MIDDLEBURG— The Midd West School Board made the decision to rescind the suspension without pay for Daphne Snook, a former assistant superintendent who was accused of improperly breaching the school district’s email system. The vote 5 to 4 in favor of giving the former administrator $35,000 for back pay, all accrued leave and any other costs.
Onie Lauver, a former teacher and board member, spoke during public comment saying she does not think they should be awarding someone for their wrong doing, “Do we really want our students to believe that they can do something unethical and that they will be rewarded for this behavior? This is the message that will be sent to the student body by your actions tonight. So I do not believe this is in the best interest of the district.”
School board member Sherryl Wagner voted against the decision, “Sometimes the ethical thing to do may not feel or seem to be the right thing to do in this situation as well as others the board is faced with do you do the ethical thing looking at also the money that is involved.”
The board says the money to pay for the lawsuit has already been figured into their budget. Last month, the district entered into a settlement with Snook, awarding her $130,000. She is now an administrator in the Milton Area School District. (Lauren Koch)