By JOAN McCoy
Leader staff writer
A practical joke has cost a Cabot Junior High North math teacher his job.
The Cabot School Board met Wednesday evening and voted to uphold the dismissal of Michael Schleiff, 38, who was fired for the unauthorized use of the school intercom on Jan. 20. It was an early- release day due to inclement weather, but Schleiff’s practical joke caused two classes to leave the building during instruction time and four students to leave campus.
Schleiff has worked for Cabot schools since 1999.
This is the written summary of the board’s findings provided by the school district Friday:
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that Mr. Schleiff used the school intercom without authorization.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that Mr. Schleiff played a prank during class teaching time.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that Mr. Schleiff made a false announcement to at least two classes.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that two classes were dismissed as a direct result of Mr. Schleiff’s announcement.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that walkers and riders from those two classes were physically leaving the school building as a result of the announcement.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found that four students did leave campus as a result of the announcement.
“The board, by unanimous vote, found the reasons given Mr. Schleiff, and provided as set forth in Paragraph 1 in the Notice of Termination Recommendation he received the from the Superintendent, to be a true and a rational basis for termination.”
