SCHOOLS Salem educator is placed on suspension
Officials say the absent educator killed another motorist.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The Salem Board of Education decided to suspend a veteran educator for falsely saying he was sick while he was traveling in another state.
While traveling, Craig Readshaw, 52, of Salem, was involved in a traffic accident that injured another Salem man and killed another motorist.
Superintendent David Brobeck had recommended that Readshaw be terminated. Most recently, Readshaw has handled in-school suspensions for the district.
The board voted Monday to suspend Readshaw for 30 days effective immediately. He won't be paid but will get health benefits.
Board member Kathryn L. Gano was in favor of terminating him, but the rest of the board voted to suspend him.
Was absent
According to the termination action, Readshaw was absent May 28, which was the Friday before Memorial Day.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Readshaw was driving his pickup north on Highway 37 at 6:45 a.m. May 28 near Brainerd, Minn. The two-lane highway is in the central portion of the state.
Readshaw crossed the center line and struck a car head on driven by Jerry L. Quenzer, 27, of Brainerd. Quenzer was killed.
Readshaw and his passenger, Randy L. Stith, 22, of Salem, were both injured.
According to the patrol, Quenzer's vehicle spun around and was pushed backward by the collision. The vehicle was then struck by a trailer that Readshaw was towing which broke loose after the initial impact.
Criminal charge
Readshaw faces a criminal charge in Morrison County, Minn. Details were not available.
According to the school district, Readshaw told Minnesota authorities that he left Salem at 5:30 p.m. May 27.
But the district says that Readshaw told a school official May 29 that he had left work after school May 28, and that the accident occurred about 10 p.m. that day. The district said that Readshaw admitted later that the accident occurred the morning of May 28.
In August, Readshaw gave the district a note saying he took the day off because of mental stress. Readshaw said he had been treated for depression for 18 months.
The district contends that the note was false and that Readshaw went to Minnesota to sell deer for personal gain.
The district says that falsifying sick leave is a violation of state law for teachers and grounds for dismissal.
Brobeck also sought dismissal on the grounds Readshaw violated attendance and absence policies for teachers.
wilkinson@vindy.com