Two days after naming an interim superintendent, the Aberdeen School District is having to go back to the drawing board in pursuit of a temporary head administrator.
Joseph Stone was named interim superintendent by the district on Tuesday. His term was short-lived, however, as he was promptly removed from the position by local officials. The reasoning? Stone said it was because he did not meet certain state requirements for the position.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to serve in that role due to an oversight regarding the qualifications established by the Mississippi School Boards Association,” Stone wrote on Facebook. “After carefully reviewing those qualifications, I personally believe I met the requirements under the alternative pathway. However, I respect that our Board of Trustees made the decision they believed was in the best interest of our school district.”
Stone, a local minister, was tabbed to replace former superintendent Dr. Andrea Pastchal-Smith, who was let go earlier this week following a four-year stint leading the district. The school board did not publicly weigh in on its decision to relieve Pastchal-Smith of her duties.
“This experience has reminded me that my life is not defined by a position — it is defined by my purpose,” Stone further wrote. “My purpose has never changed: to use my gifts, talents, and experiences to help others discover and reach their God-given potential. No title can give me that purpose, and no setback can take it away.”
The school board will have to work quickly in naming an interim superintendent, as classes are scheduled to begin in under one month. Local school district superintendents are responsible for overseeing daily operations, managing budgets, implementing policies, and evaluating and hiring staffers.
