Database Search Result Details

First Name Michael
Last Name Burch
Decision Date 12/16/2024
Docket Number 2023-0936-HrdED
ALJ JSF
Respondent Hardy County Board of Education
Employment Type PROF
Job Title Science Teacher
Topics Disciplinary
Primary Issues Whether Respondent proved that Grievant engaged in willful neglect of duty, insubordination, immorality, and conduct that was not correctable? Whether Grievant proved mitigation or lack of due process?
Outcome Denied
Statutes W. Va. Code St. R. § 156-1-3, W. Va. Code 18A-2-8, W.Va. Code § 18A-2-12a, W. Va. Code § 18A-2-8(a), W. Va. Code § 18A-2-8(d)
Related Cases Leichliter v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993), aff’d, Pleasants Cnty. Cir. Ct. Civil Action No. 93-APC-1 (Dec. 2, 1994). Parham v. Raleigh County Bd. of Educ., 192 W. Va. 540, 453 S.E.2d 374 (1994); Syl. Pt. 3, Beverlin v. Bd. of Educ., 158 W. Va. 1067, 216 S.E.2d 554 (1975); Bell v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 91-20-005 (Apr. 16, 1991). Bd. of Educ. of the County of Gilmer v. Chaddock, 183 W.Va. 638, 640, 398 S.E.2d 120, 122 (1990). utts v. Higher Educ. Interim Governing Bd./Shepherd Coll., 212 W. Va. 209, 212, 569 S.E.2d 456, 459 (2002) (per curiam). Sexton v. Marshall Univ., Docket No. BOR2-88-029-4 (May 25, 1988), aff'd, Sexton v. Marshall University, 182 W. Va. 294, 387 S.E.2d 529 (1989). Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged 910 (2d ed. 1979).” Golden v. Bd. of Educ., 169 W. Va. 63, 67, 285 S.E.2d 665, 668 (1981). Jones v. W. Va. Dep’t of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 96-HHR-371 (Oct. 30, 1996); Young v. Div. of Natural Res., Docket No. 2009-0540-DOC (Nov. 13, 2009); See also Clarke v. W. Va. Bd. of Regents, 166 W. Va. 702, 279 S.E.2d 169 (1981). Harold J. Asher & William C. Jackson, Representing the Agency before the United States Merit Systems Protection Board 152-153 (1984). Burchell v. Bd. of Trustees, Marshall Univ., Docket No. 97-BOT-011 (Aug. 29, 1997). ones v. W. Va. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 96-HHR-371 (Oct. 30, 1996); See Stamper v. W. Va. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 95-HHR-144 (Mar. 20, 1996); Womack v. Dept. of Admin., Docket No. 93-ADMN-430 (Mar. 30, 1994). Perdue v. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 93-HHR-050 (Feb. 4, 1994).” Aglinsky v. Bd. of Trustees, Docket No. 97-BOT-256 (Oct. 27, 1997), aff’d, Monongalia Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 97-C-AP-96 (Dec. 7, 1999), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup Ct. App. Docket No. 001096 (July 6, 2000). Martin v. W. Va. Fire Comm'n, Docket No. 89-SFC-145 (Aug. 8, 1989).” Conner v. Barbour County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 94-01-394 (Jan. 31, 1995), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No 95-AA-66 (May 1, 1996), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup. Ct. App. (Nov. 19, 1996). State ex rel. Eads v. Duncil, 196 W. Va. 604, 474 S.E.2d 534 (1996) (citing Arlington Hosp. v. Schweiker, 547 F. Supp. 670 (E.D. Va. 1982)). Bedford County Memorial Hosp. v. Health and Human Serv., 769 F.2d 1017 (4th Cir. 1985); Yokum v. W. Va. Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Docket No. 96-DOE-081 (Oct. 16, 1996).” Trimboli v. Dep’t of Health and Human Res., Docket No. 93-HHR-322 (June 27, 1997). ent of the seriousness of the employee's conduct and the prospects for rehabilitation.” Overbee v. Dep't of Health and Human Resources/Welch Emergency Hosp., Docket No. 96-HHR-183 (Oct. 3, 1996); Olsen v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 02-20-380 (May 30, 2003), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 03-AA-94 (Jan. 30, 2004), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup. Ct. App. Docket No. 041105 (Sept. 30, 2004). Phillips v. Summers County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 93-45-105 (Mar. 31, 1994); Cooper v. Raleigh County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 2014-0028-RalED (Apr. 30, 2014), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 14-AA-54 (Jan. 16, 2015). Mason County Bd. of Educ. v. State Superintendent of Sch., 165 W. Va. 732, 739; 274 S.E.2d 435 (1980). Bierer v. Jefferson County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 01-19-595 (May 17, 2002)." Waggoner v. Cabell County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 2008-1570-CabED (Oct. 31, 2008). Waite v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 161 W. Va. 154, 156, 241 S.E.2d 164, 166 (1977). Buskirk v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 175 W. Va. 279, 283, 332 S.E.2d 579, 583 (1985) (per curiam) (citing Waite). Major v. DeFrench, [169 W. Va. 241, 255], 286 S.E.2d 688, 697 (1982).” Buskirk, 175 W. Va. at 283, 332 S.E.2d at 583. Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 542 [84 L. Ed. 2d 494, 105 S. Ct. 1487] (1985).” Syl. Pt. 3, Fraley v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 177 W. Va. 729, 730, 356 S.E.2d 483, 484 (1987). See Nickerson v. City of Anacortes, 45 Wash. App. 432, 441, 725 P.2d 1027, 1032 (1986).” Fraley, 177 W. Va. at 733, 356 S.E.2d at 487.
Keywords Policy 5902, 4.2.1., Hardy Co. Policy GAD., boundaries, bullying, harassment, gender, dismissal letter, correctable conduct, insubordination, teaching credentials, willful neglect of duty, arbitrary and capricious, due process, immorality, mitigation
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Respondent dismissed Grievant from his teaching position for bullying and harassing his students with name calling and gender biased comments. Grievant denies some of the alleged actions and claims others were out of context and not in his dismissal letter. Grievant asserts his conduct is correctable and warrants mitigation. Respondent proved Grievant engaged in willful neglect of duty, insubordination, and immorality and that his conduct was not correctable, justifying his dismissal. Grievant failed to prove mitigation or lack of due process. Thus, this grievance is DENIED.

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