Board accepts resignation of accused teacher

Thursday, January 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A school teacher who faces six charges of child pornography has worked out an agreement with McAlester schools to resign in March. Todd Quinton will be kept on paid leave through March 15 under an agreement accepted by the McAlester Board of Education on Wednesday.

Superintendent Lucy Smith said the agreement was in the best interest of the district. Termination procedures would have taken until at least April and could have subjected the district to defending costly appeals, she said.

The school board had voted on Dec. 21 to fire Quinton after the child pornography charges were filed. He was suspended with pay following his arrest. The charges stem from videotapes seized at Quinton's home in December. Assistant District Attorney Mike Miller said the tapes show at least three McAlester school students.

The six counts accuse Quinton of procuring or possessing pornographic videos picturing the three youths between Jan. 1, 1997 and Dec. 15, 1999. Quinton, a social studies teacher at McAlester High School and a coach, has pleaded innocent to the charges and remains free on $10,000 bond.