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State Board issues charges against Foote

February 27th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland State Board of Education has issued charges against Allegany County School Board member Wayne Foote for misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty.

The State Board voted Tuesday in closed session and have since notified Foote that it has been determined that materials submitted to the State are legally and factually sufficient to support the allegations against him. Accordingly the Board voted to issue charges. It was a resolution approved by the outgoing local board in late December requesting the State to remove Foote. 

The charges focus on breaching confidentiality of the board’s closed sessions; and several incidents of sexual misconduct and intimidation. Follow up letters were submitted by former board members Laurie Marchini and Sara Beth Bittinger detailing alleged inappropriate actions and comments made by Foote toward them. When reached  by WCBC News Wednesday, Foote said he had no comment. However, he has maintained through this process that he has done nothing wrong.

School Board President Robert Farrell, who has been a strong supporter of Foote, when reached for comment by WCBC, said that he had not yet seen the letter of charges from the State. The process from here can get somewhat convoluted.

First Foote can request a hearing, which his attorney George “Mac” McKinley has said will occur. The Office of Administrative Hearings will schedule a hearing and eventually issue a proposed decision to the State Board.

Foote will then have the opportunity to file exceptions to that if he disagrees. An oral argument before the State Board may then be scheduled before the State Board issues its final decision. If Foote disagrees with the state’s decision, he can appeal to Allegany County Circuit Court.  The process is expected  to take several months, during which Foote can continue to serve until the appeals process concludes.

One Response to “State Board issues charges against Foote”

  1. February 27, 2019 at 4:25 pm, kevin said:

    Hmmm. The 3-2 majority is looking a little wobbly.

    Reply

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