School board fires Waynesburg principal

WAYNESBURG – Central Greene School Board fired Dave Mason as its high school principal during a special meeting last month.
District Superintendent Brian Uplinger confirmed the termination, which came in a 7-2 school board vote during the special meeting Dec. 5. A legal advertisement announcing the Saturday morning meeting was published the day before.
Uplinger said he did not attend the meeting, which was held two days before the new school directors took their seats on the board at the Dec. 7 reorganization meeting, and he was not sure who cast the dissenting votes. School Board President Andrew Corfont referred all questions to Kirk King, the district’s solicitor.
King said he could not comment on the deliberations or the reason for the firing because it was a personnel matter. He added the termination did not include a settlement.
Uplinger said in a written statement the district “terminated/discharged” Mason for violating Section 1122 of the Pennsylvania School Code. That code has a variety of reasons for termination, including “immorality; incompetency; unsatisfactory teaching performance … intemperance; cruelty; persistent negligence in the performance of duties; willful neglect of duties,” among several other causes.
Questions about Mason’s job status were swirling since the beginning of the school year.
King confirmed Mason was suspended with pay Aug. 21 and later suspended without pay Sept. 23.
Mason was with the district for nearly 15 years after previously serving as a high school music teacher and assistant principal before being promoted to principal.
Assistant Principal Bob Stephenson has been serving as the administrator in charge at Waynesburg Central High School since the beginning of the year. Mason’s online biography, which was on the district’s website during his suspension, was removed.
Uplinger said the school board might address the vacancy during its Jan. 12 workshop meeting or the Jan. 19 voting meeting, both of which begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the district office at 250 S. Cumberland St. in Waynesburg.