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While a social-media post by the family of Tift County High School Principal Dr. Chad Stone has led some residents to believe Stone has left his position, the Tift County School System says nothing has changed since its statement Thursday night regarding Stone being placed on administrative leave for 30 days.
On Sunday, Stone's wife Kristy Lumpkin Stone posted on social media a photo of their daughter Ellie, a senior at Tift County High, hugging her father along with the message: "Giving her principal (for the last six years) a hug as she will get a new principal in a few days. ... Office is cleaned out!"
Principal Stone did not respond to questions Tuesday. On Friday, he told the Tifton Grapevine: "I will give you a statement and tell it all, just give me some time to work through some details."
The Ga. Professional Standards Commission on Thursday found that Stone had violated three professional standards, said Laurin Vonada, director of educator ethics for the state commission.
She confirmed that the commission had found that Stone violated standards No. 5, 6, and 9. Standard No. 5 involves misuse of public funds and property; No. 6 refers to remunerative conduct, such as soliciting students, parents, or school personnel, to purchase equipment, supplies, or services that financially benefit the educator or accepting gifts from vendors or potential vendors for personal use where there may be the appearance of a conflict of interest; and No. 9 deals with unethical professional conduct.
Vonada said Stone can appeal those decisions or accept them. She declined to comment on the specifics of the charges.
“At this point, I can’t discuss any of that until the case is finalized in full,” she told the Tifton Grapevine. "As to Dr. Stone’s case, I respectfully decline to speak further on this matter until there is a resolution."
Following the state Professional Standards Commission's action on Thursday, the Tift County Board of Education (BOE) voted to suspend Stone with pay for 30 days and to not renew his contract.
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 about some of his actions or alleged actions involving social-media posts and how officials perceived he was promoting himself over the school district.
Stone’s video detailed some of those conversations, and he had said that since his actions were apparently hurting the school system, he would resign at the end of the school year.
In September, Stone had admitted unspecified "ethical lapses," and said he would "repay restitution to the school system."
When Stone was placed on leave in September, School Superintendent Adam Hathaway was also placed on administrative leave indefinitely. Hathaway later resigned and is being paid under his contract through June 30. Also, head varsity football coach Noel Dean announced he was stepping down after disappointing seasons at TCHS.
On Tuesday, Natalie Gore assumed the position of Tift County’s new school superintendent. In a letter to the community released Tuesday night, Gore said: "In my first 90 days, I will immerse myself in Tift County Schools and the broader community, creating opportunities for stakeholders (i.e., district & school staff, students, parents, and the broader community) to share insights related to what is working well and to share their hopes and dreams for the future of Tift County Schools.
"Upon the completion of my entry activities, I will develop a detailed report summarizing the input of stakeholders as well as my own observations and share the analysis with the Board of Education and our broader community. Together, we will utilize this input to inform board priorities and establish common goals for the future of Tift County Schools," Gore wrote.
"I thank you in advance for your collaboration and support as I transition. The work of ensuring the success of our community through the development and education of our students cannot be done in isolation. I look forward to hearing from you through the many listening opportunities that will be scheduled throughout the county, the details of which will be communicated in the coming days.
"Together, we will ensure Tift County Schools continues to build upon the existing opportunities afforded students to achieve new levels of student success."
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