SALEM School board sets conference to consider firing employee

The 'pre-termination' conference has been set three times.
SALEM -- The city school board is set to meet next week to consider the proposed firing of an administrative employee, regardless of whether she appears before that for a private conference intended to detail the allegations against her.
The private hearing, known as a "pre-termination conference" has been set three times, the most recent being Tuesday.
It was canceled by the employee, treasurer's assistant Annette Howard, for medical reasons, schools Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said today.
Howard also postponed Dec. 5 and Dec. 9 pre-termination conference dates, citing unavailability and medical reasons, Brobeck said.
The absence of the conference doesn't prevent the school board from considering a recommendation that Howard be fired, Brobeck added.
Allegations
Brobeck wants Howard's 14-year school district employment ended because he alleges that she engaged in inappropriate actions, including being involved in unauthorized purchases and having work done at her home by a school employee.
Howard has denied wrongdoing.
At Monday's 6 p.m. school board meeting, Brobeck will present to the panel the reasons and evidence why he believes Howard should be fired.
The board will then deliberate privately and determine whether to accept or reject the recommendation.