Attorney for Marple responds to emails sent by Linger, Phares
February 8, 2013 ·
It’s been reported that West Virginia Board of Education President Wade Linger and Superintendent Dr. James Phares corresponded via email months before the firing of Dr. Jorea Marple. An attorney for Marple says the discovery of these emails indicate what he has suspected all along.
In late December, Tim Barber and other attorneys for Marple
notified the Board of Education of their intent to file a wrongful termination
suit against the board. State law
requires a 30-day notice before a plaintiff can file suit against a state
agency.
This afternoon, Barber commented on the news of Linger and
Phares’ correspondence regarding the State Superintendent position.
“The revelation of these emails is consistent with what our
investigation has revealed: agendas hidden away in secret meetings, contrived
reasons for the precipitous firing of an honored and revered public servant
like Ms. Marple,” said Barber.
“It was the odor rising from this kind of activity at the
base of leadership of our most prominent educational supervision that should
alarm anyone that cares for the education of our youth.”
According to the emails, Linger asked Phares to send him a resume or bio
back in September. On November 14, Linger
invited Phares to join him in Charleston
the next day, which is the day Marple was fired. Shortly after the firing,
Phares announced his plans to resign as Randolph County Schools'
superintendent. In another email, Linger warned him to hold off.
The state board unanimously voted in favor of appointing Phares as State
Superintendent of Schools on December 12 and he was sworn into
office on January 2.
Attorneys for Marple have yet to file suit on the matter,
although they have been able to do so since January 28.