Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2007
Source: Charleston Gazette (WV)
Copyright: 2007 Charleston Gazette
Contact:  http://www.wvgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/77
Note: Does not print out of town letters.
Author: Davin White
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

PRINCIPAL GETS JOB BACK AT PRATT

Kanawha Educator Acquitted Last Week

The former principal of Pratt Elementary, who was acquitted of drug 
possession charges last week, was returned to his job Tuesday by a 
slim majority of the Kanawha County Board of Education.

David Anderson is expected to return to work at Pratt Elementary 
School within the next few days, Superintendent Ron Duerring said. He 
said he plans to meet with Anderson in the next day or two.

School board members voted 3-2 to reinstate Anderson, who was charged 
with cocaine possession in October. Board members Jim Crawford, Becky 
Jordon and Barbara Welch also approved reimbursing Anderson, with 
interest, for salary lost since Nov. 8.

Jordon and Crawford feared the school system would face a lawsuit if 
they did not reinstate Anderson.

"I did what I thought was best for the school system," Crawford said.

Board members Bill Raglin and Pete Thaw blasted the decision.

"The whole sort of thing, it says to me, do I want that person 
teaching my children?" Raglin asked. "I say no."

Anderson was arrested outside the Washington Manor public housing 
complex about 3:20 a.m. by Charleston Police Cpl. J.F. Taylor.

Taylor said he suspected a drug deal was taking place when he spotted 
Anderson's black Honda CRV circling the complex several times and 
then parking with its lights off.

The officer said he found two-tenths of a gram of cocaine in 
Anderson's back pocket. At his trial, Anderson denied it was his, and 
said it was put there by a man whom Anderson gave a ride home.

A Kanawha County Magistrate Court jury acquitted Anderson last week.

Amy Macleery, whose daughter is a first-grader at Pratt, said she was 
disappointed in the board's decision. She said Anderson sets a bad 
example for students.

"Kindergarten through elementary; that's when they're most 
impressionable," she said.

Rachel Oakes, a fifth-grade teacher at Pratt, said the school's 
Faculty Senate voted unanimously Monday to support Anderson.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," she said after Tuesday's decision. "I'm so 
excited to have him back. He was so good for our school."

She agreed with Crawford, Welch and Jordon's decision to abide by 
last week's court ruling.

"If we go against the judicial system, then what does that mean?" she said.

The school board is considering a drug testing policy that would 
include all Kanawha County school employees, including board members 
and central office workers.

The proposal is out for public comment, after which the board will 
review it again.

Anderson did not return a call to his home seeking comment on Tuesday.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman