Tribunal Hearings for four Dougherty County School teachers named in the CRCT cheating investigation have concluded.
The tribunal board accepted the recommendations submitted to it, with some changes for the four teachers.
The panel is recommending a 40 work day suspension without pay based on their contract year, which is 184 days.
The actual days of the suspension are retroactive since these teachers were removed the classroom earlier in the school year.
The school board is expected to vote on this August 13th. If this passes, the teachers will get new contracts with the suspension.
Fatima Jackson of Turner Elementary, Jennifer Smith of MLK Elementary, and Alberta Wallace of Sherwood Acres Elementary were all three named in the state investigation into CRCT tampering.
The hearing for Lavonda Jolivette just wrapped up, and will be followed by Fatima Jackson's.
Jolivette's attorney, Herbert Benson and Flin Coleman, the Dougherty Co Schools attorney recommended a 60 day suspension without pay.
Coleman and Chris Cohilas, the attorney for Jennifer Smith and Alberta Wallace, made a joint recommendation to the panel of a 60 day suspension without pay for both teachers.
The tribunal panel did not make a decision on either teacher yet. The panel has five days to file their decision with the board of education.
Smith has been teaching for 23 years. The defense says she felt her job was on the line and she felt pressure to get test scores up. Smith is accused of using eye contact and taping her finger to help students on the test.
The hearing for Fatima Jackson starts at 1 p.m. and Lavonda Jolivette's hearing will directly follow.
The tribunal hearing panel:
T. Gamble, an attorney from Dawson, is the hearing officer for today's tribunal. The panel is made up of Scott Chesnutwood, a retired Tift County assistant superintendent, Jack Willis, a retired Coffee and Grady County superintendent and Wanda West, who's on the Bibb County school board and is a former Twiggs County superintendent.
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