PEA RIDGE — An employee who was to be terminated requested a hearing, but did not attend.
School policy provides for employees facing termination to request a hearing, which they can request to be either open or closed. Lawrence Nichols, bus driver, requested the hearing, but did not attend. The hearing was held as an open meeting.
After watching videos of children standing in the aisles on a moving bus and a fight between students, School Board members unanimously agreed to terminate Nichols’ contract.
Superintendent Mike Van Dyke and transportation director Cameron McNabb presented the evidence to the board.
“For the safety and welfare of our kids on ... the bus,” McNabb said, in recommending the termination.
Apparently a parent had complained about an incident on the bus that occurred Nov. 17. McNabb said that prompted him to view other videos from the bus.
Board member Joshua Ramsey asked what training bus drivers receive.
McNabb said there is a threehour course annually provided by the state Department of Education.
Earlier, Nichols had received a verbal warning for apparently giving $1 to a student to “beat up” another student, McNabb said, adding that “they don’t need a friend behind the wheel ... they’re only to engage in pleasantries.”
Nichols was also accused of leaving a sleeping kindergarten on his bus.
The termination hearing was held at 5 p.m., immediately prior to the regularly-scheduled School Board meeting.
Board members present were Jenny Wood, Clark Tyndall, Darin Wright and Ramsey. Rick Webb was absent.
PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET
The Pea Ridge Parks Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Pea Ridge City Hall.
Items on the agenda include possibly changing the meeting days through 2010, revisiting the City Park restroom project, potential repairs to City Park trails, deciding whether or not to take action on the Wal-Mart land lease option, looking at charging Little Leagues for use of City Park and prioritizing the needs list for the upcoming new year.
News, Pages 1 on 12/16/2009