By Fallan Patterson

Staff Writer

The Kissimmee principal arrested Friday on drug charges resigned Monday morning, Osceola County School District officials said.

David Groover's resignation is effective Tuesday, district spokeswoman Dana Schafer said, adding that the district will appoint a new principal to the school but details were unavailable Monday.

Groover, 43, principal of Partin Settlement Elementary School since 2006, was arrested and charged Friday with providing methamphetamine and GHB, known as the date rape drug, to an undercover law enforcement officer, authorities said.

Osceola County Sheriff's Office deputies charged Groover, of 6180 Alligator Lake Shore, St. Cloud, with delivery of methamphetamine, delivery of GHB-controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of GHB-controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, possession of cannabis under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The investigation began when deputies received a complaint of possible drug activity at Groover's home. On Friday, deputies conducted an operation which resulted in Groover providing an undercover agent with methamphetamine and GHB at his home, Sheriff's Office reports said.

Groover allegedly told the agent how to mix the clear liquid GHB with other liquids to get high and showed the agent a glass pipe, telling the agent he had “Tina,” the street name for methamphetamine, available, the charging affidavit stated.

Groover was placed into custody and deputies conducted a search warrant on his residence.

During a search of the home, officers found a cannabis cigar in the master bedroom's walk-in closet, approximately 1.2 grams of methamphetamine in a clear “baggie” in the kitchen, a glass pipe and rolling papers in the kitchen and a baby bottle containing approximately 2 ounces of GHB, according o the charging affidavit.

Based on the investigation and evidence recovered, Groover was booked into the Osceola County Jail.

This is not Groover's first arrest. Groover was arrested by the Sheriff's Office for DUI in 2009, but was later found not guilty in court, said Twis Lizasuan, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

Groover spent 30 years working up through the ranks of the Osceola County School District, first working with at-risk students and as a substitute teacher before teaching social studies at Neptune Middle School in Kissimmee in the mid-1990's, according to district records.

Groover made the transition to administration in 1998 as a dean at Denn John Middle School in Kissimmee before taking on assistant principal positions at both Hickory Tree Elementary and Partin Settlement Elementary schools.

Groover was appointed principal of Partin Settlement Elementary School in October 2006. At the time of his resignation Monday, he was earning $87,002 annually, Schafer said.