Fort Cherry teacher reinstated from leave
A Fort Cherry High School teacher put on leave last week for supposedly showing students an inappropriate video is now back in the classroom, according to an email sent to parents.
Guardians with students in Kevin Center’s multimedia class received a message Wednesday morning that Center had been reinstated.
“We apologize for the inconsistency regarding a substitute in his absence – it has been a tough start to the school year with lack of certified substitutes in the Western PA area. Mr. Center will be working to fulfill the content for any days missed,” Superintendent Jill Jacoby wrote in the email, adding any questions about grades or classroom content should be directed to the high school principal.
Jacoby said in a letter to parents dated Sept. 26 that Center would be “on an extended leave until further notice” and a substitute would be replacing him in his absence. Parents would soon receive contact information for the long-term substitute, Jacoby said in the letter.
Jacoby declined to provide further comment Tuesday because it was a “personnel matter.”
An online petition started by Lindsay Bracall began circulating two days after parents received notification of Center being put on leave. The petition claimed that the material had been shown previously in class with no issue and that the material “isn’t inappropriate due to its academic and intellectual value.” It accumulated almost 800 signatures.
Several parents and students, both former and current, left comments on the petition page in support of Center. Many also attended a school board meeting Monday held to discuss a potential building improvement project. Community members wanted information about Center and his employment and sought to speak in his defense. However, board members insisted the meeting was to remain on topic, with only discussion of building and grounds issues.
District officials encouraged residents to bring other concerns to the next board meeting Oct. 22. Calls to the district superintendent and the high school principal were not immediately returned Friday. Attempts to contact Center for comment were not successful.