Reported by: Tom McKee
Photographed by: 9News
A full house is expected Monday night for the regular meeting of the West Clermont Schools Board of Education.
Why?
It's now up to school board members to decide whether Brenda Slaby will be allowed to return to her job as Glen Este Middle School Principal.
Citizens will be allowed to address the board during the meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Union Township Administration Building.
However, the issue will not be discussed by board members during the public session because it's a personnel matter.
Instead, the board will deal with the issue in Executive Session, and will report a decision during a future public meeting.
Slaby has been on paid administrative leave since August 23, when her 2-year-old daughter died in her hot car parked behind the school.
Since Clermont County Prosecutor Don White did not charge Slaby with a crime in the case, the school board must decide on her job status.
West Clermont Schools Superintendent Dr. Gary Brooks said Slaby has been an assistant principal at the school since 2001 and that her performance reviews have been good.
She signed a new two-year contract in March for an annual salary of $77,000.
Education consultant Roger Effron, President of Madeira-based Effron & Associates, said, "This is one of those cases where there are absolutely no winners."
Effron said the board must follow the law regarding contracted employees, but that members have several options at their disposal- from allowing her to return, to buying out her contract.
"They may reassign her to another location," Effron said. "They may put her on voluntary leave of absence. They may keep her on administrative pay. They may work out something where she would resign."
Slaby's attorney, Scott Croswell, said he doesn't see any reason why his client couldn't resume her job.
"I believe she can go back and I believe she does want to go back at the appropriate time."
Public opinion on that prospect appears as evenly divided as the debate over whether charges should have been filed in the case.
"I don't feel comfortable having her remain an educator for her schools," said Christy Holcombe of Union Township. She circulated flyers Friday urging citizens to attend the meeting.
"The woman is not competent to take care of her own child," Holcombe said. "What makes us believe that she's going to be competent to take care of students in the school district?"
Union Township's Renee Hanley disagreed, saying, "I think she should be allowed to come back if that's what she wishes to do."
"It was a tragedy and an accident," Hanley continued. "She was rushing and she forgot her child, but I don't think that keeps her from being able to take care of children in her care."
The meeting will be held at the Union Township Administration Building on Aicholtz Road.
