Reasons for Reinstating School Superintendent Rest on Foundation of Sand
Below is an op-ed I wrote for my hometown paper over the county board of education's decision to reinstate the local superintendent of schools after suspending him with pay because of a felony indictment for carrying a firearm on school grounds. By a vote of 8-2, the Hardin County Board of Education rescinded a previous decision to temporarily suspend Superintendent John Thomas after his indictment on a single felony charge of carrying a weapon on school property. In an earlier admission to the board and in a telephone conversation taped by local citizen Jerry Fowler, Thomas admitted to carrying the weapon on school grounds and said he has done so for the last several years. The issue only came to light when a school security officer noticed the weapon on Thomas and notified authorities. The board voted 6-4 to temporary suspend Thomas on March 22 with pay when a temporary replacement was found. Until then, Thomas would remain on the job. During that same meeting the board appointed a committee to find and name the interim and that is exactly what they did. But in some behind the scenes maneuvering, several members of the board apparently got together and decided instead to [...]