Richmond County Educators at their best.
Details of the Spirit Creek Middle School sex scandal continue to trickle out.
On Thursday, the Richmond County school system released copies of the letters of reprimand and advisement given to staff members of the school, where it has been alleged employees were having sex on campus during school hours.
Since October, the school system's internal affairs investigators, senior administrators and even agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have been unraveling the sordid details of what took place last school year, including why an inflatable mattress was in the public safety officer's room.
The discipline was as follows:
- Teacher Jennifer Driesen received a letter of advisement, a step below a formal reprimand given when allegations can't be proven. It was alleged that she was having a romantic relationship with a co-worker, and the two would leave together during the school day for long lunches and meet at a private residence. The two were also out sick the same four days.
- Teacher Christina N. Morgan also received a letter of advisement. Allegations couldn't be proven that she paraded around in her underwear in former Public Safety Officer Ronnie Collins' office or that she was having an improper relationship with a co-worker. There was, however, a heated argument over her between the officer and a teacher. She was also seen in a dark classroom with him and was seen sitting between his legs at a basketball game.
- Graduation coach John Barksdale received a letter of reprimand. Although he wasn't connected to any allegations of sex, the investigation did find that he smacked the principal on the rear and left campus at her direction to pick up lunch.
The former principal, Sharon McAlevy, and a former teacher Denise Ogden resigned before any action could be taken against them, although a separate investigation could be initiated next week by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which certifies the state's educators.
Mr. Collins was fired from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
The school system continues to withhold details, refusing to release its investigative file in response to a Georgia Open Records request submitted by The Augusta Chronicle months ago.
David Hudson, The Chronicle's attorney and legal counsel for the Georgia Press Association, said school officials are violating state law by withholding the records. Once a decision is disclosed, the school system has 10 days to make the records public, Mr. Hudson said.
Although the disciplinary letters are dated Nov. 24, the school system has blocked access to investigation records because one employee has challenged his punishment.
But that doesn't matter, Mr. Hudson said. "If they've had the results of the investigation, they have 10 days," he said.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Richmond County Educators at their best.
If there were no students involved or affected by the actions of the folks reprimanded, fired and by those that have resigned, the release of this information, and of the investigative files of the school administration, public viewing/reading of those records are no more than unacceptable public voyeurism. Muckraker journalism, AC. GGpap
Mr. Hudson, rather than the Misters Fletcher, should provide the school board legal representation. After all, Mr. Hudson, unlike Pete and Larry, knows the law. He wouldn't long be a partner in The Hull Firm if he didn't.
Graduation coach John Barksdale received a letter of reprimand. Although he wasn't connected to any allegations of sex, the investigation did find that he smacked the principal on the rear and left campus at her direction to pick up lunch. THIS IS TOO DAMN FUNNY AND STTTTTTTTTTTTUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIID
The former principal, Sharon McAlevy, and a former teacher Denise Ogden resigned before any action could be taken against them, although a separate investigation could be initiated next week by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which certifies the state's educators. wHOAAAAAAAAAAAA....lil lezbo action going on.
Yeah they best resign their tails.
More than voyeurism and muckraker journalism, this article makes it clear to other potentially foolish "adults" that actions have consequences. Public humiliation is a wonderful reprimand and a great attention getter. Act right or run the risk of being "exposed". These people have been spanked.
If you're going to release this crap, why not release other investigative details about other investigations from Columbia County schools? Nobody cares. Gotta love the PR for Bedden and his political train. This is a dead issue. Leave these people alone and GET A LIFE. NOOOOOOOOBODY CARES!!!!!!!
PAtricia Thomas, get a life, please.
Do I detect a potential "spankee", kris?
MISTER PATRICIA THOMAS, again, please get a life.
GGAP you hit it right on the head of the nail. VOYEURISM at it's best. This was a personnel issue and should have remained private. If there had been students involved then I could see, but to satisfy the warped curiosity of those like PT is disgusting.
The purpose of having rules and enforcing them seems to confuse too many. This may be the result of training by those who got away with no reprimand. Hypo, Kris, thinking is not a bad thing. Try it some time.
John Barksdale got a raw deal. His "punishment" should have been the same as the others. Dr. Bedden, please resolve this. Let's move on. BTW: if there are investigations going on in Columbia County, let's hear them !!
You people defending these poor excuses for educaters certainly show the same type of character...They were in a school acting like animals...if they can not control their urges until after school hours then perhaps they need to live in a jungle somewhere.....this is what you want teaching your children??? Where is the outrage at these knuckle draggers?
I bet the county had lots of applications to be the school cop there. Nice work if you can get it.
How can anyone say this was a private matter? These educators are supposed to set examples for our children. What do you think the students paid most attention to - reading and writing or the hanky panky going on? The teachers involved should all formally apologize to their students, the parents and fellow colleagues!
Has no one at the AC never had an affair with a co-worker? No students were involved, and had an angry spouse not called another of the copulators no would have ever known. Was is bad judgement by everyone involved, Yes. Should it have reslulted in people being fired from jobs within and without the BOE, No.
This is too funny. A blowup mattress!! ha. Yea, these are the kind of people we need educating the youth of today. But, it sure explains alot.
If this crap was going on in my kids' school I would not be inclined to tolerate it for one minute; whatever the desire of you so-called "educators" for concerned parents and others to "get over it".
If this activity had been between two students, I'm sure they would have been suspended from school. I'll agree, this probably got blown way out of proportion but when you are in a profession that influences our children, I do believe you have to live up to a higher standard and conduct yourself appropriately.
I believe teacher Jennifer Driesen is the one who really got a raw deal here."It was alleged that she was having a romantic relationship with a co-worker, and the two would leave together during the school day for long lunches and meet at a private residence. The two were also out sick the same four days." If she and her romantic interest were not having their romps on campus during school hours, my opinion is it's nobody's business. Also whether they met at a private residence or Motel 6 is no one's business. I guess next they will monitor the amount time she spends in the restroom to make sure her romantic interest isn't slipping in.(no pun on words intended)
Tax dollars are paying for these teachers and should be public information. These types of teachers are part of the reason Georgia is so far behind most of this country. I agree with PT, they have been spanked, possibly more than once. How could anyone explain an air mattress is a school room??
This is stupid. Thousands of dollars was wasted. "She was also seen in a dark classroom with him"- OH MY GOD. Stop the presses! News flash! This stuff is just ridiculous. "He smacked the principal on the rear"- your tax dollars was thrown away on this nonsense. This sounds like 7th grade stuff.
maninmirriw, I think paid "sick days" are for, you know, when you are sick.
These immature, irresponsible, idiotic, people are responsible for the education and safety of our children??!? Are you freakin for real? Where is Beden in all this? ... Not one interview from any news media source - where is the accountability Beden assured us all would be forthcoming now he's in office??? UN - freakin - REAL
Old news.
After reading the letters of advisement and reprimand, this whole situation sounds like a case of an ex-husband out for vengeance and a teacher with a chip on her shoulder who wanted to direct attention to others before any attention was put on her. Must have been pretty serious as she resigned before any action could be taken.
Justthefacts, maybe they both had a case "moody blues" on those sick days.
"Left campus to pick up lunch"- What is wrong with people? An adult can't leave their workplace to go to McDonalds or Subway and then come back to work?
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
