The local teachers union has accused the superintendent's husband of being an "uncredentialed employee" who is working in the role of a New London Local Schools teacher.
But Superintendent Carol Girton, Dennis Girton's wife, countered that he is not a full-time teacher. For the last three years, he has worked on an as-needed basis, conducting research for Model UN and coordinating the gifted program in music and arts.
Carol Girton said neither she nor her husband were told it was time for him to renew his FBI background check certification -- something that must be done every five years. He underwent the background check on Wednesday, and Carol Girton said as far as she's concerned, there's no more issue.
The superintendent said she first heard about the union's accusation during Tuesday night's board meeting. She added the board is in the middle of negotiations with the New London teachers' union and the union for non-classified staff.
Carol Girton said if someone had told her that Dennis' FBI background check was up for renewal, he would have gotten it taken care of and there wouldn't have been an issue.
"No one had the courtesy to tell me that," Carol Girton said.
Dennis Girton works on an as-needed basis, making $80 per day, the superintendent said. He has been with the district for three years.
The New London Education Association is "deeply concerned about the presence of an uncredentialed employee who is working in the role of a teacher in this district," according to a statement that was read by union member Mark Bucher during Tuesday's school board meeting and submitted to the Reflector.
The statement goes on to note that Girton has a permanent teaching certificate issued in 1981 to teach music in grades seven to 12 and another permanent certificate issued in 1983 to teach music in grades kindergarten through 12.
"However, the status of these licenses is shown 'inactive,'" according to the statement. "According to one of our attorneys from the Ohio Education Association (OEA), it is a violation of state law to pay someone to teach who doesn't have a license. This was confirmed by a staff member in the department of education's licensure department. In a state audit, a finding for recovery would likely be made, and the money earned would have to be refunded to the district. Why is the district employing and paying an individual who does not have an active license to teach in violation of state law?
"We believe that it is in the best interest of the school district, the employees and the taxpayers to have someone from outside the district closely examine how this district is being run on a day-to-day basis."
The district plans to do that.
While answering a question from an audience member at Tuesday's meeting, board president Bill Givens said he wants the school to have the state do a complete performance audit of the entire school, so the district's financial picture can be improved.
Earlier in the meeting, treasurer Susan Guthrie said the five-year forecast approved by the board shows the school will continue to be in a deficit-spending situation, as are many districts.
Following a closed-door session Tuesday, board members delayed making a decision on a measure to hire Girton "to do research and be an adviser to the Model United Nations class and plan activities for students gifted in the arts under the supervision of the gifted supervisor."
Comments
Courtesy? I remember you failed to be punctual with our appointiment. Girton you were selfish & rude then. You still have not changed. You need to retire.
Retire?
She's already done that. She retired from Monroeville, then took this job.
She and her husband are double-dipping.
And neither one lives in the NL school district.
It is not double dipping to retire from one job and then take another one. If so there are a lot of grocery baggers and WalMart gretters that need a spanking. The "illegal" double dipping is when you call in sick, then get called into work because staff is too low and you get paid call-in pay. The worker is now getting paid a sick day and call-in pay for the same 8 hours worked.
AlterEgo...it IS double-dipping. You're comparing apples to oranges.
It's different, because it's tax money that's being used here.
And if you don't believe that, ask your state rep why there's more than one bill brewing that would stop this. It's a fact, check it out.
I was at first supportive of the teachers seeking new contracts but with this dirty attack on Mr. Girton you have stopped me dead in my tracks. This man has helped so many students during his time here at New London. Model UN would not exist without him. The children have come to love it and it has grown. Our group is respected by surrounding schools for the expertise in Model UN. As for Music Mr. Girton has supported the arts and has helped many students to find scholarships and to go on to excel in programs at Universities. How dare you use your Contract negotiations as a way to attack him. Maybe we should have the teachers of New London be paid upon their performance and question some of the tenured personnel and their lack luster teaching skills. Put the shoe on the other foot. Be careful what you wish for teachers you may be scrutinized yourself. Again the hiding behind the cloak of the Union.
"The Courtesy To Tell Her " REALLY! This is a Direct Dereliction of Duty on her part, she as a Superintendent should know that stuff. She should be immediately TERMINATED. If she has been knowingly doing this, she is STEALING from this district and it dosn't matter how nice this guy is. She is being paid BIG money to know her job duties and responsibilities. The money he has received should be paid back, this procedure is put in place for several reasons, one is: the Safety of the students, and the other is to insure qualified people are in the classrooms. PERIOD !!!
His license are more than likely "inactive" because of the failed FBI check. He fixed that......big deal.
Here we go, people just ripping apart anyone and everyone they can to make themselves feel better.
Doesn't matter WHY his license is inactive. He isn't LEGAL. And she should be reprimanded for letting him (in which SHE benefits)get paid on a bad license. Sounds like she's kinda deceitful and glad they are doing a full investigation of everything. This may not be ALL she is "forgetting" to check.
Double dipping ... gotta love it. Retire with full bennies and then get hired back in somewhere else and collect a paycheck on top of the pension. Hard to believe with all the teachers looking for work that this has to continue ... gotta love a union that allows this to happen. But then ... I haven't seen a union yet that hasn't outlived it's usefulness.
Again, this isn't double dipping. Ask the old timers at Gardners who retired from their jobs and are collecting Social Security if they are double dipping because they are making 7.50/hr baggin groceries psrt time. I bet some of them will slap you right in the mouth before setting you straight on double dipping.
WARPED: She is not in ANY UNION! Superintedents Cannot be in a UNION. So you are wrong with your Union facts.
First of all hiring your spouse is a bad move for any adm. If he has already retired and wants to help out let him volunteer. Then to do it illegally. If she forgot to do paperwork or get him certified too bad...it's her job and she should be held accountable. What was he teaching? How was he being paid? All sounds pretty fishy to me. I'd definitely go with a whole investigation. I agree if she was crooked enough to do this she probably has done other things. Also where is the board in all of this?? Were they completely unaware? Choose your board members wisely. Too many board members are stamp and approve whatever the super wants people!
First off it's not only the staff member but the Super's responsibility to make sure their credentials are up to date and paid for to ensure they can stay employed so it's the fault of both if the rules state that in order for them to be employed and paid they have to have current paperwork .....guess what he has to pay the school district back because he broke the rules he is being made an example of to show that there are things that need done to keep this school going the way NL expects it to run and to have the programs they want in it and that it's not fair to the staff who are making sure their paperwork is up to date for someone to be on the payroll not adhearing to state guidelines no matter who it is and what they do for the school. Same thing is true for those of us that work private sector ...Truck drivers cannot drive truck without the proper paperwork and certifications if they can't keep their stuff up to date there are fines on them. So why is it any different on this person from some comments on here ?
tmann ... reading comprehension at an all time low I see. Never said she was in a union. Read again carefully. I will try to simplify. I can't believe that a TEACHERS union would let anyone double dip (with out raising a stink) when there are so many unemployed teachers that are qualified
Warped, What does the union have ANYTHING to do with is? The Board of Ed hired her. The union would have no say so either way, wanna talk about comprehension, yours must be lower idiot. The UNION cannot do anything about it.Comprehend that?
Her job description is to oversee that adequate records are maintained for the schools. She is the one making the big bucks and is responsible. New London's financial forecast isn't good either, how are they finding money to pay him $80 a day just to do research and they are paying him and he hasn't even been hired yet. He has been working there for 3 years, has he had an FBI background check any of those years? Isn't this illegal? Sounds like some action needs to take place, sounds like something fishy going on over there. I really see this as something that needed taking care of, it's not personal. A school should be run fair and legal and honestly. They do need an outsider to come in and see how that place is run on a day to day basis!
These folks are what is wrong with America. The double-dipping and nepotism that has been tolerated and ignored needs to be treated as what it really is - a crime. Talk about stealing from our children and grandchildren! Shaome on y'all!!
arcrmen & others..I dealt with her when she was @ Monroeville. Now NL has her. I really hope the board gives her the boot. She doesn't even live in this county. Carol honey keep posting...
Obviously tmann ... they can. Unions can do what they do best ... STRIKE. Moron
Warped ! Right name ! OH Ok, they can strike cause she is double dipping or because her husband is not licensed properly ! AND i'm the MORON ! Not sure what your smoking dude, but you might wanna cut back some.Like I said, the Union has nothing to do with this, MORON...