Wednesday, June 20, 2001
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Wednesday, June 20, 2001 |
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School board eyes age requirement for substitute teachers By DAVE
HAMRICK
In the wake of allegations that a substitute teacher allowed students to view indecent material on the Internet, Fayette County Board of Education members are considering a policy change to require that future substitutes be at least 21 years old. The board Monday put the proposed change on the table for consideration at its July meeting. Board members had little to say about the proposed change during Monday's meeting, but member Marion Key pointed out the irony of requiring substitute teachers to be 21, while regular teachers might be younger. "If this had been in effect, I couldn't have taught my first year of school," she said. In the incident last March, the 19-year-old substitute was arrested. "We felt that a more mature person would have handled it differently," said Superintendent John Decotis in presenting the policy change to the board. Board member Janet Smola wondered whether the School System might be open to lawsuits charging age discrimination. "It could happen," said DeCotis. If the policy is adopted, current substitute teachers who are under 21 would be able to continue working under a grandfather clause.
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