U-234 board terminates Gibson's contract

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education discussed employment matters concerning Floyd Alexander Gibson in addition to other matters at a special noon board meeting Tuesday.

Board members voted to terminate Gibson's contract as a teacher aide in the Fort Scott High School automotive technology program, USD 234 Superintendent Rick Werling said.

Werling said he suspended Gibson without pay on Sept. 4.

Werling said all potential district employees must pass a background test before they are employed by the district. District staff members are encouraged to notify the proper administrator should they discover any inappropriate conduct taking place, Werling said.

Gibson and local resident Aaron Myers, a substitute teacher in the district who has no contract on file and was removed from the substitute teacher list, were charged on Thursday, Sept. 6, in the Bourbon County District Court with various charges relating to inappropriate conduct with minors, according to court documents.

After posting bond on Sept. 7, Myers was released from the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center. Gibson remains in custody.

Other board business included the following:

After a presentation delivered by Steve Lohr, a non-voting member of the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) board of directors, and SEK-CAP Director of Early Childhood Services Linda Broyles, Girard, members of the school board authorized SEK-CAP officials to apply for a federal grant in the amount of $202,717.

Approval of this grant would allow the Fort Scott Head Start program to lease and remodel a classroom located at 409 S. Judson, in an annex of the former Fort Scott Middle School building. Although Head Start officials do have specific plans for the grant money should they receive it, the board thus far has only approved the start of the grant application process.

Permission to lease and remodel the classroom will be discussed and decided upon at a future meeting, Werling said.

On Tuesday, the board also approved a maternity leave of absence for Jennifer Shields, a special education teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School, and the employment of John Kendrick as the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Director.