June 15, 2006
By PAT LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com
The "Charlotte vote" has produced a backlash against a black school board member.
Charlotte Sheffield endured stinging criticism from speakers during Wednesday night's New Castle school board meeting. Sheffield, owner of a funeral home in the city, was one of nine votes to hire Terence P. Meehan as administrative assistant to the superintendent.
Meehan, who is white, was principal at Greensburg Central Catholic High School. He will join the district July 1, with a starting annual salary of $93,945.
More than 60 people attended the meeting, the majority to support junior high school principal Jacqueline M. Respress, a black woman who was one of four finalists for the newly created position.
Ramona Jordan, a West Parkway Street resident, targeted Sheffield first, although not by name.
"We feel the school board's unanimous vote against Mrs. Respress sends the wrong message," she said, stressing the word "unanimous."
The Rev. David M. Young was more forthcoming.
"Here is a woman who had dedicated her adult life to educating some of your children and all of our children, and she doesn't even get one vote.
"I'm not even talking about the Charlotte vote. That's appalling to me."
Another speaker sarcastically referred to Sheffield as the black person who didn't vote for Respress.
Sheffield declined to comment after the meeting.
"I have nothing personal against Miss Sheffield or anyone else on the board, nor do I have anything personal against Mr. Meehan," Respress said. "I can only say that if it had been me and I had been on the board, I would have voted no."
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