Former Campbell teacher appeals his termination

By William K. Alcorn

CAMPBELL — Former Campbell schools fifth-grade teacher Raymond J. Lanzo has appealed his termination, claiming the board of education failed to prove the grounds on which he was fired.

The board terminated him July 9, saying Lanzo’s discipline of male pupils by twisting their hair and pulling their ears constituted inappropriate touching. The appeal was filed Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

In his suit, Lanzo asks the court to order the board of education to reinstate him to a one-year limited contract and pay any loss of salary and benefits from his suspension without pay Feb. 1, 2008, through his reinstatement. He also demands that the court award attorney fees and other relief as it deems just and equitable.

Previously, Lanzo had filed an appeal of the board’s nonrenewal of his teaching contract, but withdrew that action after the board rescinded its decision to nonrenew his contract and terminated him, said Lanzo’s attorney, Cornelius J. Baasten of Canton.

Baasten said the two board actions are not the same in that nonrenewal is without cause, and termination is done for cause.

In this second appeal, Lanzo said the findings and conclusions of a referee’s report, that there was “good and just cause” to terminate him, are not supported by the evidence presented in hearings. The suit also alleges that Lanzo was not given proper notice that the board was asserting willful and persistent violations of the board as a reason for his termination.

alcorn@vindy.com