A county schools superintendent in southwestern Georgia whose district was embroiled in a test cheating scandal is set to leave his position next month.

Joshua Murfree, head of the Dougherty County School System, will leave his post on Dec. 18. Murfree will continue to be paid through June 7, which is the date his original contract was set to expire.

State investigators have said a few dozen educators at 11 schools in the school system either cheated or failed to prevent cheating on state standardized tests in 2009.

Murfree replaced former superintendent Sally Whatley in June 2010 and took over just as the state probe began.

The board voted four to three in favor of releasing Murfree from his contract.

Tags: CRCT cheating, standardized test cheating, Dougherty County Schools, joshua murfree