DeKalb Schools: Popular principal removed amid investigation

Brian Bolden was placed on administrative leave last week, pending an investigation, the details of which were unknown. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

The principal at DeKalb’s Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy has been removed, district officials said Wednesday.

Brian Bolden is at least the third DeKalb County School District principal to be removed from a school so far this school year.

District officials would only say he is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. A letter sent to parents on Friday announced an interim principal and a meeting scheduled at the school for 6:30 p.m. Thursday on the changes.

Bolden was principal at the school when Michael Brandon Hill entered the school unannounced, armed with an AK-47 and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. No one was hurt. Bolden was praised for his efforts to regroup after the incident, by school district officials, parents and students. The saga is the basis of the short film "DeKalb Elementary," nominated for an Oscar at next month's Academy Awards.

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