FRANKLIN, Va. (WVEC) -- The entire Franklin City school board has resigned, days after the termination of its superintendent.
This is the latest development in an ongoing dispute between the school board and city council.
Earlier this week, the city council demanded the school board to resign, citing misused funds and neglected duties.
"They felt like it was serious enough that it warranted action, immediate action and they took it," says Franklin City Manager, Randy Martin.
The school board then fired superintendent, Doctor Willie Bell and replaced him with Dr. Kelvin Edwards who says the district's deficit is closer to $500,000 and not more than $1.5 million.
“We had a carryover improvement plan that would involve $481,000," he says. "But it's definitely not $1.6 million."
Both city and school officials say the deficit should not directly affect students or day-to-day school operations.
“The last thing the city council or city administration would want to do is anything to disrupt the day to day operations of students or adversely impact on students,” Martin says.
By early December the city manager says all the of school board positions should be once again filled.
In a statement, Interim superintendent Kelvin Edwards says he is working with city officials until a new school board is in place.