MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- A teacher who faces termination over claims he burned crosses into students' arms and taught creationism faces the board who voted unanimously to fire him.
John Freshwater is a middle-school science teacher who works for the Mount Vernon City Schools district.
Freshwater's contract hearing started Thursday; he currently is under suspension.
The controversy began in April when the district began an investigation into Freshwater's in-classroom conduct.
The district was investigating several complaints, including one that involved an allegation that that Freshwater used an electrostatic device to burn crosses on students.
Other complaints alleged Freshwater kept a Bible on his classroom desk, distributed Bibles to students, shared religious beliefs in class, led healing sessions in his classroom and engaged in prayer sessions while leading meetings for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Freshwater denies the allegations.
NBC 4's Matt Alvarez was at the hearing Thursday and reported from the courtroom.
PREVIOUS STORIES:
Sept. 12: Freshwater Files A Counterclaim
Aug. 5: Freshwater Speaks To Board, Gets Ovation
July 8: Town Split Over Bible, Teacher's Conduct
June 20: School Board Moves To Fire Mt. Vernon Teacher
April 16: Teacher Refuses To Remove Bible From Desk
John Freshwater's attorney, Kelly Hamilton, was the first to speak at the hearing. Hamilton responded to nine allegations that have come against Freshwater over the past several months, Alvarez reported.
Hamilton said the district gave Freshwater the "administrations blessing" to keep religious material in his classroom, as "a faculty approved member" of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Freshwater served for 17 years as a monitor for FCA.
Hamilton said his client never took part in healing sessions.
Thursday was only opening statements, Hamilton said. He said he will respond to every allegation through the hearing process.
The board started to make its case against Freshwater Thursday morning
District Superintendent Steve Short took the stand as the board stated its case in favor of firing Freshwater.
Alvarez reported Short claimed Freshwater was not monitoring the Fellowship of Christian Athletes appropriately, taught creationism and intelligent design to his students and displayed religious items in his classroom.
Alvarez reported that a decision to keep or terminate Freshwater will not be made for at least a month. A referee will collect the evidence, documents, testimony and will write a report that will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Education, which will make the final determination.
A referee's role is similar to a judge's in court proceedings. Lee Shepherd is the referee of the hearing. Shepherd is a law director who was appointed to the proceeding by ODE.
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information on this developing story.
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