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WCHS principal demoted; is now on sick leave
Posted On 11 Mar 2015
Alan Sweet has been demoted as principal at Whitley County High School and is now on sick leave rather than a paid suspension.
Timothy Crawford, the attorney for the Whitley County Board of Education, said Monday afternoon that Superintendent Scott Paul made the decision on Feb. 18 to demote Sweet from his position as high school principal to a teaching position and served him with notice of the demotion that day.
"The demotion right now is not necessarily a punishment. It was just a personnel decision sort of like a placement decision but he has a right to appeal it to see if the board would disagree with the superintendent," Crawford said. "There are no other reprimands or anything of that nature at this time. Whether or not punishment will be imposed that decision has not been made."
Crawford said that the district hasn’t drafted its written list of grounds for the demotion yet.
"Alan did indicate he wants to appeal the demotion which would be a hearing before the Whitley County Board of Education but we have not drafted our grounds," Crawford said.
"Those don’t have to be provided by statute until we hear whether or not the administrator wants to appeal. We have not drafted that document yet. Some of it is going to depend on additional information we hope to hear from outside sources."
No hearing date has been set yet for Sweet’s appeal on his demotion.
Crawford said that once Paul prepares the specific grounds for the demotion being made then a hearing with the board of education must be scheduled not less than 20 days later but not more than 30 days later.
"The board will be notified Thursday (during its regular monthly meeting) that personnel action has been taken that he has been demoted," Crawford said.
On Feb. 2, Paul placed Sweet on paid suspension pending an internal investigation by the school district.
Five days later, school district officials contacted Kentucky State Police who began a criminal investigation.
So far school and police officials have said little about what prompted the investigation. The only thing police have said about their investigation is that it involves a juvenile.
Crawford said that the district’s internal investigation is still ongoing as well as the Kentucky State Police investigation.
Sweet’s attorney, Williamsburg lawyer Paul Croley, said Tuesday afternoon that his client denies he did anything wrong.
"Mr. Sweet denies any wrongdoing. Due to the nature of an ongoing investigation, we have no further comment at this time," Croley said.
Crawford said that Friday was the last day Sweet was on paid suspension and it was the last day he could have been on paid suspension.
Crawford said that there is a 25-work day limit to someone being on paid suspension, and Friday was that 25th day for Sweet.
Also on Friday, Sweet sent a letter to Paul indicating he was taking sick leave effective Monday, March 9. Sweet did not indicate how long he planned to be on sick leave, Crawford said.
"Technically, when an employee is on leave they are still an employee but their duties are suspended for whatever type of leave they have," Crawford said.
"He indicates he is going to be taking sick leave so he is on leave now and his duties technically are suspended while he is on leave. If he attempts to return then that is a discussion he would have to have with the superintendent."
After Sweet was demoted, the high school decision-making council asked Paul to appoint an interim principal for the remainder of the school year.
On Feb. 23, Paul appointed former long-time high school principal Kenneth Powell as interim principal for the remainder of the school year.
The vacancy for the principal’s position will probably be advertised in the next month or so, Crawford noted.
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I personally think this is ridiculous. I don’t know the case, nor am I claiming to, but he is genuinely a good person and I refuse to believe that he done anything wrong until there is hard core proof. He was probably accused. I’d say take your time with the investigation before you say anything that would ruin this sweet man’s reputation!
Prolonging the case or investigation will provide a legal leverage for a favorable outcome whether through agreement or case dismissal. This has been used time and time again in Whitley County. If nothing happen then get it on and give this man his job back. They know we the people are so stupid and will not demand an answer. I feel we should stand up for Mr. Sweet until the ones in power show us a reason other wise. I feel like a mushroom “keep me in the dark and feed me cow sh*t”.
Really?? Come on people don’t be so stupid, the school board don’t really have anything or it would already be known. They have a reason behind this and it has nothing to do with Mr sweet, it has everything to do with the board (I won’t say who) wanting a certain person As WCHS principle. Watch and learn!!! If they really had hard evidence don’t you think they would take action!! They want everyone to speculate so they can try and ruin Mr Sweets name!!!!!! When speculates start they have to be investigated and how many romors have each of us heard already to mant, and that’s their plan!!!! And these are the facts!!!!
i agree that this has been going on long enough. The public has a right to know what’s going on in the public school system. What did this man do and why is he now suddenly ill? That itself looks suspicious! Just my insight!
Whitley county school system is a large district. so that being said it has a large volume of students who attend the high school. I think parents and other family members have did well in being patient with this investigation that’s being taken place. how much longer must we wait to find out just exactly what this is all about!!! I understand that it can be a delicate matter and may involve a minor or minors and Totally respect their privacy.but we the public and parents and family members of others students who go there have the right to know what is going on!!!! we can speculate or have an opinion but to know any type of facts we do not and at this point are still being kept in the dark about it!!! its time to let us know what is going on and what our children may or may not have been exposed to!!! as for Mr. sweets privacy that no longer exists when he became the principal of the school when it pertains to school matters!!!! WE THE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!!!! Enough time has passed for them to have enough evidence to at least give us an explanation of what is going on!!!!