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Pinellas School Board approves transfer of former Tarpon Springs High principal

 
Published Oct. 13, 2015

The Pinellas County School Board on Tuesday approved the transfer of James Joyer, whose handling of a recent death threat as principal of Tarpon Springs High School drew criticism and sparked an investigation.

The vote allows Joyer to transfer to an assistant principal job at Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, where his salary will drop from $91,213 to $74,137.

The board approved the measure as part of a larger package of items known as the "consent agenda." There was no discussion on the issue.

Joyer was investigated by the district's Office of Professional Standards after authorities say he halted efforts to trace an irate man who called the school Sept. 4 threatening to come on campus and kill him. A resource officer said in his report that Joyer's secretary called the officer "and advised me to hang up the phone and do not pursue this matter any further."

At the time, it was unclear whether the caller was serious about his threat or whether he was armed. There were no calls for police backup or to secure the school through a lockdown or a lockout.

Police later tracked down the caller, who indicated the matter had to do with "personal issues" between Joyer and a friend of his.

District officials have not released the results of the OPS investigation.