The Grundy County School Board has voted to remove Director of Schools Clay Newsome after just six months on the job.
The 5-3 vote came Tuesday evening during a meeting called to discuss pay-for-performance bonuses that were due Newsome.
Some board members reportedly thought Newsome's performance had been lackluster, but members who supported keeping him argued he hadn't been given enough time or clear direction, board member Bobby Foster said.
"We hired him straight out of the classroom and he essentially had zero experience, and we never set goals for him," Foster said. "I felt we should keep him on at least until June and give him the benefit of the doubt."
Board members voted to bring former acting Director of Schools Jody Hargis on to fill the vacancy. Hargis will continue as acting superintendent until June 30, Foster said, and the board will launch a formal search sometime before that.
A call to Newsome's cell phone was not answered Wednesday afternoon.
Board members Willene Campbell, Darrell Graham, Paul Gallagher, Anita Meeks and Jenny Roberts voted to remove Newsome. Foster, Charles Sanders and Leon Woodlee were in favor of keeping him. Chairman Gary Melton did not vote.
Newsome was transferred back to the classroom Tuesday evening.
"Why would anyone apply to be director of schools in Grundy County when they see how we run things?" Woodlee told WRCB-TV. "We were on a roll. Clay Newsome made some changes that needed to be made, but he must have made the wrong people mad."
Attempts by the Chattanooga Times Free Press to reach several school board members who voted for Newsome's transfer were not successful Wednesday afternoon. A message left for Hargis also was not returned.
Foster said Newsome is leaving the job with a $6,000 bonus that was tied to schools making adequate yearly progress as determined by the state. Board members apparently were split over whether Newsome should get the bonus, because the tests that were administered to determine progress actually were taken during Hargis' tenure.
Contact staff writer Adam Crisp at acrisp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6323.