THOMASVILLE — A recent Thomasville City school board hiring decision raised concern with two board members. 

The school board, in a 4-2 vote Friday, voted not to renew Thomasville High School Principal Chip Clatto’s contract for the next school year. The school board also voted to hire Dr. Tret Witherspoon, a former principal at Scott Elementary and currently principal at Stringfellow Elementary in Moultrie, as the new city high school principal. 

Board members Dr. Hazel Jones and Dr. Mary Williams-Scruggs voted against the change in leadership, both believing a city schools hiring policy was not followed properly. 

“I voted against the change in Thomasville High School leadership and the rehiring process because I had serious concerns about the noncompliance to the adopted December 19, 2017 updated school board policy,” Jones said Monday. 

Said Scruggs: “It was not in compliance with the school policy.” 

According to the Thomasville City Schools policy on professional personnel recruitment, available certified positions should be “announced in writing within the school system and submitted to a state-wide online job data base maintained by the state.”  

“It did come to our attention after the vote that we did not follow follow policy,” said Chris Rodd, school board chairman. 

Rodd said Tuesday his recommendation would be to rescind the motion, adding anytime the board is made aware a policy is not followed, board members should acknowledge and correct the situation. 

Superintendent Dr. Laine Reichert said the THS principal job was posted on the city schools website and teachgeorgia.org. 

“We’ll decide the best applicant, as well as rescind the original recommendation,” Reichert said.