Judge upholds decision to drop teacher

LISBON -- A Columbiana County judge has upheld the Salem school district's decision not to rehire a high school teacher.
Douglas Moffett, 31, of 1510 N. Ellsworth Ave., filed an appeal with the court in July. Moffett claimed that the school board's manner of nonrenewing his contract in April 2002 violated state law.
In his appeal, Moffett claimed in part that the school board had failed to provide him an adequate hearing.
Judge C. Ashley Pike said in a decision filed this week that Moffett had not submitted his request for a hearing on the nonrenewal within the required five days.
Moffett's hearing request was not received by the school board until six days after he was given notice of his nonrenewal, Judge Pike said.
His failure to request a hearing in the required time means his appeal must be dismissed, the judge determined.
Moffett, who taught machine trades, had been instructing in the district since 1999.
When his teaching contract was nonrenewed, Moffett said school officials had criticized his ability to teach and his closeness to his students.
Moffett argued at the time that he was progressing as a teacher and that his closeness to students is proper.