OLD FORT - A suspended administrator is to return to the classroom and receive backpay, according to an agreement Old Fort Local Board of Education approved Monday.
Tom Weaver, principal of grades 7-12 and athletic director, had been suspended without pay Feb. 27, and the board was considering terminating his contract.
Under the settlement agreement the board approved after an executive session lasting nearly an hour and a half Monday evening, Weaver resigned from his administrative position and is to serve as a teacher next school year.
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Weaver
The board of education is to pay him $44,275.86, which includes his pay from Feb. 27 to July 31 and the difference between his salary as a principal this year and a teacher next year. The district is paying him the difference because he has a year remaining on his principal's contract.
Board President Donald Ellis said Weaver will be a high school science teacher, and an employee will be cut as a result because there is no teaching vacancy. Weaver said he intends to stay at Old Fort and teach.
According to a board resolution, the board was considering terminating his contract for reasons including failing to address and report inappropriate behaviors involving a staff member and students; violating student confidentiality required by law by disclosing confidential student information without parental consent; repeatedly failing to provide appropriate supervision of personnel under his control; and repeatedly violating a state board of
education code of conduct for educators.
"We achieved our goal of immediately removing Mr. Weaver from the high school principal position without having to incur thousands of dollars in additional legal expenses, including the costs of the hearing officer and court reporter, to continue with the termination proceedings," Ellis said in statement issued after the meeting.
In other business, the board:
Received administrative reports.
Accepted donations.
Adopted policies.
Renewed membership in Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Approved an increase in lunch prices for next school year to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements. Lunches for students in grades K-3 are to be $2.20, and lunches for students in grades 4-12 are to be $2.45. Board member Gary Cole voted against the measure.
Approved personnel issues and accepted the resignation of Jeremy Zender as sophomore class co-adviser.
Approved a waiver for the body mass index screening program.
Heard reports.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. June 18.
