DECATUR - Three school officials in DeKalb County have been paid more than $300,000 while they were targets of a criminal investigation into school construction contracts.

The three employees did little or no work during the time for which they were being paid and at least one of them was paid this week while in jail.

Former Superintendent Crawford Lewis was given $100,000 in taxpayer money for his legal defense when he was terminated in April. He also received four months of additional pay for leaving.

Patricia Reid, former chief operating officer, became the district's highest-paid official when Lewis left and is still receiving pay and benefits. And Cointa Moody, Reid's assistant, who was paid $92,000 in 2009, was fired on Friday after reporters began asking questions about her status.

Reid has reportedly been paid $115,266 since being reassigned from chief operating officer to "special projects" on Oct. 22. A spokesman for the district said her duties include heading the district's green initiatives and "any additional assignments deemed necessary." School staff said Reid only comes to work about two days a week. Reid's annual salary is more than $197,000 a year.

Moody made about $53,000 since October, when she was told to continue serving as Reid's assistant. She had no other duties, school staff said. Moody was indicted on theft charges for taking $42,000 in overtime from July 2008 to June 2009, when she was running personal errands for Reid.

Meanwhile Friday, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits DeKalb and most school systems in the southeast, said it is looking into the indictments. SACS revoked the accreditation of Clayton County schools in 2008.

"We have made no decision yet, but significant questions need answers," SACS president and CEO Mark A. Elgart said.

Elgart said it is rare to see a school employee remain on the job after being indicted, as Reid has.

Board chairman Tom Bowen said the district's employment policies and employee contracts prohibited it from taking immediate action against Reid, and her attorney said Friday she expects to return to work on Tuesday.

School officials said they don't know where Reid will sit at work or what she'll do since conditions of her bond prohibit her from having any contact with witnesses, including many school administrators.

Reid and Pope were released from jail Friday afternoon, both on a $400,000 bond.

They initially each had a $1 million bond, but Superior Court Judge C.J. Becker reduced their bonds after complaints from attorneys that they could not afford it.

Lewis and Moody were released Wednesday night, each on a $200,000 bond.

School board members have been reluctant to talk about the indictments, other than saying that they were unaware of the alleged criminal activity.