"A serious error in judgement.."
June 9, 2008 - Pickerington Central High School Principal Scott Reeves apologized at the school board meeting for writing a letter in support of a man he describes as a friend who is charged with shooting two Columbus police officers.
The letter, written on district letterhead, said, in part,
“Derrick Foster is an honest, upstanding citizen who has been an inspiration to those around him,” Reeves said in the letter. “In no way is Derrick a threat or menace to the community, nor has he been anything but a respectful, law-abiding citizen.”Derrick Foster faces four counts of felonious assault of a police office after police say he fired shots that wounded two officers during a drug and gambling raid April 30 on the Near East Side. Foster has admitted firing the shots.
Superintendent Karen Mantia had written a letter to Reeves reprimanding him for using district materials and employee time to write a letter based on his opinions.
"The use of district materials and time used to write a personal letter in this fashion is a serious error in judgment," Mantia told him in a letter of reprimand.
"Furthermore, by sending this letter on district letterhead, you have sent a message to some members of the community that the school district may implicitly endorse your personal opinions on the matter."
