Jan 19, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Central Greene School Board didn’t look far to find a replacement for high school principal Dave Mason, whom the board voted last month to fire.

The board voted Tuesday to appoint assistant high school Principal Robert Stephenson to the post at a salary of $93,568, prorated for the remainder of the school year.

Stephenson served as the administrator in charge at Waynesburg Central High School since the start of the 2015-16 school year. Prior to becoming assistant principal, he was district athletic director and athletic director/assistant principal.

Stephenson was hired in a 6-3 vote, with board members Andrew Corfont, John Bristor, Kevin Barnhart, Beth Hellems, Sarah Hughes and John Jacobs voting in favor of the motion, and Sharon Bennett, Bridget Montgomery and Rachael Shultz voting against it.

The board also voted to appoint Justin Stephenson as acting assistant principal and acting athletic director at the high school effective Jan. 4.

Justin Stephenson is currently the middle school assistant principal.

The board voted at a special meeting last month to fire Mason. No reason was given for his termination.

A written statement issued later by Superintendent Brian Uplinger said the district terminated Mason for violating Section 1122 of the Pennsylvania School Code.

The code lists a number of reasons for termination, including “immorality; incompetency; unsatisfactory teaching performance … intemperance; cruelty; persistent negligence in the performance of duties; willful neglect of duties,” among several other causes.

Mason, who had been with the district for almost 15 years and who previously was a music teacher and assistant principal, was suspended with pay Aug. 21 and then suspended without pay Sept. 23.