Chickasha school district investigation underway
CHICKASHA — Three department heads are among those suspended by Chickasha Public Schools, which is investigating allegations of abuse and embezzlement.
Athletic Director Yohance Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation and Maintenance Pete Bush, administrative assistant Stacy Crutchfield and Special Services Director Pam Huggins were suspended Wednesday by the district, whose attorney confirmed the allegations Friday in a Twitter post.
“Be advised that at this stage, the administration of Chickasha Public Schools is investigating Mr. Glass’s clients for failure to report child abuse of special needs students and embezzlement of taxpayer dollars,” Richard O’Carroll stated in the post.
Attorney Woody Glass of Norman is representing the four employees, who were notified by letter that they would be suspended for 10 days pending “an independent investigation.”
Attempts to reach Glass on Monday for comment were unsuccessful.
Steffie Corcoran, a spokeswoman for the
state Education Department, confirmed Monday that compliance and special education representatives recently visited the Chickasha district and requested that action plans be submitted to the agency.
Earlier this year, the agency investigated alleged grade tampering in the Chickasha district and found “no intentional wrongdoing,” spokeswoman Deana Silk said in an email.
“We are aware of the new allegations regarding failure to report child abuse of special needs students and embezzlement of taxpayer dollars and are looking into it,” she said.
Glass, in a letter to Interim Superintendent Cindy Schmidt obtained by The Oklahoman, said Schmidt “failed to provide any information to support such a drastic action on behalf of the district” when she notified the four employees of their suspensions.
“Clearly, allegations giving rise to potential criminal activity are serious but should be substantiated by credible and believable evidence,” the letter stated.
Additionally, Glass said the actions of the district “seem to suggest there is a retaliatory move which serves as a driving force behind this decision.”
“As you know, retaliation for engaging in protected activity is strictly prohibited by many wellestablished legal principles,” the letter stated. “The only common denominator permeating throughout those individuals subjected to the suspension is their vocal protest and concern related to the Student Personalized Learning Center.”
The learning center is a teaching program implemented by former Chickasha Public Schools Superintendent David Cash.
Cash left the district Nov. 1 to go to work for the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit that assists charter schools and traditional public schools.
Reached Monday, Cash told The Oklahoman he is “on leave” from the district while he works full time for the resource center.
“The district felt like it was a positive for them for me to go out and be able to talk about personalized learning and share that process with other school districts in our state,” he said.
Cash said the essence of personalized learning is teaching students “where they are at” instead of teaching everybody at the same level.
Cash, who became superintendent in July 2014, said had no knowledge of the allegations being investigated, and answered “no” when asked if he retaliated against any of the suspended employees.
“I just can’t imagine the board or the interim superintendent acting to suspend the employees without a complaint,” he said. “It’s shaken the district at its core. It’s just highly unusual to have this number of people suspended at one time.”
Special school board meetings were scheduled for Monday night and Tuesday night, according to the district’s website. Members were scheduled to meet behind closed doors Monday to consider filling a vacant seat on the panel, while Tuesday’s agenda calls for the panel to meet in private to discuss a “long-term interim superintendent.”