HAMILTON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The search is on in Hamilton County after three football coaches and the high school principal all resigned, just days before the start of the new school year.
Now, district leaders are working to bounce back and make sure students still have the tools they need to succeed.
"It's kind of a tough time, but we will move forward," said Superintendent Rex Mitchell.
Mitchell says the head football coach, two assistant football coaches and Felecia Moss, the high school principal, won't be returning for the new school year on August 20th. Mitchell explained the situation to the school board at their meeting Tuesday night.
"There was nobody pressuring or pushing or asking for resignations," said Mitchell. "It was their decision. My experience has always been, if a person feels the need to do that, I'm not going to stand in their way."
Moss served as principal for a year. She hasn't publicly said exactly why she's leaving. The football coaches are reportedly moving on to pursue other opportunities.
"We do face challenges," said School Board Chair Johnny Bullard. "We have to market ourselves and show people the positives that are happening, because there are so many alternatives. If we're not our own cheerleaders, nobody else is going to do that for us."
Superintendent Rex Mitchell says, despite the somewhat unexpected resignations, the district is prepared for what comes next.
"We're just very proud of the results of our high school. They moved their total school grade percentage points 11%, from a D to a very high C, only 5% points a B," said Mitchell.
Mitchell continued, saying: "It's a tough little situation right here at the beginning of school, but the staff is so resilient. They know what they have to do, people are volunteering time so we can get things done. We're just going to make it a smooth of a transition as we can."
Part of that transition means Assistant Principal Marjorie Cooks will serve as interim principal.
Assistant Coach Doug Clayton will step in as interim head football coach. All football practices and games will go on as scheduled.
