MOUNT VERNON — After nearly two hours discussing Ohio School Board Association referee R. Lee Shepherd’s report recommending the termination of John Freshwater’s teaching contract, the Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education voted 4-1 to terminate the former middle school science teacher.
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Freshwater Controversy
correction
The January 11 article about the contract termination of John Freshwater incorrectly identified R. Lee Shepherd as an Ohio School Boards Association referee. Shepherd is on an Ohio Department of Education approved list of referees.
Board member Steve Thompson voted against the measure while Margie Bennett, Jody Goetzman, Paula Barone and Sharon Fair voted to accept Shepherd’s recommendation and terminate Freshwater’s employment for “good and just cause.” That termination was effective Monday at 11:59 p.m.
“The decision has been made to accept the referee’s recommendation to terminate the employment of Mr. Freshwater,” said board president Bennett. “It was not an easy decision. We don’t believe there are any winners or losers in this situation. It is a very difficult situation for everyone. We are glad it has been resolved. Hopefully we can put this behind us, the community can begin to come together again and relationships can heal and we can move forward.”
Fair said the board used the executive session to explore all avenues, raise questions and consider all the information.
“It’s unfortunate that we had to reach this point,” she added. “We have to follow the law; we have to follow procedures; we have to address things. I hope that everyone has learned from this experience. And I hope it hasn’t damaged our community too much. I think that people do understand this is a public school and we need to look at what that means.”
Before the board went into executive session, Thompson questioned Barone’s decision, announced in November, to reverse her previous decision to recuse herself from deliberations about Freshwater. Barone said her participation would involve no legal conflict of interest and stated it was her right and responsibility as an elected official to take part in the discussion and decision-making process.
“With the resolution of the federal lawsuits,” she said, “things have changed. My recusal was cautionary [with regard to litigation.] The settlement of all litigation involving Mr. Freshwater, the Does and the Mount Vernon City Schools eliminated the basis for my recusal.”
Freshwater, by law, may file an appeal with the Knox County Court of Common Pleas.
Calls to Freshwater’s residence for comment were not returned as of press time.
Mount Vernon school district costs for the hearing, as of Monday, included $7,641 for security through the Knox County Sheriff’s Office; $45,747 for the court recorder; $813,625 for attorney fees; and $35,749.50 for the referee.
