Parents ask about missing teacher

OLD FORT — Parents outraged after Old Fort school officials won't disclose why an unnamed teacher was removed and why history class is now being taught online with a long-term substitute in the classroom. Superintendent Cindy Endsley at a Sept. 16 school board meeting, cited confidential reasons for refusing to provide information to community members. She did not indicate as to why the change was made. The A-T received information from a reliable source suggesting the teacher has been relieved of teaching duties but remains employed with the school district. Endsley disputed that but provided no clarification. Some concerned parents who attended the board meeting asked why they were not notified about the change sooner. One parent said they were frustrated after getting notices from the district they deemed irrelevant, but not receiving any notification of the teacher's removal from the classroom. College credit courses the teacher had been assigned were switched out to online study but no notification was received, the parent said. Another parent asked simply, what they should tell their student about the change with a student having to drop a class entirely for fear of flunking after being two weeks into the online course and still being unable to access the course material. School board members did not respond to parent comments during the meeting and would only say that a subsequent meeting between a parent and administration would be required. In a comment later provided by Endsley, she maintained that all teachers employed are working within the confines of their licensure, but still refused specificity on which teacher had been removed from the classroom and why. When it comes to the history courses, she also said the plans were "made over the summer, yet more details needed to be outlined with various staff upon their return from summer break." The district is using a hybrid model of online and in-person instruction. History College Credit Plus courses are available through Terra State Community College. When asked why parents and students were not notified of the change before the school year, Endsley said, " The online platform was not ready and more details had to be put in place before parents were notified. Once the details were worked out, a letter was sent to parents." The A-T sent a public records request to school officials regarding the teacher in question. The request is being processed, but the administration won't say when it will be ready.