Hearing For Suspended School Principal Set

Friday, March 2nd 2007, 9:08 am

By: News On 6

HILLDALE, Okla. (AP) -- A conflict over a hearing for a suspended high school principal in Muskogee that was to be held on the same day as parent-teacher conference has been resolved.

The due process hearing for Hilldale High School Principal Dewayne Pemberton is set for March 15th.

Supporters of Pemberton said that date was set deliberately by Superintendent DB Merrill to conflict with the conferences involving teachers and parents who support Pemberton.

The new date for the parent-teacher conferences is now March 13th.

Merrill hasn't commented on the reason for suspending Pemberton.

Pemberton's attorney says the superintendent is trying to fire Pemberton because he wouldn't require a basketball coach, who is engaged to Pemberton's son, to drive a school bus. The attorney says the coach isn't licensed to drive a bus.

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For more background on this story, click on the links below to read additional stories about the Hilldale high school principal situation.

2/5/2007 - Students Protest After Principal Suspended

2/7/2007 - Student Protests Continue

2/9/2007 - Suspended Principal Given Termination Papers

2/15/2007 - Parents Rally Around Popular Principal

2/19/2007 - Principal's Job Still In Limbo

2/22/2007 - School Accused Of Violating Open Meeting Act

2/25/2007 - Prosecutor Says School Board Didn't Violate The Law