Parents and community members press Rome City School District board to investigate principal removal amid staff departures

Amanda Mills, who identified herself as a district parent, told the Rome City School District board that recent staffing changes have reached a scale that demands formal review. "According to publicly accessible meeting minutes from September to March and including tonight's agenda, at least 47 employees have resigned, including a principal, nine teachers, 20 TAs," Mills said, and asked the board to "start asking hard questions now before we lose more excellent educators."

Mercedes Wall, another parent, described abrupt leadership changes and a pattern of communication the district has not adequately explained. She said removing a school leader just days before state testing is disruptive and asked the board for clearer, proactive information about staffing, safety and plans to reduce class-size impacts. "Transparency is not about sharing private information. It is about providing clarity, direction, and a plan," she said.

Rocky Capony told trustees that instability and a lack of openness could harm the district's reputation and its ability to attract families and employers, echoing concerns about the number of departures and citing safety and reconfiguration issues affecting staff recruitment and retention.

A later public commenter speaking for a collective group of parents asked the board to take two specific actions: conduct a "thorough and impartial investigation" into claims against the Denty principal, and pause any decision regarding her removal or resignation until that process is complete. The group said Denty had shown measurable improvements under the principal and asked trustees to ensure district policy on probationary evaluation was followed before taking final action.

Board members did not take action on personnel matters during the public-comment period; the speakers were informed that personnel specifics may be limited by privacy and law but that follow-up requests would be forwarded to the superintendent or appropriate staff for review. The public commenters asked for a transparent process and for the board to communicate what steps are being taken to investigate and address the staffing and leadership concerns raised.