An attorney representing suspended Cutter Morning Star Elementary School Principal Jann Gibson said she received notification Monday she was cleared of child maltreatment accusations.
Robert Newcomb, a Little Rock attorney, said Gibson received two letters on Monday informing her she was cleared of two accusations. The letters were dated Nov. 20 and Nov. 21 by two family service workers with the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Gibson was informed the Division of Children and Family Services or Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division received allegations involving her.
Both allegations of abuse were filed on Oct. 6. Each letter explained "because the allegations were not supported by a preponderance of evidence, the allegation has been determined unsubstantiated and your name will not be placed in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry."
Gibson and Kent Wasson, a physical education teacher and coach, were suspended on Oct. 11 by the Cutter Morning Star School District pending an unspecified investigation. Wasson returned to campus earlier in November, but Newcomb said Superintendent Nancy Anderson previously notified Gibson of her intent to recommend Gibson be terminated.
About 60 guests attended the subsequent board meeting on Oct. 30 and about two dozen wore black shirts with the hashtag #standwithjann. Frustration with the suspensions led parents to ask questions about the district's leadership and financial spending.
Board members spoke publicly at the most recent board meeting a week ago and on social media in defense of Anderson and themselves. The board approved the hire of a part-time employee to help the district manage a growing number of requests for documents and information under Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act.
Newcomb said Gibson has until Dec. 8 to request a public hearing if Anderson does not retract her recommendation for termination. He said he plans to submit a request next week.
The district will be able to schedule a hearing between five to 20 days after board President Mark Rash receives the request. Newcomb said he spoke with attorney Cody Kees, with the Little Rock law firm Bequette & Billingsley, which represents Cutter Morning Star, about holding the hearing outside of the designated five to 20 days.
Newcomb said he believes holding the meeting in early January would be more convenient, but the district opposed it. The 15-day window could place the hearing during the district's holiday break between Dec. 21 and Jan. 8.
Local on 11/28/2017