Tift Co. superintendent and Tift Co. High School principal placed on administrative leave
TIFTON, Ga. – After a disruption in Tift County’s School System this week, two school leaders were placed on administrative leave after a special-called board meeting Wednesday evening.
CBS 44 News Reporter Cameron Sanders has more details in tonight’s top story…
After hours of discussion the Tift County Board of Education has decided that Tift County Superintendent Adam Hathaway will be put on administrative leave indefinitely and Tift County High School principal Dr. Chad Stone will be put on administrative leave for the next five days.
On September 18th, principal Dr. Chad Stone released a video alleging that the Tift County Board of Education believed that he was promoting himself to win a personal award as principal.
Because of this belief, Stone asked to step down and resign as principal.
“…This hurts my heart because I was trying to promote our great school district after that meeting, and later that night I discussed with my wife what items that were discussed, and we decided because of my actions was hurting the system I would ask our school leaders to resign,” said Dr. Chad Stone, principal, Tift County High School.
Late Wednesday at seven o’clock multiple Tift county residents gathered at the special meeting of the Board of Education to express support of the recently resigned Tift County High School principal, as residents believe superintendent Adam Hathaway forced Dr. Stone to step down.
“Most people are going…why is the Georgia High School Principal of the Year, who I think is a strong candidate for National Principal of the Year, is being run out?” said David Bass, brother-in-law of Dr. Chad Stone.
“He’s inspired me every single day, even when I’ve gone through bullying in the 7th grade, I was able to personally talk to him and he helped me through those issues,” said a Tift County High School student.
Emotions continued to run high in the Tift County Board of Education facility…
“People like Kristy and Dr. Stone are what we need to keep in this community and to keep Tift county being the Friendly City, the Reading Capital of the World, and if they run him away there’s nobody better,” said a Tift County parent.
Later that night, the board reached a decision…
“Adam Hathaway has been placed on administrative leave until further notice. Mickey Weldon has been assigned as acting superintendent. Dr. Chad Stone has been placed on administrative leave for 5 days, ” said Johnathan Jones, Chairman, Tift County Board of Education.
Principal Dr. Chad Stone was also in attendance, and left a message for the Tift county school district.
“…I regret what these series of actions has cost our students whom I love the most, it’s time for me to lead and make our community better today than yesterday,” said Dr. Chad Stone, principal, Tift County High School.
Mr. Bradley Winger has been named as acting principal until Dr. Chad Stone’s return, and Mickey Weldon, assistant superintendent for human resources, will serve as acting superintendent until further notice.
No reason for suspension has been stated by the board as of right now. We’ll keep you updated as events unfold.
The following is a press release from September 21, 2023 by the Tift County School System:
“…While the events of the past week have caused a disruption in our community, we hope that everyone will be able to return to our core mission of educating the students of Tift County.”
Source: Tift County Schools, Dana Spurlin
Cameron Sanders reporting.
Copyright 2023 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.
