Community members ask for reinstatement of teacher

Wearing t-shirts with "reinstate" written in large block letters, the family and friends supporting a Hillsboro City Schools teacher who has been placed on paid administrative leave for the past four months pending an investigation, asked once again that the board of education return the teacher to his classroom. 

Some members of the audience during the board's March meeting Wednesday spoke about the teacher's merits as an educator and as a person, while one audience member said that he was there because of the "historical aspects" of the situation and that he felt this was a racial issue and the board members "do not want a black teacher teaching your white children." 

During the Feb. 15 regular school board meeting, several community members and relatives of the teacher who has been placed on administrative leave spoke out on his behalf. They were also in attendance during a Feb. 27 special session of the board. The individuals asked that the board make a decision and reinstate the teacher, who has been on leave approximately since November. While his name has been publicly stated, The Highland County Press has chosen not to publish his name, as no criminal charges have been filed and there is no pending investigation by local law enforcement. 

Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley has said that only limited information can be released, as it is a personnel issue. It has not been stated what the allegations are against the teacher, but Earley has said, "If there is an allegation, it will be investigated." 

The teacher, and former high school coach, who is on administrative leave is African-American, but many of his supporters and relatives have stated they do not feel this is a racial issue, but they would just like him reinstated to his job.

Earley has not said who is investigating the allegations, but after Wednesday's meeting, he clarified that there are different types of investigations. 

"In education, there are legal aspects, and there are ethical aspects," Earley said. "We have to go by the Ohio Educators Code of Conduct. That may not be breaking the law. In education, we're held to a totally different level than people in other professions. If it is ethical, law enforcement is not going to be involved. That is not their job." 

The teacher in question was not present during the board meeting. 

Prior to the public participation portion of the meeting, board president Sam Barnhouse stated that it is board policy to not respond to any questions or remarks, and that any individual must fill out a form prior to speaking to the board so the district may respond in writing. District treasurer Debbie Lawwell called the names of the people who had signed up to speak to the board. 

Rick Burns, a relative of the teacher, said that he wanted to again speak before the board to ask that they reinstate his relative. He also asked that the members of the audience continue to attend board meetings once this matter was resolved, so the board would know that people cared about the district. 

Burns said that he was a lifelong Hillsboro schools supporter, and he thanked the board for their written response to the comments he made during the February meeting. 

"In my opinion, I think the truth was found out earlier that (the teacher) was innocent of the allegations brought against him," Burns said. "In my opinion, someone just couldn't accept the truth. When someone recants their story I think that should have been the end of the investigation. This is when the investigators went into a 'hurry up' mode, digging night and day to find somebody with a grudge to hold against this person, forgetting about the original allegation the witch hunt was on. The last time I checked, Hillsboro has no railroad. As I speak, one is being built. Please, it's not too late to reinstate. It's not too late to reinstate. Whoever has to make this decision should know God is watching and listening to you. I pray for a good and just decision."  

After Burns sat down, Wilmington resident Lee Curtis stood up and began addressing the board, even though he had not signed up to speak. 

"This has been a six-month period," Curtis said. "Whatever the allegations are, whether they're truthful or they're false, I feel that a six-month period is probably the longest period that you all have ever had to make a decision in. You can smile, but I feel that this is a racial thing. I feel that you all do not want a black teacher teaching your white children in the city of Hillsboro." 

Curtis said that he had previously spoken to Earley about recruiting more black teachers to work for the district and had given him the names of some people he could hire. 

"We would like to see our black children have a black role model too," Curtiss said. "Our teenagers are at risk just like yours. All we're asking is why haven't you all brought black teachers on board? I think you all need to address that here in this district. If not, I'm going to find some answers, because I'm getting ready to go to the state to find these answers, because this has been too long. I've given you all a chance, but I'll go over your head." 

Barnhouse asked Curtis to fill out a form so that they could respond to him in writing. Curtis said that he didn't live in Hillsboro.

"I'm here for the historical aspect of it," Curtis said. "I was born and raised here, and we went through the struggle in 1956. I walked and marched to get integration into the school system. I want to know if this is still the good ol' boy network. This is 2012. Our children do not know color. Our children only know it when they're taught by their parents discrimination." 

The people who addressed the board during the meeting will receive a written response from the board within 10 days. 

Marcus Burns, another relative of the teacher, was called to address the board. 

"I also think this is going too long. I think this is a personal issue. This is an innocent man. It's money that we're wasting on this investigation," he said. 

Marcus Burns said the district's resources should be spent on books, technology or upcoming capital improvement projects and not on the investigation. 

"I just hope you guys make the right decision," Burns said. 

Former student and a supporter of the teacher Alaina Taylor said she considered herself family, and she wanted the teacher returned to the classroom. 

"It has weighed heavy on my heart. I'm sure it has for a lot of people. Even you guys," Taylor said, gesturing to the board. "I was fortunate to have been a student in his ... class, as well as a witness to his mentoring through some of the hardest years of my life, which would have been high school. He was always the teacher where it wasn't about who you were, who your parents are or what side of the tracks you were from."

Taylor said that she is certain the board knows this teacher's character, as he has worked for the district for 30 years. 

"This leads me to be very concerned on how and why this situation has not been resolved," Taylor said. "I have high hopes that each and every one of you understand the impact this situation has had, not only on you, but his family, friends, students and coworkers. I know that (he) has dedicated his life to teaching and coaching, just like some of you. For this to be taken away from him for an accusation or allegation that has not been proven without a doubt, or any official charges give is a disgrace. I am not for sure what is really going on, or what this is about. But it needs to stop."

After the meeting, Earley said the district, "hopes to have this over as soon as possible." 

Earley said that he knows it is frustrating for some people to pose questions to him or to the board and have them not respond, but it would not be responsible for them to immediately give a reply.

"Any time you're dealing with a situation (with personnel information) you can't respond, and the last thing I want to do is put information out there that isn't true or isn't right," Earley said. "That isn't doing good to anyone." 

The board met in executive session for approximately 25 minutes to discuss employee contracts.