Mississippi’s commissioner of higher education, who has been on paid leave since last month pending a state investigation involving landscaping at his home, announced in a written statement today that he would retire as of November 15.
The state’s coordinating board for higher education is expected to accept Commissioner Thomas C. Meredith’s resignation at a meeting on Friday. In a news release, the board’s president, Amy Whitten, praised Mr. Meredith “for his many accomplishments.”
The landscaping work at Mr. Meredith’s home was authorized by Vance H. Watson, who resigned as interim president of Mississippi State University on Monday. At the state auditor’s request, Mr. Watson had previously reimbursed the state for the resources used at the commissioner’s home. The auditor’s investigation did not fault Mr. Meredith, who attempted to pay for the work. —Charles Huckabee
