MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon student Zach Dennis was on the stand this morning in the contract termination hearing of Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater.

Dennis’ parents are expected to be called to the stand today.

Last spring, the school board launched an investigation into allegations of professional misconduct by Freshwater. The investigative report by an independent firm concluded that he caused physical harm to a student with a high frequency electrical generator during a science experiment, that he overstepped his bounds as a monitor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, that he promoted particular religious beliefs in the classroom while denigrating others and that he was insubordinate in refusing to follow directives from school administrators.

Freshwater, who is suspended without pay, requested the hearing to contest the board’s intent to terminate his teaching contract.