Flaggs responds to Sturgis’ remarks

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said Friday morning that he made every effort Wednesday to contact Vicksburg Warren School District Board President James Sturgis Jr. over his request to delay school openings.

Flaggs wrote a letter to Sturgis that he emailed twice and had hand delivered before releasing the letter to the local press.

During Thursday’s school board meeting, Sturgis brought up the letter.

“If you will allow me to respectively respond,” Sturgis said. “First of all, Mr. Flaggs, I love you, but … Mr. Mayor, I’m very, very perplexed as to why you chose to give [the press] this letter instead of giving it to me first, to read it.”

According to emails obtained by the Vicksburg Daily News, Flaggs emailed the letter to Sturgis at 12:29 p.m. Wednesday and again at 1:28 p.m. The letter was also hand delivered to the school district office just before 12:55 p.m. by City of Vicksburg COVID-19 Compliance Officer Tabatha Martin-Crawford.

At 1:58 p.m. School Superintendent Chad Shealy acknowledged receipt of an email containing the letter sent to him by the mayor at 1:27 p.m.

At 3:09 p.m., Flaggs office emailed the letter to a local news outlet.

Friday morning, Flaggs office provided the VDN information about the emails and delivery.

Sturgis responded to Flaggs assertion that the letter was sent multiple times, saying he doesn’t check his email often.

“I didn’t see it, but it’s trivial,” he said. “You know where I stay. I’m not going to say they didn’t do it.”

Flaggs did not respond directly.

“I believe in protocol and respected his position of authority,” he wrote in a text message. “I respect the VWSD decision and pray for our future in Vicksburg.”