School board rejects hearing officer recommendation, reinstates classroom teacher
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Summary
After a closed session, the Suffolk City School Board voted to reject the hearing officer’s recommendation and to reinstate a classroom teacher whose employment had been in question, following a motion in open session to adopt the third resolution received by the board.
The Suffolk City School Board voted May 8 to reject a hearing officer’s recommendation and to reinstate a classroom teacher, concluding a closed meeting held under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The motion to adopt the third resolution — which directs the board to reject the hearing officer’s recommendation — was made in open session by Vice Chair Sean McGee and seconded by Board member Riddick; the board then voted to adopt the motion.
Board members cast recorded votes after returning from a closed meeting that the board said had been convened under Va. Code §2.2‑3711, with personnel items cited under Virginia Code §§22.1‑3.11 and 22.1‑3.13. After the vote to reinstate the teacher, the board also adopted a formal resolution certifying that the closed meeting was conducted in accordance with state law.
The board discussed the matter in closed session and voted in public session to accept the resolution returning the employee to employment. The superintendent and legal counsel handled the closed-session process and presented the required certification to the board after the meeting.