Dr. Jim Scales, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, announced Monday that he has removed Eddie Gravitte as principal of Signal Mountain Middle/High School.

Dr. Tom McCullough, a retired Chattanooga Public Schools principal and former superintendent in Georgia, has been placed as interim principal of the school for the remainder of the year. He was most recently headmaster at David Brainerd School, which recently closed.

Mr. Gravitte is suspended with pay "pending his placement in another position in which he is certified."

Dr. Scales said he removed Mr. Gravitte "for unprofessional conduct and neglect of duty, which compromised the educational integrity of the school and district and negatively impacted students."

He said, "The situation that led up to Mr. Gravitte’s removal involved Mr. Gravitte allowing a non-certified staff member to teach high school math classes during the 2008-2009 school year, which in turn jeopardized students’ academic standing. Mr. Gravitte also falsified a report to the state."

The math teacher, Jonathan Wesley "Wes" Green, was indicted by the Hamilton County Grand Jury in June in a scheme to sell on the street drugs that were fraudulently obtained by a female friend.

Green was charged along with Jacqueline L. Newman, who was a pharmacy technician at a local Walgreen's. Mr. Gravitte attended the couple's wedding after they had been charged. Contacted by a reporter at the time, he said he had not been told by Green about the charges and learned it first from the reporter.

Dr. Scales said, “I did not make this decision lightly. I wanted to make sure we had thoroughly investigated the situation and talked to all parties involved before taking such drastic action.

“Our goal through this whole process was to do what is right for students. Removing a principal after school has started is a very serious action. However, plans are in place for a veteran administrator to lead the campus through this transition, which will mean minimal disruption to the learning environment.”

Dr. Scales added that the district has been collaborating with the state since July on a plan "that will prevent any student from being academically harmed by the situation. The district began to implement that plan today."

Dr. Scales said that the situation "is unfortunate given the great start to the school year Signal Mountain Middle High School has had.

“Signal Mountain is a high-caliber school and while this may be a small speed bump on their journey towards excellence, I am confident the school will continue to boast great achievements.”

“The school is in the process of International Baccalaureate certification for both the middle and high schools and I know Dr. McCullough will help steer the school through this fragile stage.”

Dr. Scales said he will begin the search process for Signal Mountain’s new principal using the normal selection and retention process which involves staff and community members.