GHS cheer sponsor suspended
Published 6:29 pm Monday, December 12, 2011
A Greenville High School teacher will be suspended for one school day and will be required to attend one day of paid professional development after school board officials accused her of mishandling funds.
Kim Bowen, a biology teacher and cheerleading sponsor at Greenville High School, was accused of not following proper fundraising procedures as outlined by the Butler County Board of Education’s Procedures and Policies Manual concerning fundraising projects for the GHS cheerleading squad.
Butler County Schools Superintendent Darren Douthitt said that Bowen held at least four fundraisers that were not approved by his office, failed to provide proper documentation for fundraisers that were conducted, and did not deposit money raised through the fundraisers in a school account in a timely manner. At no point did the board accuse Bowen of taking any of the money that was raised through the fundraisers.
Bowen will be required to complete a one-day professional development class with the school system’s chief financial officer. Douthitt had recommended a 20-day suspension without pay to the Butler County Board of Education, which following a disciplinary conference on Monday that lasted more than an hour, elected to reduce the suspension to a single day.
“I’m pleased with the decision,” Bowen said. “I just appreciate everyone coming out to support me, and everyone’s prayers and all the texts and facebook messages I have received. It’s been overwhelming, and the support really means a lot to me.”