May 9th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Sullivan County Tennessee Board of Education, by a 5-2 vote Wednesday, offered Dr David Cox the job as director of schools. Cox beat out two other candidates and will now begin negotiations on a four year contract. The news means Cox will be leaving the Allegany County Public School system where he has served as Superintendent since 2009- and the board will now begin the search for his replacement. Board President Robert Farrell told WCBC News when contacted Wednesday evening that he had not been officially notified by Cox- and that the board members agreed not to comment until that notice had been received. With Sullivan County in the midst of budget and school consolidation issues- Cox will enter that system with a wealth of experience in those areas- and that experience clearly played a role in his being selected. He will vacate Allegany County’s school system at a time when the elected board is clearly divided and embroiled in some controversy. There is a current lawsuit against the board by Farrell; various ethics panel opinions being sought by one board member against another; and an ongoing effort to have the state remove another member from the board. Despite all of that, Cox told WCBC News it really didn’t play a role in his decision. He says it was a chance to return to his home state where many of his family and friends reside that was most appealing. Named the Maryland Superintendent of the Year in 2016, Dr Cox says he is proud of his tenure heading the Allegany County School system…