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Home > Blogs > Middletown School News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > June > 10 > Entry
Board members upset with superintendent
At tonight’s special board meeting in Madison, two board members expressed disappointment that the superintendent had chosen to go to a baseball game rather than be at the meeting where the board would finalize the termination of an employee accused of having sex with an underage student.
The board finished the termination process against David “Jamie” Wagner, the former teacher and softball coach charged with two counts of sexual battery for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old Madison student.
At the meeting, the 17-year-old’s mother asked district officials how the situation had gotten so far, alluding to rumors flying throughout the community that Wagner had been investigated and spoken to previously for similar situations.
Board members said they had heard things since the allegations came to light in May but not previously. Treasurer Mark Zimov said that he was not aware of any earlier allegations or investigations.
When the charges against Wagner came out, I made a request for his personnel file. There’s nothing in the file that indicates Wagner was ever reprimanded or investigated previously.
Board members advised the mother to go to Superintendent Chris Cline who was not at the meeting. According to board members, he was at tonight’s Cincinnati Reds game.
Two board members — Tim Young and David French — then said they thought Cline should have been at the meeting.
See Young’s statement after the jump.
Speaking for myself and as a board member, I am outraged and embarrassed that our superintendent chose to go to a baseball game over being at this very important special meeting. His inactions tonight by not being here shows our community how disinterested and disconnected he truly is. Most importantly, I feel he has disrespected the families that have been involved in this awful tragedy. We have all heard the old saying that actions speak louder than words, however in this case inactions even speak louder. These are not the actions of anyone who should be leading a school district. We deserve better than this.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Madison Local Schools
Comments
By private
June 11, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
This is sad, truly sad, but beyond the atrocity of the allegations and the lack of self-discipline by one who is trusted to care for “our” children, I cannot ignore the cries of the mother. She would have done well to hold her tongue as one finger points to the school, she has four more pointing back at her. I quote: “I am very upset that this has gotten to where we are today,” the woman said. “I don’t know how … people inside that school didn’t know, didn’t see, didn’t hear.” end quote…and I ask — I don’t know how…the mother inside that home didn’t know, didn’t see, didn’t hear… I sigh. God have mercy.