Copying out that link for posterity's sake...
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The Record-CourierState suspends Whittell dean's teaching licenseby Scott Neuffer sneuffer@recordcourier.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009A former school administrator facing two battery charges is no longer working at Whittell High School and most likely will not return to the dean of students position he was hired this summer, according to Douglas County School District Hu man Resources Dir ector Rich Alex ander.
"At this point, Mr. (Richard) Darrington has not been able to meet some of the obligations necessary to be in his position," Alexander said Monday.
On Sept. 2, Alexander notified Whittell High School that Darrington's substitute license had been suspended by the state.
"Due to the charges, the state department of education is reviewing his (Darrington's) request for a license," Alexander said.
Darrington's contract is contingent on certain deadlines, Alexander said, by which he has to obtain a valid teaching license.
"It's unlikely he'll be able to meet those deadlines," Alexander said.
Darrington, 37, was hired this summer to replace Whittell administrator Dan Wold, who transferred to Carson Valley Middle School for the fall. Darrington said the Douglas County School District was aware of two battery charges, a felony and a misdemeanor, leveled against him in Blue Ridge, Ga., where he operated a private school for teens called Darrington Academy for five years.
In May, Darrington was arrested by Fannin County sheriff's investigators for allegedly slamming a 17-year-old student on the floor, causing a tooth to fall out, and pushing a 16-year-old juvenile into a wall. He paid $6,000 bail and was released from jail.
Darrington said he's confident he'll be exonerated if the case ever makes it to a courtroom. Appalachian Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Jodi Spiegel said the charges against Darrington are still pending and will probably be presented to a grand jury in November.
"We're waiting to see what happens," Darrington said, "what's coming back from state and hoping things get resolved in Georgia quickly so we can move forward. We still don't know what will happen. It's all up in the air."
Darrington said if the state reissues his license, it may be up to the school board whether he returns to Whittell. He said he's provided the state with information surrounding the charges against him.
"They're waiting to make sure that the FBI check comes back showing no convictions," he said. "I really don't know. I don't know if I will be able to go back to work or not. I'm trying to take care of my family and trying to make it work."
Keith Rheault, superintendent of public instruction for the Nevada Department of Education, wouldn't comment specifically on Darrington's license review, but said specific state statute allows provisional licenses to be issued while background checks are pending. However, he said Darrington should not have been issued a substitute license.
"Upon review, he shouldn't have been issued one until all the materials, including the background check, were complete," he said.
Rheault said the provisional statute is typically not used if there is some indication of criminal charges on an application.
"Normally, protocol is that if there is some indication or some particular felony, we'll hold the license application until the full background," he said. "In most cases, we don't issue licenses as long as pending charges haven't been settled. In rare occasions, maybe twice in the last 10 years, a license has been issued based on documentation and review. It's very limited.
"My point is what I would want for my child being instructed. We'd rather err on the side of safety. Getting a license is a privilege in this state, not automatic."
Rheault said results from paper fingerprints take 2-6 weeks, versus 2-5 days for scanned fingerprints. Unfortunately, he said, out-of-state applicants often use paper fingerprints.
"A lot of ours come from out of state," he said. "They apply for a license while still out of state."
Rheault said he's working with other state agencies to set up more live scanning sites.
"We're working on a process with the state bureau, trying to work out sites in Nevada," he said. "Hopefully, in the future, an individual requesting a license in the state can get them (scanned prints)."
But for now, the state must wait for the results of the official background check before making a decision on Darrington's review.
In the meantime, Alexander said he's found a substitute teacher to replace Darrington.
"We're putting in a substitute dean of students until we can resolve the situation," he said. "We need the dust to settle before we can post the position. At this point, a person can start working with a sub license, but they're paid at the sub rate, and they're given a deadline to get stuff done."
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