PIERCE COUNTY, Ga. — The Pierce County Schools superintendent told Action News while the district knew about the allegations in December, the attorney advised the district not to announce it right away because no charges had been filed and the investigation was pending.
Mark Dixon resigned as Pierce County School Board chairman Thursday morning just hours after Action News ran a story revealing he was under a recent investigation for molestation allegations.
"It's a bad day. It's a sad day," Superintendent Terri DeLoach said.
DeLoach said the district attorney advised the district not to publicize the allegations in December.
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"We were advised by our attorney," DeLoach said. "We did not know about it until December and in December when we heard about it, it was an investigation by our Sheriff's Department."
"Wouldn't parents have a right to know about this as soon as the school district learned about it?" Action News asked.
"It was allegations and because it's allegations it's with the sheriff," DeLoach said. "We can ask him to resign but he's elected by the people and the only person that can remove him from his seat is the governor."
DeLoach said the governor did accept Dixon's resignation Thursday.
DeLoach said she was shocked by the allegations.
"He was a great steward," DeLoach said. "He was someone who represented and cared about our community, cared about our students."
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