Dooly County school district, superintendent part ways

The Dooly County school system has parted ways with its superintendent.

At its regular meeting Thursday, the board approved a $30,000 settlement agreement with Superintendent Julie Harrelson, who will be replaced on an interim basis by Assistant Superintendent Celetha Thomas. On Friday, calls to the district office were directed to attorney Maurice King, who said the district's long-term plans had not been decided.

"It just happened," he said. "I don't know what the board's going to do."

The Dooly County school system has been under state scrutiny for the last several months, and a state board hearing had been scheduled in November to consider suspending the district's school board. The district has since received a continuance for that hearing on two occasions.

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter@MTJTimm.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Dooly County school district, superintendent part ways ."