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No Dream Too Big . . . No Challenge Too Great
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Education Center
3811 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85018 |
Telephone: 480-484-6100
FAX: 480-484-6286
Web site: www.susd.org |
| For Release: |
January 28, 2003 |
| Contact: |
Carol Hughes, 480-484-6188 |
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NEWS and INFORMATION |
| Administration recommends
termination of two teachers
The District administration today asked the Governing Board to adopt
separate statements of charges to terminate two teachers: Todd Miller,
a teacher at Desert Mountain High School, and David Renaud, a teacher
at Cherokee Elementary School.
Mr. Miller brought a loaded weapon and drug paraphernalia, among other
things, onto school property in violation of state law and District
policies. He was arrested and charged with various violations of state
law, and later released. At the time he came to campus with these
items, Mr. Miller was on administrative leave pending an investigation
of him on unrelated matters. The District also took immediate action
to obtain an injunction against him prohibiting his presence on any
school property or any harassing behavior of employees or students.
Mr. Renaud has been arrested and charged with child molestation, aggravated
assault, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor, and kidnapping
in connection with various students and other minors. According to
police records, he has admitted to certain conduct. The District is
currently investigating all circumstances related in any way to Mr.
Renaud's conduct.
"The District has moved for termination of both these individuals
because of the clear danger they present to students and employees,"
said Kim Cumby, executive director of Human Resource Services. "The
District will not hesitate to take this type of forceful action against
any employee as soon as the District is made aware of conduct that
warrants discharge. These are precisely such instances."
The Legislature has by statute required that teachers receive certain
due process rights upon dismissal. The District is obligated to and
therefore will follow those statutory requirements. To the extent
on these factual records that either teacher appeals their termination,
the District will aggressively pursue their terminations while at
the same time affording them their due process rights as required
by law.
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