Carroll Leon Early, a drafting teacher at Central High School for 17 years, has been suspended without pay by the Helena-West Helena School District.
Acting on the recommendation of Interim Superintendent Roy Bridges, the board voted unanimously Monday night to suspend Early. The action taken after executive session stemmed from allegations of mistreatment lodged by Turrell Williams Sr. on behalf of one of his sons who was a student in one of Early’s classes.
Contacted Tuesday morning by phone, Early deferred comments to his attorney, Clayton Blackstock, a Little Rock attorney retained in accordance with Arkansas Education Association guidelines.
When contacted by phone, Blackstock said, “This is news to me,” regarding the suspension without pay. Blackstock said the last information he had received was that Early might be suspended with pay.
“I will have to get in touch with the (H-WH) School District’s attorney,” Blackstock said.
In other action:
•Mary Henderson lodged a complaint about a son whom she said sustained an “overstrained spine” injury in the weight room at Central High School when he attended the school. She claimed her son “lost a four-year scholarship” at Arkansas Tech University because of the injury.
Bridges recommended that the district pay the costs for the then-CHS student’s therapy. The board deferred any consideration pending a legal opinion from its board attorney. Board president Connie Jarrett said the matter would be put on the agenda for June
• Joyce Cottoms, student services director, addressed Edline, a Web site designed to enhance student and parental involvement. “Teachers and parents can communicate back and forth,” Cottoms said. “There will be a different code for parents and students.” The board took the matter under advisement.
• The board approved the recommendation by Bridges to allow the HIPPY program to moved into the old Levine office building on Cherry Street. The request came after (See Suspended on Pg. 2)
numerous burglaries of the existing facility on Helena Crossing. Bridges said the cost would be $800 a month.
•LaKendra Collins, a ninth grade student at CHS, gave a presentation about setting up a daycare. Vi Fox, who runs the east side computer lab, accompanied her. Collins said her project was designed to have a place for her child to be taken cared for while the female student attends school. The matter was taken under advisement.
•The summer school format was outlined for June at Woodruff and Westside Elementary Schools and CHS. Students who failed either or both English and mathematics during the fall and/or spring semesters will have an opportunity to acquire the credit. There will be English and mathematic classes also for students at Eliza Miller Junior High School.
•The board approved a request from Betty Willis for students to participate in Special Olympics at Searcy May 20-22.
•The board approved policy changes that will allow for five additional leave days for classroom teachers. Two days for bereavement to cover aunts and uncles of teachers would be paid while three personal days will require the teachers to pay the $50 standing daily rate for substitute teachers.
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Carroll Leon Early, a drafting teacher at Central High School for 17 years, has been suspended without pay by the Helena-West Helena School District.
Acting on the recommendation of Interim Superintendent Roy Bridges, the board voted unanimously Monday night to suspend Early. The action taken after executive session stemmed from allegations of mistreatment lodged by Turrell Williams Sr. on behalf of one of his sons who was a student in one of Early’s classes.
Contacted Tuesday morning by phone, Early deferred comments to his attorney, Clayton Blackstock, a Little Rock attorney retained in accordance with Arkansas Education Association guidelines.
When contacted by phone, Blackstock said, “This is news to me,” regarding the suspension without pay. Blackstock said the last information he had received was that Early might be suspended with pay.
“I will have to get in touch with the (H-WH) School District’s attorney,” Blackstock said.
In other action:
•Mary Henderson lodged a complaint about a son whom she said sustained an “overstrained spine” injury in the weight room at Central High School when he attended the school. She claimed her son “lost a four-year scholarship” at Arkansas Tech University because of the injury.
Bridges recommended that the district pay the costs for the then-CHS student’s therapy. The board deferred any consideration pending a legal opinion from its board attorney. Board president Connie Jarrett said the matter would be put on the agenda for June
• Joyce Cottoms, student services director, addressed Edline, a Web site designed to enhance student and parental involvement. “Teachers and parents can communicate back and forth,” Cottoms said. “There will be a different code for parents and students.” The board took the matter under advisement.
• The board approved the recommendation by Bridges to allow the HIPPY program to moved into the old Levine office building on Cherry Street. The request came after (See Suspended on Pg. 2)
numerous burglaries of the existing facility on Helena Crossing. Bridges said the cost would be $800 a month.
•LaKendra Collins, a ninth grade student at CHS, gave a presentation about setting up a daycare. Vi Fox, who runs the east side computer lab, accompanied her. Collins said her project was designed to have a place for her child to be taken cared for while the female student attends school. The matter was taken under advisement.
•The summer school format was outlined for June at Woodruff and Westside Elementary Schools and CHS. Students who failed either or both English and mathematics during the fall and/or spring semesters will have an opportunity to acquire the credit. There will be English and mathematic classes also for students at Eliza Miller Junior High School.
•The board approved a request from Betty Willis for students to participate in Special Olympics at Searcy May 20-22.
•The board approved policy changes that will allow for five additional leave days for classroom teachers. Two days for bereavement to cover aunts and uncles of teachers would be paid while three personal days will require the teachers to pay the $50 standing daily rate for substitute teachers.
