MOUNT VERNON – Additional defense witnesses are expected to take the stand when the contract termination hearing of Mount Vernon middle school science teacher John Freshwater resumes Tuesday.

The school board, in 2008, 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 during a science experiment, overstepped his bounds as a monitor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, promoted particular religious beliefs in the classroom while denigrating others and was insubordinate in refusing to follow directives from school administrators.

Freshwater, currently suspended without pay, requested a hearing to contest the board’s intent to terminate his teaching contract and maintains the board wants to fire him for keeping a personal Bible on his classroom desk.

The hearing will start at 8 a.m. in the Knox County Commissioner’s chambers in the Knox County Service Center, 117 E. High St.