Bell granted unpaid leave

VERONA – The Augusta County School Board Thursday reversed a decision by Superintendent Gary McQuain and voted 5-2 to grant newly elected House 20 Del. Dickie Bell’s request for an unpaid leave of absence from his special education teaching duties so he can serve in Richmond.

The leave of absence applies only to the time he serves in the Richmond, a total of 48 school contract days during the 2010 legislative session.

“I’m glad but mostly relieved,’’ Bell said after the decision. “I understand where everybody was coming from.”

Bell, who teaches at Riverheads High School, said he was overwhelmed by the numerous supporters who came to Thursday’s meeting and asked the school board to reverse McQuain’s decision.

When speaking to the school board, Bell said his students were excited about the prospect of his teaching/legislative career.

“It’s the opportunity to use this as a teaching tool,’’ he said.

Bell said serving the 20th House District was not just another job, but public service, and an opportunity to serve his community.

House 25 Del. Steve Landes said he has worked with other legislators who are teachers, and also said long-term substitutes are called into schools for illnesses and maternity leave.

Speaking of Tuesday’s election of Bell, Landes said “15,000 people felt he could do both. And when the public speaks, I listen to them.”

Landes said the Augusta County School Board would be setting a precedent if they did not allow Bell to teach and serve in the legislature.

McQuain told the school board that while the policy manual allows a leave for political activity, the loss of Bell for 48 school days is not political activity, but a job.

The superintendent said he was also concerned about Bell’s absence because the disabled student population at Riverheads has not performed well on Standards of Learning tests and he is working to remedy that.

“This is not political and personal,’’ said McQuain of his decision to deny Bell’s leave request. The superintendent said he made his decision based on the instruction of children.

“We only get students from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. eavery day,’’ McQuain said.

School Board Chairman David Shiflett, a former teacher, said his experience was that instruction suffers when a substitute takes over for a regular classroom teacher.

“In very few instances do I find that substitutes do the job regular teachers do,’’ said Shiflett said.

Shiflett said Bell’s absence would create the same issue each year, and said the problem could be magnified by an extended General Assembly session.

Pastures board member John Ocheltree said he knew Bell personally and as an educator, and believed he could accomplish the dual role.

“If anybody can make it work Mr. Bell can,’’ he said.

Bell said he would work to assure the transition at Riverheads while he is in Richmond working on legislative business.

“We can make it work,’’ he said, promising to work with other special education teachers while he is away.