SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — The controversy surrounding the incoming Spotsylvania school superintendent continues, over a month after the initial announcement of who is expected to step into the role.
People who oppose the bid for Mark Taylor to take on the role were in court Thursday where they stayed true to their narrative that he is not qualified for the job.
The issues date back to the beginning of 2022 when four of the seven Spotsylvania School Board members fired the former superintendent, Scott Baker in January. He previously held the titles of regional superintendent of the year and teacher of the year.
In September, the board announced that they are planning to replace Baker with Taylor, who has no background in education. This decision has left teachers and parents angry.
"I have never been more disappointed in my life," said Faith Jarvis a parent of former Spotsylvania students who still has family members enrolled. She said the conservative majority of the board that fired Baker initially has broken rules, maybe laws, misspent funds and is now threatening to undermine the quality of education with an unqualified candidate for superintendent.
Taylor's resumé includes time spent as the Spotsylvania County Attorney and Administrator, and some experience as an administrator in Greene County, Virginia.
Even with oppositions to Taylor's bid by community members, the request for an injunction was denied in court, but the critics vowed to file an amended complaint.
But that won't happen before Taylor takes office on Nov. 1.
Technically, Taylor does qualify for a superintendent’s license, according to one option of the Virginia code, which says an individual must have earned a master’s degree, have had minimum of three years in a successful, full-time leadership position, and be recommended by a Virginia School Board that wants to hire them, which the new self-proclaimed conservative majority does -- and has.