A group seeking representation for some parents, students and staff of Anderson School District 4 plans to meet tonight (Monday night) to organize.

Quintella Burgess, who during a school board meeting Monday night questioned the hiring of a new superintendent, is the organizer

“We want to find the best way to try to keep representation in the district,” Burgess said. “We want to be there to make sure every student, every parent has someone advocating on their behalf.”

The meeting is at 5 p.m. at the Pendleton Branch of the Anderson County Library.

Burgess said some parents and staff believe they are not being heard about concerns within the school system. Others are afraid to speak up because of fear of retaliation, she said.

“We are citizens in the county and we have a right to be part of the discussions,” she said.

During Monday’s board meeting, parents and others showed up thinking they were to going to discuss the hiring of a new superintendent, current Pickens County Superintendent Lee D’Andrea. But visitors were told they needed to sign up before the meeting. No sign up forms were available at the meeting, so few were allowed to speak.

“It was advertised as an open discussion,” she said. The board, however, “just skipped over that” when it came up.

Burgess, who has three children in the system, did read a letter at the meeting that stated D’Andrea was contacted by the board and that the board did not interview a pool of finalists selected by a search committee and the board.

Board vice chairman Marty Williams said D’Andrea “is a proven leader” and he had confidence in her.

Burgess’ husband is Gary Burgess, who retired as superintendent of District 4 earlier this year. She said he chose to retire and that her interest was from a citizen’s standpoint.