MOUNT VERNON — Over the objection of school board attorney David Millstone, Mount Vernon Middle School principal Bill White returned to the stand as Friday’s sole witness in the contract termination hearing of John Freshwater.

Millstone objected to White’s recall by Freshwater lawyer Kelly Hamilton on the grounds that Hamilton had the opportunity to cross-examine White after his appearance at the hearing in October 2008. Hearing referee Lee Shepherd overruled the objection, but advised Hamilton to confine his questions to topics not covered in October.

Reviewing the Tesla coil instructions mentioned by Ellen Button in Thursday’s session, Hamilton had White read the cautionary statement, which said, in part, keeping the arc in contact with glass could bake the glass.

“Does it say anything about not touching people with it?” Hamilton asked.

“No, it does not,” White replied.

Hamilton asked if Lori Miller, a middle school teacher who has previously testified, could keep a Bible on her desk. White said yes.

“Staff has never been told they can’t have Bibles on their desks,” he said.

Asked whether any teacher could keep a Bible on his or her desk, White replied that it depended whether it was part of a religious display, inappropriately used for instruction or used when students were present.

The next topic concerned devotional materials and the definition of devotional materials. White said he did have discussions with Freshwater about what he considered to be devotional materials.

Concerning a piece of artwork from Superintendent Steve Short’s office, also discussed in previous testimony months ago, White said that according to board policy, it could be considered a religious display since it contained a Bible verse.

“Is it possible it is not a religious display?” asked Hamilton.

“Anything is possible,” White answered.

After a couple of objections by Millstone which were sustained by Shepherd, Hamilton asked if a person could have a Bible on his desk for a purpose other than devotional.

“I suppose anything’s possible,” said White.

Hamilton asked whether permission slips were required for field trips; White said it depends on where the students would be going. He said there are different types of field trips: walking field trips, field trips within the district, trips outside the district and overnight field trips.

Millstone’s cross-examination dealt with Freshwater’s testimony that he had destroyed the Tesla coil allegedly used to harm a student.

“Did you ever direct John Freshwater to destroy the Tesla coil?” he asked White.

“No,” said White.

“Did you authorize its destruction?”

“No.”

Following a 30-minute discussion between the attorneys and the hearing referee, Shepherd adjourned the hearing until 9 a.m. Tuesday.