SHELBY – The Shelby Board of Education will meet in a special session Tuesday evening to discuss the future of a public employee of the school.
The meeting will take place at Shelby High School, 1 Whippet Way, beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the school lecture hall. The official agenda states key items for discussion include, “to consider the discipline, dismissal or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee.”
This discussion will take place in an executive session privy only to members of the school board.
People wishing to address the Shelby Board of Education on school matters may do so by being recognized by the chairperson during the public comment section before the executive session is called.
Anyone wishing to speak will be requested to identify themselves and give their address before speaking. A maximum of 30 minutes is established for public input. If there are several speakers, each one should be concise and limit remarks to three minutes.
Click here to read the agenda for the Oct. 15 special meeting of the Shelby Board of Education.
The special meeting comes after the Shelby Police Department and Shelby City Schools district announced on Oct. 8 that Shelby’s school resource officer (SRO) Keith Swisher had been placed on paid administrative leave by the police department and suspended from his coaching duties by the district.
Those actions came after a teacher reported overhearing a conversation between two students that Swisher had walked through the girls’ locker room at the Field House while players were present.
“At this time Officer Swisher has not resumed his role as the SRO or the soccer coach for the Shelby City Schools,” said Shelby Superintendent Tim Tarvin on Oct. 8. “The Shelby Board of Education will review the investigative report/findings of the Shelby Police Department and assess and discuss the matter at the next Board of Education meeting.”
According to Shelby Police Chief Lance Combs, after both a criminal and internal investigation was conducted, Swisher was disciplined and has been reinstated to full duty with the Shelby Police Department. His status with the Shelby City Schools has yet to be determined.
In Swisher’s absence, the Shelby Police Department is still providing an officer assigned to act as the school resource officer at Shelby City Schools.
Approximately 20 student athletes from two teams were interviewed and/or their parents contacted and notified of the allegation, according to Combs. Staff and coaches were also interviewed, and Swisher himself submitted to both criminal and internal interviews.
Upon completion of the criminal investigation, it was submitted to attorney John Studenmund at the request of Shelby Law Director Gordon Eyster for review as a Special Prosecutor. Studenmund reviewed the file and on Oct. 7 declined charges on the case due to a lack of evidence.
As a result of the internal investigation, Swisher was disciplined and received documented cautioning and instruction for not following departmental rules, Combs said.
Swisher has been counseled on accessing the offices using only the male locker room access and to announce his presence and/or have another staff member with him at all times when it is necessary to access a female-only portion of any school or other building.
