Principals out at Erwin, Hanford Dole

Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:56 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Staff report

The Rowan-Salisbury School System announced the resignations of two school principals Wednesday afternoon. The school system said Ray Whitaker and Erwin Middle School and James Griffin at Elizabeth Hanford-Dole Elementary both resigned for "personal reasons."

Whitaker's resignation is effective Dec. 31, school system spokeswoman Rita Foil said in an e-mail. But Whitaker, who hasn't been at the school this week, won't return to Erwin. He will be on personal leave through the end of the year, Foil said.

Griffin will leave Hanford-Dole at the end of December, Foil said.

The school system has begun advertising for Griffin's replacement and will advertise for Whitaker's, Foil said.

Whitaker could not be reached Wednesday. Griffin did not return a telephone message left at the school Wednesday afternoon.

Foil said school system officials will take applications for the Hanford-Dole job through Nov. 20 and could decide on Griffin's replacement before he leaves.

Griffin started as principal at Hanford-Dole in August 2008. Whitaker had been principal at Erwin since August 2004.

Their resignations bring to three the number of principals who have stepped down since the current school year started. Gerald MoragneEl announced his resignation from Knox Middle School in September. MoragneEl said he planned to move back to Maryland, where his wife and children already lived.