By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

The Wynford Board of Education voted on Monday morning at a special meeting to suspend the district’s long-time band director, Carl Copeland, without pay.

After reconvening from a half-hour executive session Superintendent Steve Mohr requested that the district’s school board suspend Copeland without pay until completion of termination proceedings.

“The actions of Carl Copeland constitute grounds for termination under Ohio Revised Code 3319.16 and the character for the charges warrants suspension pending action to terminate. Whereas Carl Copeland has been given the opportunity to appear before the superintendent to show why his teaching and supplemental contract should not be suspended pending termination hearings; be it hear by resolved that this board initiate legal proceedings for the termination of the teaching and supplemental contracts currently held by Carl Copeland,” Mohr told the board members. “Be it further resolved that Carl Copeland be suspended without pay or other fringe benefits during the pending of the termination proceedings. Such suspension will take effect on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Be it further resolved that the treasurer after consultation with legal counsel prepare to notify Carl Copeland by certified mail notice of this action which notice shall include the specification of the grounds for the proposed termination.”

Board members Debbie Gifford, and Steve Crall made the motion for the action, and the board approved the suspension with a 5- 0 vote.

After the vote Mohr said that due to legal proceedings he is not at liberty to say publicly what the grounds for termination are.

“Upon thorough examination of events that have occurred over the last three months, and after consultation with our attorney, we feel that there are sufficient grounds to proceed with the termination,” Mohr said. “But I am not at liberty to discuss publicly what those reasons are.”

At its previous meeting on Nov. 17, the school board hired Matthew Safford for the balance of this school year.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 in the high school library.