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The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) on Thursday night placed Tift County High Principal Chad Stone on paid administrative leave for 30 days and decided not to renew Stone's contract.
The BOE said the “decision came as a result of new information as part of an ongoing investigation. The Board of Education is tasked with making decisions in the best interest of the students of Tift County Schools. District leadership will work to name a principal as soon as possible to ensure continuity of service to the students of Tift County High School.”
It was the second time this school year that Stone has been put on administrative leave. On Sept. 20, Stone was placed on leave for five days. No reasons were given for that action.
However, the BOE’s decision in September came after Stone had posted a video to social media reciting private, critical conversations he had had with school officials during the past couple of years about some of his actions or alleged actions involving social-media posts and how officials perceived he was promoting himself over the school district in order to seek the national principal of the year award.
Stone’s video detailed some of those conversations and had said that since his actions were apparently hurting the school system, he would resign at the end of the school year.
"I was not forced to resign or retire from my position. I chose to move toward retirement because that option is the best for myself and my family," the principal had said.
Immediately following being placed on leave in September, Stone made a public apology for unspecified "ethical lapses," which he said he will "repay restitution to the school system."
Stone, Georgia's principal of the year, also had said: "My behavior this week has been insubordinate, and I showed a lack of professionalism that I tell our kids not to do every day. I have put our board as a whole in a bad light. My actions have disrupted the system, the lives of our board members, and this wonderful community. And I take full responsibility for that."
He did not explain what he had meant by "ethical lapses" that he committed for which he is paying "restitution."
At the time Stone was placed on leave in September, School Superintendent Adam Hathaway was also placed on administrative leave indefinitely. No reasons were ever given for that action. Hathaway later resigned and is being paid under his contract through June 30.
On Tuesday, Natalie Gore will assume the position of Tift County’s new school superintendent.
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