More than a week after Howard School band director Dexter Bell was suspended and escorted off campus, Hamilton County Department of Education officials say the investigation into insubordination charges against him is still ongoing and must be completed before the school superintendent can decide the next step.
"Typically when people are suspended, there's something there," said Dr. Ava Warren, director of human resources for Hamilton County secondary schools.
If Bell is found innocent or if allegations of insubordination can't be proved, he could have his pay reinstated, she said. But she didn't know when the investigation would end.
According to Bell's personnel file, he was suspended on May 1 without pay for insubordination by failing to meet with Howard School principal Zac Brown.
In his nearly 20 years of off and on again teaching in Hamilton County schools, at least two other principals raised concerns about Bell.
One of the latest complaints was in February 2009 when 21st Century Academy principal Wendy Jung wrote, "In the last two weeks, you have continued to send students out of your room and you continue to fail to follow school procedures for classroom management."
Jung complained that Bell did not properly supervise students, but allowed them to play games and pull up music unrelated to band on the computer.
Howard School Executive Principal Zac Brown speaks about funding and the success of his students while in his office on Monday, May 11, 2015.In December 2008, Jung also wrote in an email to Bell, "I am expressing serious concern for your lack of planning as evidenced by lack of lesson plans for over 10 weeks despite several emails and personal reminders."
And in December 1996, then-Tyner High School principal Kenneth Sadler chastised Bell for not producing printed programs for football games, failing to organize and communicate to parents the need to take up money for parking at football games and failure to perform during the first playoff game. Sadler also complained about Bell failing to play the national anthem or perform at the semifinal playoff game.
Bell has been working with Hamilton County schools since at least the 1990s.
Several Howard students and parents have been advocating for Bell's reinstatement as band director since he was suspended. They credit Bell with helping them survive high school, attending college and gaining college scholarships.
Torina Walker, the mother of three band students at Howard, told the Times Free Press that Bell helped her oldest daughter apply for East Tennessee State University.
"My oldest daughter would not have made it without Bell," Walker said.
At least five students earned band scholarships during the time Bell has taught at the school.
Bell also led Howard's band in 2012 when Howard alumni and supporters raised more than $100,000 for band instruments and uniforms.
His personnel file also included supervisors commending him for being able to cater a lesson plan to each student according to the student's musical ability and learning style.
Bell said last week he was under a gag order and could not comment about his suspension.
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yput man@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.