FRANKFORT — The Kentucky State University board of regents voted Thursday to strip President George Reid of his authority and place him on paid leave until his contract expires on June 30.

        The board also voted to rescind its November 2001 decision to extend Dr. Reid's contract for an extra three years.

George Reid

        Dr. Reid is the former Dean of the University College and Associate Vice President of the University of Cincinnati.

        Regent Ishmon Burks said there had been no “meeting of the minds” with Dr. Reid over a new contract and none had been signed. Since last year, Mr. Burks said “deficiencies” in Dr. Reid's performance came to light.

        The decisions came on a series of voice votes that appeared to be unanimous. Regents declined to comment after the meeting.

        Dr. Reid's dismissal had been anticipated for some time. A few weeks ago, regents Chairman Bill Wilson wrote to Dr. Reid to tell him to vacate the university premises by midnight June 30.

        It is the latest in a string of leadership turmoil at Kentucky State, which is the historically black university in Kentucky. Dr. Reid is the sixth president since 1975.

        Dr. Reid said the school is wracked by factionalism.

        “This is the kind of leadership crisis that comes to Kentucky State University every three to four years,” Dr. Reid said. “Unless things drastically change, the presidency at Kentucky State University will not ever be stable.”

        Dr. Reid has a lawsuit pending against the board, and his attorney, Thomas Clay, said he would return to Franklin Circuit Courttoday to seek to block the board's actions. Judge Roger Crittenden refused a similar request earlier this week because he said it was only speculative that the board would act.

        Mr. Clay said he hoped to have a hearing on his renewed motion to keep the board from stripping Dr. Reid of his power and position on Monday.

        Dr. Reid and Mr. Clay complained he was given no chance to present his case to the board during a more than three-hour closed session.

        Dr. Reid said his four-year term as president saw a turnaround in the university's finances, which were once so jumbled that auditors said they were unable to examine the school's books. He also said fund-raising strides have been made and enrollment has turned around.

        “In the four years that we've been here, what we've done is transform the university,” Dr. Reid said after the meeting.

        But Dr. Reid's tenure also saw a series of clashes with faculty and students, dismal performance by KSU students on teaching examinations and a string of revelations about spending by him on personal items.

        In November 2000, the regents requested an independent review of allegations of academic record misrepresentation made against Dr. Reid by a UC professor.

        UC Professor L.J. Andrew Villalon has alleged that Dr. Reid's resume did not accurately reflect his publication record. Dr. Reid's attorney said in 2000 that an internal investigation in 1995 showed the allegation to be unfounded and that Dr. Reid was the object of a “witch hunt.”

        Mr. Villalon accused Dr. Reid of misrepresenting items in his resume May 1995, three months after Dr. Reid had declined to recommend Mr. Villalon for promotion and early tenure. Dr. Reid was dean of UC's University College at the time.

        Dr. Reid's salary of nearly $140,000 per year will be paid through the end of the month.

        Different members of the board appeared to read different motions to strip Dr. Reid of his power and position. All were passed on voice votes, and no dissents could be heard from the nine members present.

        The board charged its executive committee with beginning a search for an interim president and to work out an “appropriate severance package” for Dr. Reid.

        Mr. Clay, Dr. Reid's attorney, has written to the board insisting that a $3 million severance package is required to pay Dr. Reid for his three-year contract and the damage done to his reputation.

        Dr. Reid said his difficulties seem to grow from his allegation that Mr. Wilson and regent Marlene Helm have a conflict of interest and have harmed the university by their service on the equal opportunities commission of the Council on Postsecondary Education. The basis for Dr. Reid's lawsuit is that Mr. Wilson and Ms. Helm have tried to seek retribution against him for reporting the damage he alleges they have done. Dr. Reid's lawsuit seeks protection under the state's whistleblower law.

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