Controversy Surrounds Columbus Superintendent Finalist's Contractor Selection and State Policy Flouting.

An internal audit of George "Eric" Thomas' time as Chief Turnaround Officer with the Georgia Department of Education revealed that he hand-picked contractors, flouted state policies, and paid a contractor before he was legally notified of the contract award. Thomas is a finalist for superintendent of Columbus City Schools, and the audit was obtained through a public records request. Columbus City Schools declined to comment on whether the school board was aware of the audit's findings before selecting Thomas as a finalist. Final interviews with Thomas and the other two candidates started on Monday, and a decision by the board could be made this week.