Custodian to appeal firing

FLORENCE - The Florence school board Thursday night terminated a custodian at Florence Freshman Center who was accused of stealing food from the school cafeteria.

In the same meeting, the board approved the resignation of a Weeden Elementary secretary/bookkeeper, who'd reportedly made personal purchases on a school credit card.

After a personnel hearing for custodian Christy Calhoun, the board voted 5-0 to terminate her employment, effective immediately. It was likewise a unanimous vote accepting Shauna Brink's resignation. She was a longtime employee in the system, while Calhoun was a four-year employee.

Calhoun said she will appeal the board's decision and has 15 days to do so, after which the case will go to arbitration. Emmitt Jimmar, who represented Calhoun for the Alabama Education Association, said the board failed to provide concrete evidence in the case. He said he is optimistic that the termination could be overturned once the case goes to arbitration.

"The truth will come out on this," Calhoun said.

"The light will shine on the facts and I will be (vindicated)."

Neither side involved in the case would release details.

Superintendent Kendy Behrends said the school district is not pressing criminal charges against Calhoun or Brink at this time.

"These are just really unfortunate situations, but just as we teach our children to follow the rules, we must demand it from adults as well," Behrends said.

A third employee, also a custodian at Florence Middle School/Freshman Center, is on administrative leave pending a conference with the board of education. That employee, who has not been identified publicly because the school board has not taken action in his case, was accused of taking food from the cafeteria. He was a night shift worker.

Behrends said all three positions have been filled on an interim basis.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.