JEFFERSONVILLE, IN. (WDRB) -- Parents are demanding answers after the Jeffersonville High School principal is suddenly moved to another school.
"I don't need to clear the air, I stand by my record," said James Sexton, who talked to WDRB news reporter Rachel Collier about his reassignment. He still will not go into specifics.
Sexton denies rumors that his reassignment has to do with allowing ineligible students to play football. "We played two students who were not eligible students in a scrimmage and Indiana High School Athletic Association dinged us for that. Other than that, it was a mistake and the coach admitted to it, and he was penalized. That had nothing to do with me."
Both he and Superintendent Andrew Melin say the reassignment was due to an issue of management style. But the conversation ends there. "You'd have to ask him. Certainly, he made the decision that my style is not his style," said Sexton.
The media got a letter from the Clark County School District announcing Sexton's reassignment yesterday, but parents got nothing. "So just all of a sudden this week, principal is out of your high school and you have no idea?" Collier asked parent Kelli McFarland. "All of a sudden," said McFarland, "heard it on the news. Heard it on the news. And I'm really disappointed in the lack of communication when we can communicate about a football game being delayed."
"I haven't received any letter, I haven't been told anything," said parent Harvest Rodman.
In a written statement, Melin would only say Sexton was put on paid leave last week while management issues were being investigated. Starting Monday, Sexton will be the principal at Clark County Middle/High School -- an alternative school.
"Do you think that this is political?" Collier asked. "No comment," Sexton replied.
Assistant Principal David Milburn will become the Interim Principal at Jeff.
"Do you feel like there's more to the story?" Collier asked McFarland. "Oh, absolutely I think there's more to the story. What it is? I don't know, maybe we'll never know."
Parents still have questions. "One, I want to know why he was originally off to be investigated for whatever reason. Two, why would you remove someone who was doing such a great job with our students?" asked McFarland.
When we tried to get answers from the school district, we were told that the superintendent has no further comment. "Just come out and say this is the reason why," McFarland said. "I think we can accept it more as parents than being fooled if you will."
Sexton is running for a position on the Jefferson County Public School Board and tells WDRB he hopes this incident does not influence any voters. When asked if the change may have something to do with him running for the board Sexton responded, "I have no idea. The long arm of politics in Jefferson County is something that I haven't figured out yet."
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