Tulsa School board begins process of dismissing teacher involved in altercation

The Tulsa School board took the first step Monday towards dismissing a teacher involved in a scuffle with a student.<br/><br/>Clinton Middle School's music teacher Mark French was suspended with pay,

Monday, February 13th 2006, 11:27 am

By: News On 6

The Tulsa School board took the first step Monday towards dismissing a teacher involved in a scuffle with a student.

Clinton Middle School's music teacher Mark French was suspended with pay, after he was accused of assaulting a 7th-grade girl. The 13-year-old girl ended up in the hospital for three nights.

The board on Monday, voted unanimously to start dismissal proceedings against French. And they set a date for his due process hearing.

The girl's attorney, Steve Novick, says his client was pleased with the school board's action. "In fact one of the things we we're waiting on is the school board's action, cause I can certainly report there were no circumstances under which this girl would be returning to school if she had to go back in this man's classroom."

Mark French told the News on 6, the girl was a discipline problem. He will get a chance to give his side of the story to the school board next month.