CROSSVILLE —
The Cumberland County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to dismiss a tenured teacher because of a history of tardiness and neglect of duty.
"Certainly a difficult item and one that has not been taken under advisement lightly," said Dan Schlafer, chairman of the BOE.
The board received a recommendation from Brown Elementary Principal Christie Thompson that Adrianne Eldridge, a kindergarten teacher, not be rehired for the 2011-'12 school year.
Tennessee law and board policy provide reasons for and the steps to be taken when dismissing a tenured teacher.
Causes for teacher dismissal include incompetence, inefficiency, neglect of duty, unprofessional conduct and insubordination. Inefficiency is defined by state law as being below the standards of efficiency maintained by others currently employed by the board for similar work, or habitually tardy, inaccurate or wanting in effective performance of duties. Neglect of duty is defined as gross or repeated failure to perform duties and responsibilities that reasonably can be expected of one in such capacity, or continued unexcused or unnecessary absence from duty.
Eldridge was employed by the school system for a total of about 7 and 1/2 years, though her work history goes back the 2001-'02 school year. She had previously taught at Martin and Pleasant Hill and had taught fourth and sixth grades in the past.
According to documentation provided by Thompson, Eldridge had a history tardiness and missing school that went back as far as January 2009.
Thompson noted in a memo to VanWinkle that Eldridge had received verbal and written warnings throughout the past three years, as well as a written attendance improvement plan, but none of those measures corrected the problem.
Schlafer asked BOE Attorney Earl Patton for an opinion on the legal status of the matter and where the board would stand if the recommendation were approved.
Patton said, "I think the decision is supported by the documentation. That's what I can tell this board."
Victor Randolph, 6th District representative, moved to approve the dismissal, supported by Charles Tollett, 1st District representative.
During further discussion, Sandra Brewer, 3rd District representative, asked if the teacher had similar troubles at other schools or with other principals.
Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle said, "It has been reported. However there is no documentation left in her file because those principals are no longer there."
The teacher can appeal her dismissal.
The motion was approved with all BOE members voting in favor.
In other action, the board granted tenure to the following teachers:
Central Office — Deborah Boylan and Steve Threet;
Crab Orchard — Faith Banker and Jennifer DeHart;
Cumberland County High School —Robert Akin, Charlie Alva, Kacee Harris, Kathy Hassler, Robin Hull, Mitch Lowe and Tracy Sinclair;
Hometead Elementary — Jill Pugh;
Martin Elementary — Aimee Moore and Jessica Thompson;
North Cumberland Elementary — Andrew Buchanan, Tristessa Howard, Mary Elisabeth Hubbard and Debra Stout;
Pine View Elementary — April Moore;
Pleasant Hill Elementary — Michele Campbell;
South Cumberland Elementary — Tiffany Brooke Phillips and John Scott Saylors; and
Stone Elementary — Leslie Eldridge, Nicole Graham, Willie Patton, Valerie Sherrill and Larissa Young.
Schlafer asked VanWinkle, "You are sure each one of these teachers have been evaluated correctly and, according to the state of Tennessee's procedure, they have been evaluated by more than one person, and all of the things we ask for in board policy have been met and these are the teachers we want to have tenure in our system?"
VanWinkle said, "I'm very confident in our principals and I am sure they have done their job well."
Davis moved to approve tenure for the nominated teachers, supported by Brewer. The motion was unanimously approved.
"Let them know the board unanimously and enthusiastically approved their tenure and we are happy to have them in our system," Schlafer said.
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Tenured teacher dismissed
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Looking Back
A weekly historical news feature.
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