Mount Vernon school board accepts Washington Elementary School principal’s resignation

MOUNT VERNON – In the end, it wasn't the Mount Vernon school board who decided Terry Eisenbarth's fate.

The Washington Elementary School principal submitted a letter of resignation at 5:40 p.m. Friday, minutes after the school board went into a closed session to discuss his future employment with the school district.

Eisenbarth did not attend the meeting and wasn't available for comment.

“We believe it is time to move forward,” Board President Tom Wieseler told audience members, about 60 who crowded the Mount Vernon High School Library.

“Understand that there is no decision that the board can make that will satisfy everyone,” Wieseler said. “There are no winners in this discussion … there's nothing to celebrate.”

It wasn't a celebratory crowd that gathered outside the high school after. Some used their cell phones to share the news with those who couldn't attend. Many declined requests for comment. Those who did talk called the decision “a first step.”

“I think it's a first step because it gives us confidence in our school board again,” Karla Steffens-Moran said. “I'm glad that this part is over.”

“It's nice to get it out of the way,” Warren Havill said. “It clearly split the community. I've never seen anything like it before.”

“You can't have a split like that,” Kevin Whitman agreed.

It began last month when word of Eisenbarth's birthday celebrations was brought to the public's attention. Eisenbarth would call children into his office on their birthday for a celebratory spanking.

Eisenbarth responded to the public's concern with a letter to school parents on May 16. In it, Eisenbarth called his actions a celebration, beginning with an announcement to the birthday student on the school intercom and an invitation to visit the principal's office. There, Eisenbarth gave students pencils and calculators, sang “Happy Birthday” and gave them a birthday “tap.”

Eisenbarth used a padded hockey stick to deliver his birthday “taps” or “pats.” It was wrapped in plastic foam, according to Mount Vernon police.

Eisenbarth's letter stressed he was never alone with a student during the birthday celebration.

“The purpose of this practice was solely and genuinely to cultivate relationships with students and highlight their special day,” Eisenbarth wrote. “I did not have any intentions of anything but honouring their birthday. I am very sorry that I have caused discomfort to some by celebrating birthdays in this manner.”

Still, plenty of people objected to Eisenbarth's tradition. Board members met in closed session several times to discuss the situation. Local and county law enforcement officials also investigated.

Eisenbarth said he stopped the birthday spankings after someone complained that they “created an uncomfortable situation,” according to the letter Washington parents received.

“As a board, we are really looking toward the future,” board member Bob Penn said.

Penn spoke passionately about the school district's administrative team, stressing the confidence the board has in the school's leaders and asking for the community's support.

“We're behind them,” Penn said. “We want you to be behind them, too.”

Board members unanimously accepted Eisenbarth's resignation. His settlement includes a $13,500 payout, plus insurance benefits for July and August.

Board member Ann Stoner was not present at the meeting. Stoner removed herself from the discussion and voting on the issue, stating, “I am completely capable of listening objectively to the results of the investigation and remarking in a fair manner. That being said, I also feel it is imperative to guard against the possible perception of my participation in the process suggesting a bias. Therefore, I feel I must recuse myself from the closed meeting regarding Mr. Eisenbarth.”

The 2010-11 school year was Eisenbarth's first with the district. He previously was principal of Van Buren Elementary in Douds.