Bibb Co. Schools’ CFO Files Lawsuit Against District for Not Writing a Check

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County school’s C-F-O is suing the school district and claiming he was fired for not writing a check.

Ron Collier claims superintendent Dr. Romain Dallamend demoted him after he refused to write a check to an organization that’s working with the school district as part of its Macon Promise Neighborhood initiative.

Collier’s attorney Jerry Lumley filed the Whistleblower lawsuit Thursday in in Bibb Couny Superior Court. It centers around the Macon Promise Neighborhood which is a federal grant program that requires the school district to match federal funding dollar for dollar.

Collier claims Dr. Dallemand asked him to write a one million dollar check to a non-profit organization that was helping the district get the grant. Collier had questions about the invoice, but couldn’t get any answers. That’s when Dr. Dallamend allegedly threatened to fire him.

“Mr. Collier did not make the payment and advised the superintendent that he could not in good conscience make the payment,” Lumley said. “As a result of that, after some time elapsed, Mr. Collier was removed from his position as Chief Financial Officer and was places in a very bad environment in the rear of a warehouse with no contact with anyone.”

Collier is asking for his job back and to be compensated for his mental anguish, humiliation, and embarrassment. He’s also asking for a trial by jury.

41 NBC reached out to Dr. Dallemand for a comment, but was told this is a personal matter and the school district won’t comment on pending legal issues.

The US Department of Education released the winners of the federal grant on Friday and Bibb County did not make the cut.