Macon Middle School principal Kevin Bailey has been suspended with pay, according to a representative from the Macon County School District.
While the reason for the suspension remains confidential, the district confirmed it is not due to any illegal activity or anything involving a student.
Bailey is in his first year as principal at Macon Middle School and prior to that was executive director of human resources for Jackson County Schools since August 2017.
The suspension was effective April 8 at the direction of Superintendent Chris Baldwin. While the Board of Education makes final hiring and firing decisions, the superintendent may suspend someone without board action. The suspension can be for a period of up to 90 days while the issue is further investigated.
According to state law (115C-325): If a superintendent believes that cause may exist for dismissing or demoting a career employee for any reasons specified in G.S. 115C-325(e)(1), but that additional investigation of the facts is necessary and circumstances are such that the career employee should be removed immediately from his or her duties, the superintendent may suspend the career employee with pay for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 90 days. The superintendent shall notify the board of education within two days of his or her action and shall notify the career employee within two days of the action and the reasons for it.
If the superintendent has not initiated dismissal or demotion proceedings against the career employee within the 90-day period, the career employee shall be reinstated to his or her duties immediately and all records of the suspension with pay shall be removed from the career employee's personnel file at his or her request. However, if the superintendent and the employee agree to extend the 90-day period, the superintendent may initiate dismissal or demotion proceedings against the career employee at any time during the period of the extension.