The Demopolis City Board of Education held a called board meeting Friday morning, and two principals in the system swapped positions.

Dr. Tony Speegle was moved to Demopolis High School to serve as principal, and Leon Clark was moved to U.S. Jones to become the principal there.

The changes proposed by Superintendent Dr. Al Griffin and adopted by the Demopolis Board of Education were made to match the strengths of their employees to the needs to the system, according to a press release.

Demopolis City Councilman Harris Nelson, whose board and committee appointments include the BOE, said he was disappointed in how the decision was made.

“I am disappointed that the school board made such a major decision in a special called meeting on a Friday morning when the general public was unavailable,” Nelson said. “I hope the decision truly is in the best interest of the school system and that the superintendent and the school board are not playing politics with our kids’ futures.”

Griffin and board president Jim Stanford declined further comment than what was in the press release, and Clark and Speegle could not be reached Friday.

The following is the press release from board attorney Alex Braswell:

A called Board meeting was held on June 7, 2013 by the Demopolis City Board of Education.  The Demopolis City Board of Education Superintendent proposed numerous personnel changes.  Dr. Tony Speegle was transferred to serve as the Principal of Demopolis High School and Leon Clark was transferred to serve as Principal at U.S. Jones Elementary School.  All of the changes proposed by the Superintendent and adopted by the Demopolis Board of Education were made to match the strengths of our employees to the needs of our system.