Principal named to replace Mealer

Published 9:41 pm Thursday, April 27, 2006

CHATSWORTH — A new principal for Murray County High School was named Thursday night at a called Board of Education meeting to replace Gary Mealer, who retired effective at the end of this school year.

Jason Doughty, who was most recently a principal at Green County High School in Green County will be the new principal, said board chairwoman Pat Hooker. Before Green County, Doughty was principal at Rockdale High School in Conyers, she said.

Mealer retired in February after being told by superintendent Charlotte Pipkin he would not be recommended for principal at the high school for next school year. Mealer will take a position as a part-time assistant principal at Bagley Middle School.

Pipkin stated in February she wanted a different “vision” for the high school but did not elaborate. Several parents, teachers and students spoke out against the decision for Mealer not to return to the high school. Board members called a meeting where Pipkin said the “vision” included higher test scores and a lower dropout rate. She said the test scores and dropout rate were “unacceptable.”

Also at Thursday’s meeting, board members approved assistant principals at both of the county’s middle schools.

Nancy Petit, a counselor at Bagley Middle School, will take the position at Gladden Middle School, Hooker said. Roger Rainey, a teacher at Bagley Middle School, will take the position at Bagley Middle School, Hooker said.

Both have worked in the school system for several years.