Posted on 10/13/2018 1:13:32 AM PDT by abb
A Harnett County high school principal has been replaced, a week after she asked a high school student to remove a jersey that bore President Donald Trump’s name on the back.
The Harnett school system on Friday announced a new principal for Harnett Central High School. The district said the change is directly related to the actions taken by former Harnett Central Principal Cindy Gordon last week in asking the student not to wear the Trump shirt.
The district announced leadership changes at several of its schools, including Harnett Central, on Friday afternoon. The changes are “effective immediately,” according to the district news release.
The high school had encouraged students to dress with a patriotic theme for the football game on Oct. 5, ABC11 reported.
Harnett Central parent Mike Collins told the news station that the high school’s principal asked his 18-year-old son to remove the jersey because it was “too political” for some at the football game. The red, white and blue jersey featured “USA” and the Statue of Liberty’s torch on the front, with “Trump” and the number 45 on the back.
Catherine Jones, the current principal at Harnett Primary School, will be the new principal at Harnett Central High. Calvetta Dunkins, an assistant principal at Dunn Middle School, will be the interim principal at Harnett Primary.
The news release did not mention Gordon’s name nor say whether she is now employed by the school system.
“Again, we want to emphasize that Harnett County Schools supports and affirms students’ rights to express themselves — including wearing clothing expressing political messages or supporting political candidates or officeholders — in ways that are not expected to disrupt school or school events,” the district news release said.
Tony Buzzard, an attorney representing the Collins family, told The News & Observer, “We’re very pleased that the school board and the county were quick to resolve the issue.”
Buzzard said the family wanted the board to recognize what had happened.
Asked whether the family might consider any further action, Buzzard said he’s not sure. But he said Friday’s announcement will influence their decisions moving forward.
Unfortunately, not so. She's merely been removed from the principal's position, but is still on paid administrative leave. It's essentially nothing more than a "time out". They'll wait till the media moves on and the story becomes "old news", then find her a position somewhere else in the school system.
The white father was on Fox and Friends this morning, also.
The kid could be adopted. One of my coworkers is white and two of his sons are black.
The tides are starting to turn.
I whole heartedly agree with your sentiments. It seems folks these days “conservatives” none the less are out to destroy people’s lives for those that hold opposing political views. Now it is true some on the left are about that theme we supposed conservatives are better people than that. Not only is attempting to destroy someone’s life distasteful it’s abborent and disgusting and has no place in political discourse.
A whole lot of “Ms. To Ms.” juggling in there, too. Public “schooling” is just daycare for womyn who can’t do anything, anyway.
I still, with childhood fear and the fondness that comes from aged memories, remember my grade-school Principal and his wall of spanking paddles. His office was truly feared.
Those were the days, when men made men out of little boys.
Good winning. About time we see administrator and teacher bullying pushed back. Patriotic speech, especially when encouraged, should be unfettered within reason (not disruptive or threatening) and not filtered by staff bias. Nice to see the district prefers respect over big losing court fights. Here in Reno, the local school district changed their tune last spring as well after banning a 2nd amendment-related T-Shirt. They removed mention of weapons, instead focusing on illegal activities.
How many kids did she send home for wearing Jug Ears gear?
What will go to the bank are the attorny’s fees the school district will have to pay the Collin’s family. That’s the real leverage prompting a quick resolution here.
Removed as principal, but she'll still be stinking up the teaching profession in the same school system. She'll be teaching poli sci, probably.
It’s cheaper to bury her than to fire her
Buried, she might resign
And quick at that
In which State, Country, universe or galaxy did this occur?
I’m glad this happened and so quickly!
But you’ve got to admit...
Tony Buzzard is a pretty descriptive name for a LAWYER!
You did not understand my posting. “Take it to the bank” is a variant of “You can bet on it”. I guess it’s deliberate you also are choosing to ignore the eight hundred pound elephant in the room.
Are we suppose to guess which state in the country this is?
I am afraid you missed the elephant, so let me be clearer. By statute, the defendant has to pay attorney’s fees in a civil rights suit if the plaintiff prevails. The attorney’s fees are based on the hourly rate for an experienced attorney for that particular type of suit in federal court in that division. Attorneys who handle civil rights suits obtain higher hourly rates than other litigators because they are specialists. If a case goes to trial, or even if it is settled before trial, an award of 100-200K in attorney’s fees is not uncommon, and those fees often dwarf the award given to the plaintiff. This case is so far over the line, it would not even be worth contesting. The school district astutely recognized that, and took remedial action at once to minimize the attorney’s fees they would certainly be liable for. It is the fear of gargantuan attorney’s fees, and not necessarily concern for the student that is the elephant here.
Yup.
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