Sentences reduced for Signal Mountain faculty in school trip

The five Signal Mountain Middle/High School employees who faced having their teaching licenses suspended for one year in connection with drinking on a senior class trip to the Bahamas have received less strict sentences from the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Guidance counselors Leann Welch and Anne Cushing now face six-month suspensions, while counselor Leslie Sharpe, assistant principal Jason McKinney and teacher Steven Redman will receive letters of reprimand.

“It just acknowledges that misconduct occurred,” state board General Counselor Dannelle Walker said.

She said the board amended its decision after talking with Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith, school board attorney Scott Bennett and Stacey Stuart, assistant superintendent for human resources.

“They gave us a clearer picture,” Walker said, noting that the board learned that the employees were not drinking around students.

The recent suspension of principal Tom McCullough has not been reported to the state board, though Walker said that his suspension is not for a reason that the state board would investigate.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.