Talawanda Board of Education votes to terminate contracts with Joseph Hall, discusses issues with hiring process

During the Sept. 11 meeting, the Talawanda Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted to recommend the termination of all contracts related to Joseph Hall, the student services director for the Talawanda School District (TSD), effective immediately. 

The BOE did not clarify the reasons for the firing of Dr. Hall. 

The Oxford Free Press has filed a public records request in order to obtain specific and detailed information regarding the termination of Hall.

After the vote, the board discussed the pros and cons of the district’s hiring practices in relation to a recent firing.

“We want to make sure what happened doesn’t happen again to the best of our ability,” said Patrick Meade, board member. “I think it was a mess and I think what we need to do is avoid messes like that.”

Meade explained that the process of background checks is time-consuming, especially in situations where an urgent vacancy needs to be filled in a school. 

“Sometimes, we are in a position where we need a cafeteria worker or two today so the kids can eat,” said Meade. “Do we not feed the children because somebody’s background check got hung up at the state level?”

Meade hopes that the board will be “more vigilant” in their hiring process, while still managing to serve the students.

Rebecca Howard, board president, discussed a new form for applicants that aims to inform the TSD of potential risks in candidates. 

“We’ve now added a form that all applicants will have to sign that basically says, ‘There’s not going to be a problem with my background check,’” Howard said.

While the document relies on the honor-system for each candidate, it does create a legal contract that can be acted upon if need be, according to Howard.

“We are continuing to look at what we can do better,” she said.

Howard further spoke about the length of time it takes for a background check to be completed. 

“There’s very little we can do about it,” she said. “Our new system is working as it should work.”

According to the board’s discussion, when a background check comes back to the board with a disqualifying event attached, the board can decline to hire the candidate with ease. But, the system doesn’t set a record that may need to be created to prevent the candidate from being rehired. 

The board explained that they did not receive a notice that there was any disqualifying event from the application of a recent firing.

The Talawanda BOE will meet again on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.