Unwelcome Morton teacher calls in sick

August 30, 2010 @ 8:46 am (Updated: 1:53 pm - 3/28/11 )

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MyNorthwest.com staff

A Morton teacher who won his job back after a conviction for inappropriately touching girls called in sick Monday as some parents demonstrated outside school.

Superintendent Tom Manke told KIRO Radio's Dori Monsont that student arrivals on the first day of school ran smoothly, even though the protestors were demonstrating nearby.

"It hasn't been disruptive. It's basically the protestors and the news media set up outside of our school grounds."

Listen to Tom Manke on Dori Monson Show

Manke says he'll have to confer with the district's attorney and school board to decide what eventually happens with middle school history teacher Michael Moulton.

Many parents have already pulled their students out of Moulton's classes. Manke says they'll be taught through an online program. Manke says he's still determining how many students might be left in Moulton's classroom.

Many parents are outraged that Moulton won his job back on appeal after admitting in 2008 he would be found guilty of an assault charge and serving time in jail.

Manke has expressed frustration at having Moulton back in the classroom, but he says the district will monitor Moulton once he's back in class.

"I've talked to Mr. Moulton. I've got expectations for Mr. Moulton. A part of going back in the classroom is myself, the building principal, and our dean of students taking turns of being in his classroom, off and on for a period of time, to make sure that those expectations are being done in the classroom."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (32)


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  • wonderfullone wrote...
    Called in 'sick'?
    August 30, 2010 8:53 am
    Understatement of the century.

    The Union that fought for him to return to the classroom should call in 'sick' as well.

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  • el gato malo wrote...
    sicko
    August 30, 2010 8:56 am
    He IS sick. Kick the SOB out of school........permanently.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • slandc wrote...
    fought???
    August 30, 2010 8:56 am
    1) Do you think they had a choice? 2) Do you think that perhaps the district didn't fight hard enough to keep him out? 3) Perhaps the hearing officer was more to blame than the union lawyers...who are forced to represent all teachers in such hearings if they are asked to do so?
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  • slandc wrote...
    that being said
    August 30, 2010 8:57 am
    I hope he stays out and ultimately quits...or is laid off for lack of students in his class.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • len98531 wrote...
    All teachers should stand with those parents
    August 30, 2010 9:16 am
    and refuse to set foot within the school until this guy is gone. And SCREW the union!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Raziel wrote...
    @slandc
    August 30, 2010 9:19 am
    He can't be laid off. Teacher contracts are for at least one year. Once they start they are employed for the school year. And he probably has tenure, so he automatically gets offered a new contract every year. They already tried to fire him for cause... that didn't work. Not too many options left other than hoping he does the right thing and quits, or just pay him to sit in the faculty lounge all day (kinda like the NY school district'r rubber rooms).
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    The fact that the teachers' union supported this convicted child molester...
    August 30, 2010 9:30 am
    ...tells me all I need to know about teachers' unions...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • len98531 wrote...
    for every day a student is not in school
    August 30, 2010 9:37 am
    the district looses the money it would have recieved for that student. Mortom isnt a big area, so just refuse to send kids to school until he resigns or hangs himself. It wont take long...
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  • DickeyDoo wrote...
    What a joke - wonderfullone wrote...The Union that fought for him to return to the classroom should call in 'sick' as well.
    August 30, 2010 9:52 am
    It was the the Judge decided to let him go back to work. Not the Union. The Union did what its own by laws dictated that it should do, and it did so honorably. To be the intermediary between the school and the Teacher. That's what a Union does. Thank God for them or we would still have forced child labor factories in the US, we would not have safe work places and working people would be forced to accept SLAVE wages. Lawyers often represent scum bags as public defenders and they have no choice in the matter. I understand that you take in and hold as diamonds and gold every last spittle of anti union stink that Dori Monson's mouth spews. Why not try to think for yourself for a change.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • len98531 wrote...
    Hey dickie-dummy-do*che
    August 30, 2010 10:01 am
    Have you not heard of the word 'metaphor'? And would YOU want touchy-feely guy to tutor YOUR child?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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