Hazlehurst City Schools replaces superintendent amid accreditation concerns

The Hazlehurst City School District board voted Friday to replace Cloyd Garth Jr. as superintendent, appointing Nonya Thrasher as interim leader. Thrasher was serving as the district’s director of accountability, compliance and accreditation.

The board did not confirm whether Garth resigned. Garth did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The board also named Paul Rhodes as school board chairman pro tem, replacing Daniel Jones, who declined to comment. Jones previously served as University of Mississippi chancellor.

The leadership change comes amid a Mississippi Department of Education investigation into the district. The probe uncovered several accreditation violations, which must be addressed to avoid a potential state takeover. The department downgraded the district’s accreditation status to probation in March and rejected its corrective action plan.

District leaders have until December to resolve issues including incomplete student records, inadequate oversight of special education, and infrastructure needs. Thrasher, who has been district accreditation director since 2023, helped address violations related to course offerings, transportation, and student safety. She previously served as interim superintendent of Claiborne County Schools.

Rhodes expressed confidence in Thrasher’s ability to lead the district forward. “We all need to get on board because the main objective is making sure that our kids get educated,” he said.

Rep. Greg Holloway, a Democrat from Hazlehurst, said he plans to ask state officials to delay further action against the district to give new leadership time to improve conditions. Holloway noted that issues at Hazlehurst schools have persisted for nearly a decade without resolution and praised Thrasher’s leadership potential in helping to restore pride in the district.

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