Thursday, September 04, 2008
News
Byron teacher retires after allegations
By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer
BYRON - A sixth-grade science teacher accused last school year of inappropriate behavior toward students abruptly retired after nearly 40 years teaching in the district.
Byron Area Schools Superintendent Daniel Scow said Tom H. Davis retired Aug. 22. Scow said Davis and other teachers were to report back Aug. 27.
Davis was on paid administrative leave for three months last spring while school officials and the Byron Police Department investigated reports of alleged inappropriate behavior.
Scow said Davis was to teach sixth-grade science, health and thinking skills this year.
“Our district did our own investigation and we didn't find any reason to bring any formal charges against Mr. Davis or any disciplinary action,” Scow said. “It was kind of a drawn-out process, but I think we acted in the best interest of our students and our school.”
Davis did not immediately return messages left by The Argus-Press.
According to the Byron Police Department's report on the investigation- obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request - the investigation went to the Shiawassee County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Scow said a substitute took over Davis' classes. Scow said he expects to fill the position with a full-time teacher in the next couple of weeks.
The district placed Davis on paid administrative leave Feb. 27 and he returned to Byron Middle School May 27.
However, Davis did not return to the classroom and instead requested an alternative district assignment. He had the options of returning with no classroom changes, teaching with a camera in his room or teaching with an aide alongside him. Davis also could have taken a leave of absence until the end of the year with a different district assignment this year and retired at the end of last school year, information from his personnel file revealed.
The Byron Police Department and Shiawassee Child Protective Services were involved, according to documents in Davis' personnel file and police reports.
Numerous statements from students and parents from Byron Middle School allege Davis made inappropriate comments toward students. Davis denied any such behavior to police and told them he would take a lie detector test, according to the police report.
The investigation revealed some students were spreading rumors on the social networking Web sites MySpace and Facebook about Davis. Police records also indicate a group of students conspired to get one another to “pull (their) shirt(s) down so Mr. Davis would look,” one student told police.
Scow sent a letter to all Byron Middle School sixth-grade parents April 14 detailing Davis' return to building.
“The administration of Byron Area Schools is convinced that Mr. Davis is fully capable of returning to his duties as a classroom teacher at Byron Middle School,” the letter read.
Scow also detailed how Davis “did not agree with the position the district is taking with regard to not pursuing disciplinary action against the students,” a letter in Davis' personnel file read.
Scow has worked with Davis for a year and said he didn't have a chance to directly observe Davis.
- Contact Dominic Adams at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.
Byron Area Schools Superintendent Daniel Scow said Tom H. Davis retired Aug. 22. Scow said Davis and other teachers were to report back Aug. 27.
Davis was on paid administrative leave for three months last spring while school officials and the Byron Police Department investigated reports of alleged inappropriate behavior.
Scow said Davis was to teach sixth-grade science, health and thinking skills this year.
“Our district did our own investigation and we didn't find any reason to bring any formal charges against Mr. Davis or any disciplinary action,” Scow said. “It was kind of a drawn-out process, but I think we acted in the best interest of our students and our school.”
Davis did not immediately return messages left by The Argus-Press.
According to the Byron Police Department's report on the investigation- obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request - the investigation went to the Shiawassee County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Scow said a substitute took over Davis' classes. Scow said he expects to fill the position with a full-time teacher in the next couple of weeks.
The district placed Davis on paid administrative leave Feb. 27 and he returned to Byron Middle School May 27.
However, Davis did not return to the classroom and instead requested an alternative district assignment. He had the options of returning with no classroom changes, teaching with a camera in his room or teaching with an aide alongside him. Davis also could have taken a leave of absence until the end of the year with a different district assignment this year and retired at the end of last school year, information from his personnel file revealed.
The Byron Police Department and Shiawassee Child Protective Services were involved, according to documents in Davis' personnel file and police reports.
Numerous statements from students and parents from Byron Middle School allege Davis made inappropriate comments toward students. Davis denied any such behavior to police and told them he would take a lie detector test, according to the police report.
The investigation revealed some students were spreading rumors on the social networking Web sites MySpace and Facebook about Davis. Police records also indicate a group of students conspired to get one another to “pull (their) shirt(s) down so Mr. Davis would look,” one student told police.
Scow sent a letter to all Byron Middle School sixth-grade parents April 14 detailing Davis' return to building.
“The administration of Byron Area Schools is convinced that Mr. Davis is fully capable of returning to his duties as a classroom teacher at Byron Middle School,” the letter read.
Scow also detailed how Davis “did not agree with the position the district is taking with regard to not pursuing disciplinary action against the students,” a letter in Davis' personnel file read.
Scow has worked with Davis for a year and said he didn't have a chance to directly observe Davis.
- Contact Dominic Adams at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.