Georgia school superintendent accused of racist rant gets $18K payout

Credit: Jason Getz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Credit: Jason Getz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An $18,000 final payment has been approved for a former superintendent accused of going on a racist rant.

During an executive session of its regular meeting Sept. 24, the Buford City Schools Board of Education discussed the payment of $17,999.99 that included vacation pay and deducted an overpayment of salary.

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"We don't owe him one more dime," Board Chairman Phillip Beard said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We don't owe severance or anything else -- just what is due to him."

Hamby resigned Aug. 24 after an audio recording emerged in which the speaker used racial slurs repeatedly. People in the community said the voice belonged to the superintendent.

Related: Georgia school superintendent accused of racist rant resigns

Hamby was initially placed on administrative leave after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the contents of the audio recordings, in which the person said to be Hamby refers to African-Americans as "deadbeat n-word" and even spoke of wanting to kill black construction workers who had angered him.

Related: School superintendent accused of racist rant placed on leave

“My sincere apologies for any actions that may have created adversity for this community and the Buford School District,” Hamby wrote in a short resignation letter to the school board. “Thank you for your many years of tremendous support and leadership.”

The board appointed retired former Assistant Superintendent Joy Davis as his replacement. Her contract was finalized at the same meeting.

According to board documents, she will be paid a portion of an annual salary of $205,000 for 90 days. Because she’s officially retired from the school system, she’ll have to take a drastic pay cut if a replacement isn’t found by then.

After the three months, she won’t be allowed to make more than 49 percent of her last salary as a school system employee, according to Beard.

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