Two ethics complaints filed against Decatur County school administrators were recently heard by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).

Dr. Marvin Thomas, who most recently served as principal of Bainbridge Middle School, was alleged to have altered attendance data for students, which allowed the school to make Adequate Yearly Progress in the attendance category.

Thomas and the PSC negotiated a consent order, which resulted in a two-year suspension of Thomas’ teaching certificate. This suspension prohibits Thomas from teaching at a Georgia public school during the duration of the suspension. The suspension runs from July 29, 2013, through July 29, 2015.

The alteration of the attendance records violated Standard 4 of the Code of Ethics for Educators. That section of the code indicates that unethical conduct includes “falsifying, misrepresenting or omitting information submitted to federal, state, local school districts, and other governmental agencies.”

During Thursday night’s Decatur County Board of Education meeting, Thomas’ retirement was approved by the board, with an effective date of July 1.

Patterson Moses, the assistant principal at Bainbridge High School, was alleged to have misdated several standard evaluations for teachers, according to the negotiated consent order.

Moses, who is still an assistant principal at BHS, was issued a reprimand by the PSC, for the violation of Standard 4 of the Code of Ethics for Educators.