Former Piney Chapel Elementary School principal Dr. Pat Gartman met in a grievance hearing Tuesday afternoon with members of the Limestone County Board of Education.

At the request of Gartman’s Alabama Education Association representative, the meeting was held in executive session, therefore closed to the public.

The reason for the hearing was not given.

Gartman is the former Piney Chapel principal who filed a lawsuit against the board alleging the board violated state code by not notifying her of the non-renewal in the mandated timeframe. She lost the lawsuit.

Gartman, whose probationary contract as principal began July 8, 2003, and was slated to end on the last day of the 2004-2005 school year, was initially seated as principal at Creekside Elementary. Teachers and parents from both Creekside and Piney Chapel called for Gartman’s removal.

Gartman was transferred from Creekside to Piney and after concern at Piney Chapel, the Board of Education voted unanimously to terminate Gartman’s contract.