Federal lawsuit filed against school board
MOUNT VERNON — A federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of John Freshwater, eighth-grade science teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School against the Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education, as well as select members of the board, and administrators. Also included in the suit are Thomas and Julia Hurlevi, principals of H.R. on Call, Inc., and unnamed John and Jane Does.
14 Responses to “ Federal lawsuit filed against school board”
Way to go, Mr. Freshwater. Some people think the word “Christian” is synonymous with the term “meek pushover.” You have lots of supporters in Columbus, Ohio. Stay strong…
Now had Mr. freshwater had a Muslim Qur’an on his desk, the christians would have been screaming from the mountain tops. Since it was a bible they think its ok. Don’t make yourselves out to be martyrs. This has gone on long enough. Send him off to his next job at a private school.
I fell that this is ridiculous and it has gone on way too long. Mr Freshwater has a right to carry his BIBLE. If it had not been for God we would not be here at all. I am sick of people, business, and Goverment taking our lord out of everything. This is the United States suppose to be a free Country! It was, but not anymore it has become communist “SAD”. What people should be doing is Thanking the Lord for what he has done for us, and keeping us safe and quit picking on someone who truly loves the lord. ( I guess they persucuted Jesus so you are next Mr. Freshwater I am behind you all the way) God Bless.
This is ridiculous. Freshwater… go start your own school system. It appears by your law suit that you are in it for the money and your 15 seconds of fame. I will not give my tax money to you or your family. You clearly crossed the line.
Go Away!
I am backing up Mr. Freshwater all the way.
As far as the Cost to tax payers, Which I am one, I blame the School board .
It is on there shoulders to come up with an agreement to make this go away++ Obviously they have dug their heels in and out to persecute Mr. Freshwater..++++How can Mr Freshwater receive Teacher of the Year one year…… and then be on trial the next????
IT Does not add up to me.. I say get rid of the School Board….
Mr Freshwater I SAY take this to the supreme court to receive your JUSTICE … IF NEED BE…..BECAUSE of the damage they have done to YOU,your family and YOUR good name…As well as to OUR little town…
I am sorry you and your family have have to endure this… I admire your courage.. But I KNOW- This is not your Choice but the Board’s doing…
My Two adult children both had you and they both think this is wrong…
My son went in the army and was a par trooper .. HE spent 1 year in Afghanistan/ He received 2 medals.
When we were discussing this case He said” MOM… when I was taking MY 1st Jump out the plane I thought of the of the life story of Mr Freshwater—(AS a fire fighter and you jumping out of planes to fight fires..) And my son said”I THOUGHT if MR. Freshwater can jump into a fire I can do this too…”
Thanks for your commitment to the kids and the school system ++++ YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE in A LOT OF KIDS LIVES..Sorry the SCHOOL BOARD has not stood behind you…
I don’t live in Mt. Vernon School District, but I have observed school systems in 9 Ohio counties. There is so much petty politics in so many school systems. I am amazed that the School administration and Board let this go on so long without any REAL due process for Mr. Freshwater. It seems he was operating within Board policy. If he was so bad, why didn’t he lose his job ten years ago? He is on unpaid leave for a YEAR? How unfair. Sic ‘em John! I hope you win this case in Fed. Court. I hope you get made whole economically with this suit. I would hope the people of Mt Vernon will find a new school board. — W.E.N.
Why is it, that its ok when someone is sticking up for their rights of freedom of speech or speaking out against the war, or protesting against higher taxes, but when it comes to someone defending themselves for their right of religious beliefs then it becomes a whole different issue to everyone. You don’t complain until it’s about something religious, because religion and state should be separated, and this all began over a Bible sitting on a desk, that sat on that very desk for YEARS and no one said a word. And I find it also interesting how much support Mr Freshwater had in the beginning of all of this, and now that its drug on and is wasting “your precious tax dollars” you have turned on him like vicious animals, I guess Americans only should stick up for their rights if they are athiests or not wasting your tax dollars.
You see Christians have a right to defend their beliefs as well, and march on Washington and shout it from the mountain tops just the same as ANY other American living in this country. I can think of worse things your little tax dollars are getting wasted on than this, but you only see what you want to see, and you only want YOUR points to be made and not anyone else’s. It’s a free country? Oh please what dimension are you dreaming from. Good luck to Mr Freshwater, I hope you win, I hope you don’t give up, and I hope you don’t let people deter your beliefs because they are YOUR beliefs and you have every right to defend them, and since they took your job from you, you have every right to try to get some compensation for wages and all the humility you have been put thru. Good Luck!
I find it interesting that some folks would like to deny Mr Freshwater his rights to due process under the constitution because they don’t agree with his religous beliefs. The school boards rules allow Mr Freshwater to have a hearing, so I guess its their fault. If the good citizens of Mt Vernon are so concerned about where their money has gone why don’t they ask the board why they payed a business manager $105,000, plus a lawyers fee while he was sitting home on administrative leave. They even agreed to give this manager the money if he got a job elsewhere, while on the payroll in Mt Vernon, Which he did. They still refuse to give an explanation. What are they hiding??
The board dismissed Mr Freshwater based on an incident that has still not been decided in the courts. This makes no sense. In doing so they opened themselves up to this action. In complaining about the cost, you are placing money above justice. Would you not defend your child against a percieved false accusation, because of the money?? I think not.
Some power plays backfire. I believe this one has. The shame is the taxpayers will pay for the boards arrogance.
Maybe you should decide at the Polls in November.
Interesting, I was just about to write the same thing as Debra B., only I was going to say it about John, Jane and James Doe! Talk about a war between good and evil! I think it is wonderful that they have stuck to their guns and not sat idily waiting for someone else to do what is right. And should have been done YEARS ago! Talk about LEADERS!
I’m backing the Doe’s, the Board and the administration. How about the rest of you?
I think all is fair in love and in war! And as far as I am concerned this is war between good and evil and we have plenty of that going on in today’s society, don’t you think? Mr.Freshwater has a right to exhaust every means as possible as set by law, just as each and every individual in the U.S. Who in the Knox County area or any other area for that matter has the right to say different? What makes you or anyone else so special to judge him? I am all for a man or a woman who is willing to go the extra mile to prove their case, to show the people that they have the guts to stand up for what they believe in! There are many people follower’s out there who love to just sit idly by and agree with what others have to say about someone else, but when it actually comes down to backing up what they say or mean, they run! I for one don’t run! How about the majority of the rest of you? Are you leader’s or just followers? I am backing up Mr. Freshwater all the way, and I really don’t care if it takes till the 22nd century!
I think this is absolutely ridiculous and it has gone on way too long. Have they disclosed the amount of money that the school district has had to spend pursuing this? I bet it is astounding. Just to think of all of the books and materials that could have been purchased instead!
If he wanted to include religious subject matter into his curriculum and posess religious paraphernalia in his classroom then he should have been teaching in a Parochial school – NOT in public school. It’s the law, why is it even being discussed? It’s seems black and white to me.
I sure hope the school board and administration have made sure that things things aren’t still being taught and displayed in classrooms by other teachers – hint! hint! A little bird has told me otherwise.
There are now four legal proceedings going on in the Freshwater affair:
1. The Dennis family’s federal suit filed in June 2008.
2. Freshwater’s counterclaim to that suit filed in August (I think) 2008.
3. The administrative hearing which began in October 2008.
4. Freshwater’s new federal suit.
We will be lucky to see this finished before the turn of the 22nd century.
How can you sue someone when you have an administrative hearing going on??? They are now using the time of multiple courts. CRAZY!!!!! WASTE OF MONEY!!!!
As a taxpayer in the Mount Vernon City School District, I am appalled that John Freshwater is filing frivolous lawsuits and wasting my money. John Freshwater, please go away. You were an incompetent buffoon, and you don’t belong in a classroom. And, you certainly are not in the right by taking my tax money and wasting it on attorneys for your ego-filled courtroom romp.