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--Letter To WCBOE--
Time To Take A Stand
The following letter was mailed to the five members of the Wayne County Board of Education on Thursday, October 23, 2008:
October 21, 2008
We vehemently protest the return of Mr. Todd Thompson, the son of a Wayne County Board of Education member, to the position of Network Administrator at Spring Valley High School.
Although presented with well-documented, multiple instances of Mr. Todd Thompson’s inappropriate and dangerous behavior and actions toward students, parents, administrators, faculty & staff, the Wayne County Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins, has insisted on Mr. Todd Thompson’s return to Spring Valley High School, creating once again, an unsafe and hostile environment for students, administrators, faculty & staff, parents and community, certainly non-conducive to learning and definitely a hostile work environment for the administration, faculty & staff.
It is particularly ironic that he has been returned just as the County is spending thousands of dollars to bring the Columbine High School tragedy-based “Rachel’s Challenge” Program back to Spring Valley and Wayne County schools this week. The effect of Mr. Thompson’s return upon the students, faculty & staff at this school is visible, the tone and atmosphere of the school is one of fear, anger & disbelief; creating distraction and certainly disrupting the learning process.
Therefore:
We protest the past intervention of Superintendent Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Mike Rutherford, again and again, showing preferential treatment and lack of disciplinary action toward Mr. Thompson for multiple egregious acts that merit a recommendation of termination.
Said preferential treatment including but not limited to:
· Failure to recommend termination of Mr. Thompson for multiple instances of job abandonment (failure to come to work with no notification to superiors) during the 2007-2008 academic year; and during previous academic years, both at SVHS and at other schools where he was employed; and, indeed during the current 2008-2009 academic year since he was (evidently) not suspended or being disciplined, and indeed, still being paid for the SVHS job position, although not present to perform his duties (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeated violations of State & County Acceptable Use of Internet policies as relates to his use of internet including posting of non-authorized photos of SVHS students on his private, personal website, copyrighting them, also linking the SVHS WVNet Website to his private, personal web-site with inappropriate links to adult content, where he solicited SVHS students lured to the site, to engage in non-school related chat or email him at his private, non-Access, email account. (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeatedly taking pictures of SVHS students without standing (not related to job duties, not a club sponsor, not a teacher) and without administrator knowledge or approval, parental knowledge or approval or required signed release forms, generating many parent complaints and concerns. In conjunction, odd and inappropriate behavior around students and student activities, including hiding behind objects and emerging quickly snapping pictures, only to quickly hide again, trying to enter private areas where students were (dugouts, team areas) (students would have been suspended or expelled) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeated incidents of insubordination for failure to comply with multiple written, documented requests from superiors as regards appearing for meetings, required performance & procedures, requests for passwords for all networks, hardware & software. (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for Mr. Todd Thompson repeatedly carrying a weapon (a large knife) on his person, often on his belt, in plain view of faculty, staff & students and was heard to remark to one employee as to sic paraphrased ‘think what he could do to a man with this’ (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after repeated incidents of harassment to students. (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after repeated incidents of harassment to administrators, faculty & staff (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after receipt of a copy of a rambling, disturbing, threatening email sent by Mr. Todd Thompson via Access email over WVNet suggesting Mr. Thompson’s mental instability & agitation, making threats toward specifically named SVHS employees, namely the principal, 2 assistant principals and a secretary. (Note: Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Mike Rutherford failed to notify the principal that an email was received, failed to notify the principal or the other three employees that threats had been made against them or that there was any cause for concern. The employees finally learned of the threats from an outside party in April 2008, the principal then contacting the Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins and asking for a copy of the above-mentioned email.) (student would have been expelled/criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this
· Failure to recommend termination after Mr. Thompson harassed a parent (a disabled, paraplegic, wheelchair-bound, former firefighter) and filed a false battery complaint with the West Virginia State Police against said parent (other employees have been/would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after Mr. Thompson filed a false Workman’s Compensation Claim (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to terminate after persistent and flagrant smoking on campus, during school hours and at school functions, in plain view of students and parents, continuing to smoke after being asked to stop by parents (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be disciplined/terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for working and driving on campus while under the influence (i.e. – sitting or standing in a stupor in and near the main office, incoherence, slurring words, loss of motor function/palsy, unsteady gait & staggering into and leaning against hall walls with eyes closed in front of faculty, staff, students & parents) (students would have been suspended or expelled) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to terminate for not signing in, not signing out, leaving the campus, abandoning post and job duties without permission or notification, or turning in reduced hours for payroll purposes (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to terminate for requesting pay for days not worked, nor present (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to allow a SVHS principal to complete a personnel evaluation as is required, that would have quantified and qualified poor job performance to date, setting base point for plan of improvement, leading to termination, if proficiency not attained (Note: Direct intervention here by Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins, stopping evaluation mid-process)
· Failure to secure Mr. Todd Thompson’s personnel file which mysteriously disappeared after the above-mentioned principal took other employment.
· Failure to retain copies of all complaints and documents related to poor job performance faxed to the Superintendent’s attention by the above-mentioned principal, duplicates of the documents in the missing personnel file
We vehemently protest the return of Mr. Todd Thompson, the son of a Wayne County Board of Education member, to the position of Network Administrator at Spring Valley High School.
Although presented with well-documented, multiple instances of Mr. Todd Thompson’s inappropriate and dangerous behavior and actions toward students, parents, administrators, faculty & staff, the Wayne County Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins, has insisted on Mr. Todd Thompson’s return to Spring Valley High School, creating once again, an unsafe and hostile environment for students, administrators, faculty & staff, parents and community, certainly non-conducive to learning and definitely a hostile work environment for the administration, faculty & staff.
It is particularly ironic that he has been returned just as the County is spending thousands of dollars to bring the Columbine High School tragedy-based “Rachel’s Challenge” Program back to Spring Valley and Wayne County schools this week. The effect of Mr. Thompson’s return upon the students, faculty & staff at this school is visible, the tone and atmosphere of the school is one of fear, anger & disbelief; creating distraction and certainly disrupting the learning process.
Therefore:
We protest the past intervention of Superintendent Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Mike Rutherford, again and again, showing preferential treatment and lack of disciplinary action toward Mr. Thompson for multiple egregious acts that merit a recommendation of termination.
Said preferential treatment including but not limited to:
· Failure to recommend termination of Mr. Thompson for multiple instances of job abandonment (failure to come to work with no notification to superiors) during the 2007-2008 academic year; and during previous academic years, both at SVHS and at other schools where he was employed; and, indeed during the current 2008-2009 academic year since he was (evidently) not suspended or being disciplined, and indeed, still being paid for the SVHS job position, although not present to perform his duties (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeated violations of State & County Acceptable Use of Internet policies as relates to his use of internet including posting of non-authorized photos of SVHS students on his private, personal website, copyrighting them, also linking the SVHS WVNet Website to his private, personal web-site with inappropriate links to adult content, where he solicited SVHS students lured to the site, to engage in non-school related chat or email him at his private, non-Access, email account. (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeatedly taking pictures of SVHS students without standing (not related to job duties, not a club sponsor, not a teacher) and without administrator knowledge or approval, parental knowledge or approval or required signed release forms, generating many parent complaints and concerns. In conjunction, odd and inappropriate behavior around students and student activities, including hiding behind objects and emerging quickly snapping pictures, only to quickly hide again, trying to enter private areas where students were (dugouts, team areas) (students would have been suspended or expelled) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for repeated incidents of insubordination for failure to comply with multiple written, documented requests from superiors as regards appearing for meetings, required performance & procedures, requests for passwords for all networks, hardware & software. (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for Mr. Todd Thompson repeatedly carrying a weapon (a large knife) on his person, often on his belt, in plain view of faculty, staff & students and was heard to remark to one employee as to sic paraphrased ‘think what he could do to a man with this’ (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after repeated incidents of harassment to students. (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after repeated incidents of harassment to administrators, faculty & staff (students would have been expelled & criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after receipt of a copy of a rambling, disturbing, threatening email sent by Mr. Todd Thompson via Access email over WVNet suggesting Mr. Thompson’s mental instability & agitation, making threats toward specifically named SVHS employees, namely the principal, 2 assistant principals and a secretary. (Note: Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Mike Rutherford failed to notify the principal that an email was received, failed to notify the principal or the other three employees that threats had been made against them or that there was any cause for concern. The employees finally learned of the threats from an outside party in April 2008, the principal then contacting the Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins and asking for a copy of the above-mentioned email.) (student would have been expelled/criminally charged) (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this
· Failure to recommend termination after Mr. Thompson harassed a parent (a disabled, paraplegic, wheelchair-bound, former firefighter) and filed a false battery complaint with the West Virginia State Police against said parent (other employees have been/would be terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination after Mr. Thompson filed a false Workman’s Compensation Claim (other employees have been or would be terminated/criminally charged for this)
· Failure to terminate after persistent and flagrant smoking on campus, during school hours and at school functions, in plain view of students and parents, continuing to smoke after being asked to stop by parents (students would have been suspended) (other employees have been or would be disciplined/terminated for this)
· Failure to recommend termination for working and driving on campus while under the influence (i.e. – sitting or standing in a stupor in and near the main office, incoherence, slurring words, loss of motor function/palsy, unsteady gait & staggering into and leaning against hall walls with eyes closed in front of faculty, staff, students & parents) (students would have been suspended or expelled) (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to terminate for not signing in, not signing out, leaving the campus, abandoning post and job duties without permission or notification, or turning in reduced hours for payroll purposes (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to terminate for requesting pay for days not worked, nor present (other employees have been or would be terminated for this)
· Failure to allow a SVHS principal to complete a personnel evaluation as is required, that would have quantified and qualified poor job performance to date, setting base point for plan of improvement, leading to termination, if proficiency not attained (Note: Direct intervention here by Superintendent of Schools, Gary Adkins, stopping evaluation mid-process)
· Failure to secure Mr. Todd Thompson’s personnel file which mysteriously disappeared after the above-mentioned principal took other employment.
· Failure to retain copies of all complaints and documents related to poor job performance faxed to the Superintendent’s attention by the above-mentioned principal, duplicates of the documents in the missing personnel file
Further:
We also protest Superintendent Gary Adkins gifting Mr. Todd Thompson with a five-month-long “special administrative leave” paid “vacation” with no suspension and no disciplinary hearings which, when asked about the “leave” by concerned parents, former BOE President, Mike Skeens, noted that sic paraphrased ‘News to me. Thought he was suspended. Administrative leave thing – don’t know. Evidently never been done before.’ This is certainly questionable and clearly preferential treatment as compared with any other employee.
We further protest our tax dollars being used to pay Mr. Todd Thompson’s “special administrative pay” since his departure from his job, April 2, 2008.
We continue to protest the past, and ongoing, intervention of Superintendent Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Mike Rutherford, to keep Mr. Todd Thompson in his position, notwithstanding a long history of poor job performance, rendering the functionality of technology assets at SVHS seriously compromised during his tenure, impairing the education of all SVHS students, compromising the required delivery of CSO’s and implementation of multiple 21st Century Learning goals, across all subject areas.
Further:
We vehemently protest the failure of Superintendent Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Rutherford to:
as previously requested, take down Mr. Thompson’s bogus SVHS webpages which are posted to his private verizon.net website, which have a verizon.net url, which is hosted by a private (non-WVDE) internet service provider which, unbelievably, is still fully operational as of the date of this letter, some six and one-half months after its improper existence was brought to the attention of the Superintendent Adkins, Asst. Supt. Rutherford and the Wayne County Board of Education members, with the exception of Ms. Hurley.
and
which is still presented as an official Spring Valley High School website and which is still, unbelievably, displaying unauthorized pictures of SVHS students, with said photos purported to be “copyrighted” as the personal property of Mr. Todd Thompson with the following comments posted above and below them:
We also protest Superintendent Gary Adkins gifting Mr. Todd Thompson with a five-month-long “special administrative leave” paid “vacation” with no suspension and no disciplinary hearings which, when asked about the “leave” by concerned parents, former BOE President, Mike Skeens, noted that sic paraphrased ‘News to me. Thought he was suspended. Administrative leave thing – don’t know. Evidently never been done before.’ This is certainly questionable and clearly preferential treatment as compared with any other employee.
We further protest our tax dollars being used to pay Mr. Todd Thompson’s “special administrative pay” since his departure from his job, April 2, 2008.
We continue to protest the past, and ongoing, intervention of Superintendent Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Mike Rutherford, to keep Mr. Todd Thompson in his position, notwithstanding a long history of poor job performance, rendering the functionality of technology assets at SVHS seriously compromised during his tenure, impairing the education of all SVHS students, compromising the required delivery of CSO’s and implementation of multiple 21st Century Learning goals, across all subject areas.
Further:
We vehemently protest the failure of Superintendent Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Rutherford to:
as previously requested, take down Mr. Thompson’s bogus SVHS webpages which are posted to his private verizon.net website, which have a verizon.net url, which is hosted by a private (non-WVDE) internet service provider which, unbelievably, is still fully operational as of the date of this letter, some six and one-half months after its improper existence was brought to the attention of the Superintendent Adkins, Asst. Supt. Rutherford and the Wayne County Board of Education members, with the exception of Ms. Hurley.
and
which is still presented as an official Spring Valley High School website and which is still, unbelievably, displaying unauthorized pictures of SVHS students, with said photos purported to be “copyrighted” as the personal property of Mr. Todd Thompson with the following comments posted above and below them:
“All images are copyright to me, Mr. Todd Thompson, each image is invisibly watermarked with DigiMarc software, and visibly marked with the same. Although when scaled up the visible marcs color scale blew apart this morning, it is 5:00 am. All rights reserved. Copyright 2008.”
“I was amazed at this students skill at preforming this stunt, and my sheer luck at getting such a good picture of it! I give her an A+! Of course, I give all the girls an A+ too! All cheerleading pictures taken by a Nikon S-200 direct to SD storage media. You can click on each photo to take you to the full size photo.”
“These too are DigiMarc software tagged, and property of Mr. Todd Thompson. Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. Look for more photos to be posted.”
Further:
We vehemently protest the failure of Superintendent Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Rutherford to:
As previously requested, retrieve all photographs ( i.e. “hundreds”) of SVHS students from Mr. Thompson’s personal and school photographic equipment, any personal computers, or any digital storage media (SD or any other digital camera cards, flash memory devices (thumb drives), internal or external hard drives or media storage, etc.), which he had located at his home, on his person, in his vehicle, or any other off-campus location
“I was amazed at this students skill at preforming this stunt, and my sheer luck at getting such a good picture of it! I give her an A+! Of course, I give all the girls an A+ too! All cheerleading pictures taken by a Nikon S-200 direct to SD storage media. You can click on each photo to take you to the full size photo.”
“These too are DigiMarc software tagged, and property of Mr. Todd Thompson. Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. Look for more photos to be posted.”
Further:
We vehemently protest the failure of Superintendent Adkins and Assistant Superintendent Rutherford to:
As previously requested, retrieve all photographs ( i.e. “hundreds”) of SVHS students from Mr. Thompson’s personal and school photographic equipment, any personal computers, or any digital storage media (SD or any other digital camera cards, flash memory devices (thumb drives), internal or external hard drives or media storage, etc.), which he had located at his home, on his person, in his vehicle, or any other off-campus location
“this morning, it is 5:00 am” “All cheerleading pictures taken by a Nikon S-200 direct to SD storage media”
“Look for more photos to be posted.”
This is very important to the parents of those children whose photos were taken, particularly those whose children’s images are now posted to this man’s private website.
With the exception of new Board Member, JoAnn Hurley, we also protest each Board Member’s past inaction, both toward Mr. Todd Thompson, and also toward Mr. Adkins and Mr. Rutherford as regards their inexplicable and indefensible actions or inaction, particularly Mr. Adkins’ failure to recommend termination at several points, particularly for repeated acts or actions, especially those endangering students.
In conclusion:
We respectfully ask again that Todd Thompson be removed from our school, Spring Valley High School, permanently, effective immediately.
We respectfully ask again that all exterior locks and specified interior locks at SVHS be re-keyed and all electronic access be reset.
We respectfully ask that the Wayne County Board of Education not employ Todd Thompson in any capacity, at any Wayne County school.
We respectfully ask that the Wayne County Board of Education insure Todd Thompson, and anyone related to Todd Thompson, have no access to school buildings, technology in those school buildings or access to students, faculty, staff; nor their records, likeness, or personal data.
We respectfully ask again that the Board ensure the webpages posted on Mr. Todd Thompson’s, that purport to be related to Spring Valley High School, be deleted and removed immediately, particularly the page with unauthorized photos of Spring Valley students.
We respectfully ask again that you retrieve all photographs of Spring Valley High School students, past and present, both prints and digital images stored on any cameras, digital media cards used in cameras, flash memory devices (thumb drives), computers, or any digital storage media, internal or external hard drives which Mr. Todd Thompson has located at his home, on his person, in his vehicle, or any other off-campus location.
We respectfully ask again that someone be placed in the position of Network Administrator who is fully qualified, with appropriate training and credentials, competent, possesses the necessary specific skills and extensive job experience, preferably outside this county, in the technical aspects of the job; further we request the job not be filled with anyone who is currently an employee at the Central Office, is related to anyone who is currently an employee at the Central Office or is related to any WCBOE member, or is currently employed as a Title I employee or, in any capacity, as a contracted employee (outside contractor) who is compensated with Title funds, particularly Title I funds, which is controlled by another relative of a Wayne County Board Of Education member.
Additionally:
We respectfully ask for the resignations of Superintendent of Wayne County Schools, Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent of Wayne County Schools, Mike Rutherford.
Their history of action and inaction, as regards this and other long-standing situations, constitutes malfeasance, misfeasance & nonfeasance and a pattern of violation of the public trust.
They have clearly failed, with intention, multiple times, to act upon the documented fears and concerns, requests for action, notifications of State Code violations, notifications of civil and criminal violations, notifications of the existence of a hostile work environment they have received from their own employees - the administration, faculty & staff at SVHS - who spoke out in spite of well-placed fears of retribution or retaliation.
They have clearly failed, with intention, multiple times, to put the safety, welfare and education of Wayne County students at Spring Valley High School first and have indeed, by their actions, placed these students in danger.
Sincerely,
Karen Rucker
With the exception of new Board Member, JoAnn Hurley, we also protest each Board Member’s past inaction, both toward Mr. Todd Thompson, and also toward Mr. Adkins and Mr. Rutherford as regards their inexplicable and indefensible actions or inaction, particularly Mr. Adkins’ failure to recommend termination at several points, particularly for repeated acts or actions, especially those endangering students.
In conclusion:
We respectfully ask again that Todd Thompson be removed from our school, Spring Valley High School, permanently, effective immediately.
We respectfully ask again that all exterior locks and specified interior locks at SVHS be re-keyed and all electronic access be reset.
We respectfully ask that the Wayne County Board of Education not employ Todd Thompson in any capacity, at any Wayne County school.
We respectfully ask that the Wayne County Board of Education insure Todd Thompson, and anyone related to Todd Thompson, have no access to school buildings, technology in those school buildings or access to students, faculty, staff; nor their records, likeness, or personal data.
We respectfully ask again that the Board ensure the webpages posted on Mr. Todd Thompson’s, that purport to be related to Spring Valley High School, be deleted and removed immediately, particularly the page with unauthorized photos of Spring Valley students.
We respectfully ask again that you retrieve all photographs of Spring Valley High School students, past and present, both prints and digital images stored on any cameras, digital media cards used in cameras, flash memory devices (thumb drives), computers, or any digital storage media, internal or external hard drives which Mr. Todd Thompson has located at his home, on his person, in his vehicle, or any other off-campus location.
We respectfully ask again that someone be placed in the position of Network Administrator who is fully qualified, with appropriate training and credentials, competent, possesses the necessary specific skills and extensive job experience, preferably outside this county, in the technical aspects of the job; further we request the job not be filled with anyone who is currently an employee at the Central Office, is related to anyone who is currently an employee at the Central Office or is related to any WCBOE member, or is currently employed as a Title I employee or, in any capacity, as a contracted employee (outside contractor) who is compensated with Title funds, particularly Title I funds, which is controlled by another relative of a Wayne County Board Of Education member.
Additionally:
We respectfully ask for the resignations of Superintendent of Wayne County Schools, Gary Adkins and Assistant Superintendent of Wayne County Schools, Mike Rutherford.
Their history of action and inaction, as regards this and other long-standing situations, constitutes malfeasance, misfeasance & nonfeasance and a pattern of violation of the public trust.
They have clearly failed, with intention, multiple times, to act upon the documented fears and concerns, requests for action, notifications of State Code violations, notifications of civil and criminal violations, notifications of the existence of a hostile work environment they have received from their own employees - the administration, faculty & staff at SVHS - who spoke out in spite of well-placed fears of retribution or retaliation.
They have clearly failed, with intention, multiple times, to put the safety, welfare and education of Wayne County students at Spring Valley High School first and have indeed, by their actions, placed these students in danger.
Sincerely,
Karen Rucker
1 comment:
It sure looks like a cover-up does'nt it...my child gets abused by a teacher at lavalette elementary...denied a free appropriate education under idea...by the school district..and it seemed as though Everyone looked the other way...this is a sign that says ...yes...we need to take a stand and those who cannot fufill their legal duties as adminastrators of the board need to be replaced by truly qualified and trained professionals with at least one shread of human dignity.. AND let me tell you...these people have no compassion for children..its about obtaining two things for them: power and money...that's what makes their commissions our childrens pain and suffering...how these people can lay their head to sleep on a pillow each night..I do not know...keep up the good work...wayne county school district needs to be replaced by competant qualified individuals who truly care about educating our children..not getting by with murder...
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