MEADOW HEIGHTS STANDS BY DECISION

PATTON -- Despite petition drives and new faces on the Meadow Heights Board of Education, an earlier decision not to rehire former high school principal Rick Chastain will stand.

The board voted 4-3 not to renew Chastain's contract as high school principal during a closed meeting Monday night. Chastain's contract expires June 30.

The board first announced its decision not to renew his contract after a Feb. 15 meeting. The board voted 3-3, with one abstention not to renew the contract.

Chastain said he was fired because he blew the whistle on the district's former superintendent, Tom Waller.

Waller resigned after the board learned that fictitious names had been added to attendance records.

After the February meeting, about 200 people signed petitions asking the board to reconsider its decision to fire Chastain as principal. The petitions were submitted during a March meeting, but the board took no action.

At Monday's meeting, Patton residents and newly-elected board member Mike Welker requested another vote.

In the closed session the board voted against renewing the contract.

Board president Dennis Mouser said the board won't consider Chastain's contract again.

"I'm not sure where it goes from here," he said.

Chastain is still considering whether to file a lawsuit against the district. Tenured teachers must be told the reason for dismissal. The Meadow Heights Board of Education denied Chastain's request for such a hearing.

Chastain could not be reached for comment Tuesday.