Principal testifies at teacher’s hearing

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — The principal of a central Ohio middle school says he should have called police in December when a pupil’s family accused a science teacher of intentionally burning the image of a cross on the student’s arm.

William White testified Wednesday at a hearing in Mount Vernon to determine whether John Freshwater should be fired.

The city school board moved to fire the eighth-grade teacher in June, citing an internal investigation that found he had also preached his Christian beliefs in class.

On Tuesday, Freshwater acknowledged that he used an electrostatic device in what he called an “x motion” on the arm of Zachary Dennis, but the teacher said there were no marks.

The teen testified that a painful scar was visible for weeks.