The principal at Whitwell Elementary School is under investigation by the Marion County Board of Education after officials learned of an offensive image that he allegedly posted on his social media account.
Marion County director of schools Mark Griffith said Friday the investigation involves Whitwell Elementary School Principal David Smith.
Smith has been principal at Whitwell for 13 years, Griffith said. Attempts to reach Smith Friday for comment were unsuccessful and officials at the school on Friday said he was not in his office.
Griffith said he has not verified that Smith made the post. He said he thought the image was posted Monday or Tuesday night and he learned of it Wednesday night from news media reports.
The image allegedly posted by Smith consisted of photos of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, titled "The New Pad Party," labeling Biden with "pee pads" to mock his age and labeling Harris "knee pads" in an offensive reference to sexual activity.
The meme and any sign of Smith's social media page have since vanished, Griffith said.
Griffith said he and Smith are having a one-on-one meeting Saturday to discuss the matter.
"It is being investigated and looked at to see if any policy or procedure was violated," Griffith said of the Board of Education probe. "Everything is being vetted through the board attorney [Mark Raines]."
According to the school's bullying policy, "Every person has the right to be treated with respect and fairness. This means that we show respect to other people and their property, in the class, on the playground and in the community. The right to receive respect and fair treatment requires from us the responsibility to show manners and courtesy towards each other."
The policy further states, "Bullying is an unwelcome or unreasonable behavior that demeans, intimidates or humiliates people either as individuals or as a group. Bullying behavior is often persistent and part of a pattern."
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.