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TMCNet: BRIEF: Chrisman teacher won't contest firing

[March 13, 2010]

BRIEF: Chrisman teacher won't contest firing

Mar 12, 2010 (The Kansas City Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Gene Hoppe, a 37-year teacher in the Independence School District, said he will not contest the school board's recent decision to terminate his contract.


However, he will appeal a finding made last fall by a state social services caseworker. Hoppe said the worker considered his treatment of a student to be abuse.

The school board fired Hoppe, a social studies teacher at William Chrisman High School, over a March 2009 incident in which Hoppe allegedly kicked a student. At a Feb. 16 hearing, Hoppe said that in trying to avoid being kicked by the student, his leg may have made contact with her.

Several friends and former students of Hoppe appeared before the school board this week to support him.

"My attorney has advised me that, based on the law that controls this, which is very tightly written, we have very little to appeal on, even though we vehemently disagree," said Hoppe, 62, who had been on paid leave.

Brian Burnes, bburnes@kcstar.com To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

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