Debate Coach’s Hearing Slated

FAYETTEVILLE — The School Board has scheduled yet another hearing to consider the recommended termination of a high school teacher.

A hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday for Tim Hollis, a veteran teacher and debate coach. Three hearings were scheduled and then postponed at Hollis’ request because of health concerns.

Hollis will decide whether the hearing should be open to the public or closed. His decision will be announced at the start of the hearing.

Tim Hollis

Superintendent Vicki Thomas recommended his termination in June. The School Board’s options are to uphold the recommendation or reinstate Hollis to a teaching position.

Thomas recommended Hollis’ termination for his “insubordinate, inappropriate and offensive behavior” and defamatory statements made about Steve Jacoby, the high school principal; for falsifying a district document and distributing it to teachers; for committing the use of district money for improper purposes; and for inappropriate use of the district email system.

Hollis was suspended in May at which time Thomas told him to apologize to Jacoby and to enroll, at district expense, in an anger management program at Ozark Guidance. He didn’t enroll in the anger management program and indicated he didn’t plan to during an interview in July.

He filed a lawsuit within days of his suspension, claiming the district violated his contract by suspending him, an action only the School Board could take by district policy. The lawsuit has since been dismissed.

Hollis taught oral communications at Fayetteville High School for 27 years and was also the coach and adviser for the school’s debate team.

His contract expired June 30 at which time his annual salary was $68,442 plus a $700 stipend for serving as the debate coach.

He never signed a contract for the current school year, said Greg Mones, human resources director for the School District.

Mones said a full-time, certified teacher was hired to fill the vacancy left by Hollis.

The original hearing was scheduled Aug. 14, but postponed because Hollis was hospitalized. Subsequent hearings on Aug. 23 and Sept. 10 were postponed.