Local

Newly elected Marion Co. superintendent brings big changes

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The newly elected Marion County School superintendent is cleaning house, even before he's sworn into office.

George Tomyn will be sworn in Nov. 20, but he has reassigned two deputy superintendents.

"Some may ask whether this is political retribution here. No, sir. This is not political retribution. This is all about putting the right people in the right positions on the team to serve the students of Marion County," said Tomyn.

Tomyn will transfer a pair of deputy superintendents who also happened to be his political opponents during the campaign.

Wally Wagoner lost to Tomyn in last summer's Republican primary and Diana Green lost to Tomyn in Tuesday's general election.

While Wagoner's new assignment hasn't been determined, Greene will become an elementary school principal, which carries a $20,000 pay cut.

"Demotion is not the word I have used at all. I have re-assigned Dr. Greene to Fessenden Elementary as a principal. She is fully certified to be a principal. She has been an elementary principal before and a very successful one," said Tomyn.

He said it's about what's best for the students and insists it's not about politics.

"Good people will have a job in our school system," said Tomyn.

Wagoner told Channel 9 he understood that a newly elected superintendent would mean there would be changes.

Greene could not be reached for comment.