KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo School officials say they were not aware that Loy Norrix Principal Rodney Prewitt had been stripped of his license to teach in Florida because of Sexual harassment charges before they hired him.
Prewitt apparently lost his teaching certificate in Georgia too, but only allegedly because he failed to disclose what happened in Florida and may have done the same here.
While representatives of the NAACP and the UAW praised the board for following due process in the Prewitt case, parents and community activists blamed the district.
School Board President Patti Sholler-Barber defended their practices, saying they take the issue of sexual harassment very seriously and investigate all complaints.
They plan to reinvestigate Prewitt, who was investigated and cleared twice by outside counsel when one co-worker filed a complaint, and then a lawsuit against him a year ago.
Prewitt remains on an indefinite leave of absence.
Kalamazoo School officials say they won’t get fooled again, Supt. Michael Rice says they will do a significant evaluation of their background check procedures, especially when the candidate comes from out of state.
The announcement did not seem to satisfy community members who spoke and were very critical of the board for hiring Prewitt. But Elrico Hurley with the NAACP reminded them that Prewitt still has rights, and is innocent until proven guilty.
