A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..
A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
By Toni Milbourne For The Journal
CHARLES TOWN — Two service personnel employees who were suspended by Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson on Friday due to a complaint filed that they attended last week's protest rally in Washington, D.C., have been cleared of wrongdoing in their respective hearings.
Pam McDonald met with Gibson on Tuesday with her union representative where she was cleared, according to local attorney Dan Casto.
Casto served as representative for Tina Renner on Wednesday, when she met with Dr. Gibson, the board attorney and an individual from the Human Resources Department.
Gibson has said that she received a report last Friday that two employees had "posted threatening and inflammatory posts on their Facebook pages, had been present at the Electoral protest march on Wednesday that erupted in violence and had violated our leave policy."
In a press release issued Tuesday evening just after 9 p.m., the school system said that the allegations that there were approximately 30 individuals who received suspension letters were inaccurate.
"The Superintendent received a complaint against two employees. The investigation was completed in a timely manner. We anticipate both matters being resolved by Jan. 13," the release read.
"Jefferson County Schools is limited in what can be disclosed regarding matters involving school personnel, but we assure you the administration met its obligation to investigate the complaint and handled it appropriately," the statement continued.
Renner was cleared of all wrongdoing, Casto said, following the hearing Wednesday morning. Renner was, however, instructed to attend training on how to accurately report absences.
"The superintendent refused to provide Ms. Renner with a copy of the complaint that was made against her. The complaint was evidently filed by a community member," Casto said. "The BOE has refused to provide a copy of the complaint and will not even tell Ms. Renner how it was delivered."
During the hearing, when Casto asked for the information, board counsel Laura Sutton indicated that Ms. Renner was verbally told of the complaint in the hearing.
Sutton said that since a lawsuit has been filed, the complaint can be sought through discovery.
The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia in Martinsburg Monday, claims that Gibson violated the First Amendment rights of Renner and McDonald, when they attended the political rally in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6.
The suit has been filed against Gibson personally, and Sutton concurred that she does not represent the superintendent in the lawsuit.
"It is readily apparent that the board of education is controlled by a small group of left-wing extremists," Casto said following the hearing. "These extremists previously convinced the board of education to attempt to steal private property (Rockwool-owned property) in order to carry out their radical agenda. Now, they are telling the board how to handle employee matters."
Casto said the lawsuit will continue. According to federal court records, an initial hearing has not yet been scheduled in the case.