Meeting (May 10, 2011)

In early May, Mr. Tuitt, through his attorney, was invited to attend a meeting at the offices of the District’s lawyers, to be held May 10, 2011.  He was not told the purpose of the meeting but was informed that the Safety or Security Director for the District, James Smith would be attending, as would another attorney for the District.  Hearing this, Mr. Tuitt stated that he would, of course, attend but wanted his PEA representive present, in addition to his attorney and his family (mother and brother).  The PEA rep had been present during the investigation of the October accident by Mr. Smith and was deemed important to the case at hand.

Unfortunately, when the District’s lawyer received that message he indicated that if Mr. Tuitt insisted on having the PEA rep attend, there would be no meeting.  After discussing the matter and obtaining guidance from his attorney, Mr. Tuitt determined to attend the meeting without his PEA rep.

The meeting was opened by the District’s lawyer, Roy Evans, but was immediately turned over to Mr. Smith who began by introducing a new allegation.  It would appear that the October incident was either no longer a factor or was set aside, since no mention was made of it by Mr. Smith, rather Mr. Tuitt was now being charged with something related but different.  According to Mr. Smith, his investigation over the past five-plus months now revealed that Mr. Tuitt had kept a urine container in the classroom, (purchased by the school, according to Mr. Smith), used by Mr. Tuitt as needed, and emptied by his students at his instruction. This, of course, is a blatant lie and never happened.  He, perhaps more than most, teaches and explains hygienic conduct and techniques to his children.  Some (colleagues and students) may be aware of the fact that Mr. Tuitt maintains a urine container in his Van (suggested by his physician in the event he gets stuck in traffic somewhere) because he has an 80 + mile round-trip drive to and from work each day, and the container is sometimes visible in the Van behind the front passenger/driver’s seat.  It is, however, kept in the Van and was purchased for him by his family, not the school. Should he need to use it, he stops at a rest station on the way to/from work.

In any event, Mr. Smith indicated that this allegation (lie that it is), along with other unnamed allegations were now the issues.  The District’s lawyer picked up after this adding that a recommendation for a Tenure Hearing would be made by them to the Paterson Superintendent of Schools on Monday, May 16, 2011.  A Tenure Hearing, if successful, results in the dismissal of the teacher.

In the interim, the Principal who boldly discriminated against Mr.Tuitt based on his handicap has been rewarded and will become, I’m told, an Assistant Superintendent come the end of this school year.

It seems we reward the sinners and punish those who care the most for what we consider our precious ones.  What a sad society we’ve become.