Published: May 09, 2008 09:42 pm            

NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD: Teacher fired after complaints

Allegations of “questionable” behavior lead to the firing of a middle school teacher

A Niagara-Wheatfield ELA substitute teacher has been fired from the district for inappropriate conduct toward several students at Edward Town Middle School.

“The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District has released a substitute teacher from employment,” human resources director Paul Sikora said Friday afternoon, “due to complaints from students at the middle school regarding questionable actions and statements on the part of this substitute teacher.”

Sikora said a letter had been sent to the parents of the affected students on Thursday and a general letter to middle school parents went home Friday. He declined to provide the Gazette a copy of the letter.

The letter sent home by principal Laura Palka, obtained by the Gazette, said the decision to replace the teacher was “pro-active” to ensure the comfort and security of students. She also urged parents to stop the spread of “demeaning and untrue rumors” regarding the firing.

“Too often, when principals do not take action, they find themselves operating in reactive mode, answering parent questions such as ‘Where were the administrators? Why didn’t they do anything?’ ” Palka wrote. “I have chosen not to be in that situation.”

The “unpopular” decision, she wrote, was based on “several factors” that will not be discussed, but she urged parents to quell the spread of false rumors surrounding the situation and avoid placing “misguided blame on a handful of students.”

“We teach our children to speak up when they require help or need to be heard,” the letter said. “When they do, they should not be made to feel guilty.”

The exact nature of the allegations could not be determined Friday.

“The district is constrained by confidentiality laws regarding this confidential personnel matter from releasing any further information at this time,” Sikora said. “The district has followed any and all appropriate reporting procedures as required by law.”

As of late Friday, the Lewiston Police, Niagara County Sheriff’s and the New York State Police departments reported they had not received any reports involving the school.

A replacement for the teacher will finish out the school year, Palka wrote.

Phone messages left Friday afternoon for Palka and assistant principal John Fitzpatrick were not returned. Repeated calls at home to Superintendent Judith Howard and school board members were also not returned Friday.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.