A Cautionary Case for Schools

Wisconsin State Journal Editorial:

The words of Madison School Superintendent Art Rainwater should stand as a warning to school administrators statewide:

"In the context of what we know now, we would take a whole different approach. "

Rainwater was referring to the district 's experience with a former male employee, allowed to quietly resign after a complaint of inappropriate behavior toward a female student.

The man later got a job with a different school district, which was unaware of the accusation at La Follette High School.

The man is now charged with repeated sexual assault of a child and with possession of child pornography.

The Madison district 's handling of the 2006 resignation of the employee, Anthony Hirsch, now of DeForest, should prompt all school districts to take a skeptical view of signing resignation agreements that require the district to keep quiet about any suspicions of inappropriate behavior on the job.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 4, 2008 9:08 AM
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