On 6/13/09, VA needs a Union wrote:
> http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=38454&CHID=1
>
> Read the story above. If this was in PA or OH, this
> teacher would have NEVER been fired......

Parents' Passion Still High Posted 2009-06-10

Mayes Firing Argued Anew Before Board

By Jenny Jones

Caelin Martin, 6, a first-grader at John C. Myers Elementary,
hands out "Bring Back Valerie Mayes" buttons before Tuesday
night's meeting.

Photos by Michael Reilly

MORE PHOTOS

BROADWAY - Members of a group dedicated to persuading the
Rockingham County School Board to reinstate a teacher who was
fired last month were back in front of the board Tuesday
night.

Leaders of the group Bring Back Valerie Mayes handed out
buttons, hats and other paraphernalia before the board's
meeting at John C. Myers Elementary School, where Mayes
taught fourth grade.

It was the third meeting in a row in which people spoke
against the firing of Mayes, who had been an educator in the
division for 27 years. About 100 people attended Tuesday's
meeting.

Seven people, including Mayes' husband, Brad Simmons, and
daughter, Aarika Skelly, spoke in support of Mayes during the
meeting. They all said she is a beloved teacher whose
termination was unwarranted.

A couple of the speakers also accused School Board Chairman
John Myers and the rest of the board of lying about the
recommendation of the fact-finding panel that investigated
Mayes' case.

Myers has said - and the board's minutes state - that the
panel recommended terminating Mayes and the School Board
accepted that recommendation. Some of the speakers Tuesday
said the panel recommended punishing Mayes, but not
terminating her.

"The decision to dismiss Valerie Mayes was your decision and
your decision alone," said Chris Rush, whose son was in
Mayes' class. "I encourage you to take full responsibility
for it."

Citing state privacy laws, School Board members have declined
to comment on the specifics of Mayes' termination.

During Tuesday's meeting, board members said they believe
they made the right decision, based on the information
presented to them.

"I understand that people are hurt and that if you're a
parent, you will advocate to the ends of the Earth for your
child," said Gayl Brunk, a board member. "I don't expect
people to agree, because you don't have the same information
that we have."

Through boos and heckles, Myers attempted to assure the crowd
that the board's decision was the best for the division.

"[We want to] make the right decisions and this board has
done that," he said. "I hope one day everyone will
understand."

Mayes, who was not at Tuesday's meeting, says she was
terminated for writing an anonymous letter to her building
principal and Schools Superintendent Carol Fenn concerning
another teacher's conduct.

Mayes has since admitted that she pretended to be a concerned
parent when she wrote the letter. She also initially denied
writing the letter when confronted about it by school
officials.

Mayes, in a statement to the Daily News-Record, said she
takes full responsibility for her actions, but she doesn't
think she should have been fired.

Mayes has not released her employee records.

"We will continue to fight for Valerie Mayes for as long as
it takes and wherever it takes us," said Sheli Rush, the
leader of the BBVM group, during Tuesday's meeting. "That, my
friends, is a promise."

Contact Jenny Jones at 574-6286 or jjones@dnronline.com

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