a great place for both educators and for students.”

In closing, Setzer acknowledged that “there will always be trying times,” but she asked the School Board to “stay focused on the real work at hand, which is educating our children.”

“The success of this district has always been about the collective effort of all of us – board members, educators, staff and families working together toward a common goal,” Setzer said. “And I know that this work will continue. I leave knowing that this district is in capable hands.”

When the public comment period ended, Board Member Janna Akins offered a statement about what many in attendance appeared to be there to hear.

“We as a board understand that there are varying comments and opinions regarding the recent issues that have been raised by community members,” Akins said. “We support and we champion free speech and vigorous debate on all issues.

“While the School District does not and cannot comment on potential or ongoing legal matters, we are addressing and will continue to address all concerns, whether legal or otherwise, through the appropriate channels consistent with our policies and in the best interests of our community and our schools.

“The School District in Union County strives to serve our children every day, and we remain committed and focused on the hard work of educating our children and fostering an open and nurturing environment where all our students can succeed.”

Coverage of the awards, discussion items and business portion of the Feb. 20 meeting appears in a separate article in this week’s newspaper.