Four days after firing its superintendent, the Moore County (N.C.) Board of Education has rehired him.
WRAL-TV reports that Grimesey got his old job back as four of the board members who voted to get rid of him resigned their seats.
Grimesey’s reinstatement was met with loud applause from the auditorium, which was filled mostly with teachers. The meeting was moved to the high school to accommodate the large crowd.
The rehiring was the latest event in an ongoing drama that has roiled emotions in the school community. The school board voted 5 to 3 on Thursday to fire Grimesey, who began working in Moore County less than a year ago. The board did not say why it fired Grimesey.
Intense backlash to the firing prompted three board members to resign over the weekend; a fourth quit on Monday. All four of those who left the board had voted to oust Grimesey.
Meanwhile State Rep. Jamie Boles filed papers in court calling for the resignations of those who voted to fire Grimesey. He obtained a temporary injunction to block the board from hiring a replacement, and suggested in court documents that Grimesey's firing was based on personal animosity.
