Southwest Junior High School Teacher Resigns During Termination Hearing

SPRINGDALE -- A Southwest Junior High School teacher resigned Thursday during a closed hearing with the Springdale School Board.

District officials were seeking to terminate Douglas "Ket" Manary's contract, when he requested the hearing, said Jared Cleveland, deputy superintendent for personnel. Manary was hired in the district in 2003, Cleveland said. His most recent position was health and physical education teacher at Southwest. He was also a cross country coach and assistant basketball coach.

Cleveland, Superintendent Jim Rollins and Charles Harwell, attorney for the district, said they wouldn't speak about the reasons that led up to the hearing.

A Freedom of Information Act request for documents relating to the situation was emailed to Harwell and district officials at 1:40 p.m. Friday. An email reply from Harwell was received at 2:57 p.m. stating the request had been received.

Harwell said in the email he spoke to Manary's attorney who was reviewing attorney general opinions related to resignations and terminations. He said district officials would disclose the records they determine aren't exempt. No documents had been released by 4 p.m.

Seven witnesses were sworn in during the hearing as was Manary. The hearing was then closed to the public.

The hearing ended at 10 p.m., Cleveland said. Manary decided to resign during the hearing. He wrote and turned in his letter of resignation before leaving.

Clayton Blackstock, Manary's attorney, was traveling back to his office in Little Rock on Friday, according to a staff member who answered the phone. A message left for Blackstock at his office wasn't returned by 4 p.m. Friday.

Harwell said he represents six or seven school districts, and this was the first time he's seen a district employee resign during a termination hearing.

Termination hearings are uncommon in the Springdale School District, Rollins said.

"They are infrequent, but from time to time, they are required," he said.

Terminations in general are uncommon, Harwell said. When there are allegations against employees, they usually resign before events lead to a termination.

An employee must violate a school policy, state law or federal law to be terminated, Cleveland said.

Procedures for dismissal are outlined in the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act, Harwell said. The superintendent must write a letter to the employee with detailed reasons about the termination. The employee has 30 days to request a hearing with the school board.

The district then has five to 20 days to schedule the hearing or to agree on a date with the employee, Harwell said. The school board makes the final decision about the termination.