Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Board votes to fire Fleming principal
The Roanoke School Board voted 5-2 on Tuesday evening to fire William Fleming High School Principal Susan Willis.
Willis has been on paid administrative leave since June, when a state department of education report implicated her in a scandal that kept special education students from taking Standards of Learning tests.
"Tonight's decision of the Roanoke City School Board to uphold my dismissal could not possibly reflect a thorough review of the facts presented during nine-days of testimony which exonerated me," Willis said in a statement released through her spokeswoman, Ernest Delbuono of Neathawk Dubuque & Packett.
"I am at this time authorizing the release of the four page dissenting summary of panel member Cheryl Twine, which is backed up by an 80 page full report, which clearly outlines the school board's disregard of factual testimony supporting my innocence in being involved in any SOL irregularities at William Fleming high school," she said. "I will consider the outcome of the school board's decision and decide whether I will contest the outcome in future litigation to clear my name and professional reputation."
School board members Mae Huff and Courtney Penn voted against the motion.
