VOORHEESVILLE – Tenured music teacher Charles Reader has resigned "for various medical reasons," according to an agreement signed by Reader; Superintendent Linda Langevin; and Kathy Fiero, president of the Voorheesville Teachers’ Association.
The agreement, dated Jan. 19, 2007, was in sharp contrast to a Dec. 21 letter Langevin wrote to Reader, placing him on administrative leave. The letter cites a pending investigation "into a new allegation that you have engaged in inappropriate conduct with a student of the District."

The Enterprise obtained both documents from the school district last Friday after filing Freedom of Information Law requests on Jan. 3 and Jan. 29.

Last week, before the newspaper had documents indicating alleged misconduct, school board president David Gibson told The Enterprise that Reader "had sick time that he’s using; it’s not like we’re giving him a half-year off."

Langevin had said Reader was on paid leave until June 30.

Reader’s total salary for the 2006-07 school year is $54,831.90, with a bi-weekly salary of $2,108.92.
The agreement also says that the district will write a "neutral" reference for Reader if he seeks employment elsewhere.

The neutral recommendation would not be unfair to another school district, Langevin told The Enterprise.
The allegation of "inappropriate conduct" was not of a criminal nature, Langevin said. She would not comment on whether she believed the allegation was false.

Reader could not be reached for comment.

The agreement was put together by the school district’s lawyer, along with Reader’s New York State United Teachers attorney, Langevin told The Enterprise. She had a meeting with Reader, and, "It was what he wanted to do," she said of his decision to resign.
Reader, who has taught music with the Voorheesville school district since the start of the 1997-98 school year, "was an excellent teacher, well liked by his students," Fiero told The Enterprise last week.

Reader also led the school band and was the manager of the Performing Arts Center, Langevin said.
"He created a lot of enthusiasm for students to participate in the band," Fiero said last week.

The school board unanimously accepted Reader’s resignation at a budget meeting on Jan. 22.
The circumstances surrounding the allegation about Reader and his resignation, Langevin said, are "different" than with Robert Crandall, a tenured physical education teacher and coach.

Four charges of misconduct and inappropriate behavior were substantiated in October against Crandall, after more than two years of paid suspension, while the state-required hearing process dragged on. The hearing officer ruled that dismissal was not appropriate, and instead suspended Crandall without pay for 60 days. He is now back at work in the high school – writing curriculum rather than teaching.
School Board Vice President C. James Coffin couldn’t recall any specific tenured teachers who resigned during his 17 years on the board, but said, "We’ve had other resignations."
Coffin was not aware of the inappropriate conduct allegation, he said. The resignation "was his choice," Coffin said. "Life goes on. We’ll fill the vacancy and move on."

The agreement

Fiero told The Enterprise that it is her job "to look out for my members’ best interest." When she signed the agreement between Reader and the district, Fiero said that she had Reader’s best interest in mind.
"I think it was best for him," she said of Reader’s decision to leave the Voorheesville district.
"He has a great passion for music and is a well-liked teacher. I expect that he will continue to teach – just not at Voorheesville," Fiero said last week.
"For various medical reasons Charles Reader will be unable to resume his teaching duties with the School District for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year," the statement begins.

The resignation becomes effective June 30, 2007; Reader will be on paid leave through that date, the document says. He will not be permitted to show up for work or to be present on school grounds, unless he receives prior written permission from the superintendent, it says.
By signing the statement, Reader also agreed to not contact any students of the district "in any manner" between the date of the signed agreement and his effective resignation date.
"This period of paid leave shall be designated as a leave under the Family Medical Leave Act," the agreement says. The district will provide Reader with health insurance benefits through the end of August.
The school district and Reader agreed, "to seal Charles Reader’s personnel file, except upon his reapplication for employment to the District, to respond to a claim, suit or other action commenced by Charles Reader, or as otherwise required by law," the document reads. And, "both parties agree that this matter shall remain strictly confidential to the extent provided by law," it says.

Langevin told The Enterprise that she thinks the agreement was the best option for both Reader and the district under the circumstances. "It was agreed that this was in everyone’s best interest," she said.
"He was a good teacher when he was here," she added.

To finish out the school year, some part-time music teachers have extended their hours, and retired music teacher Lydia Tobler has agreed to teach in reader’s place, Langevin told The Enterprise last week. A new teacher will be hired for the start of next school year, she said.
"It’s nothing cataclysmic," Coffin said. "We’ll find someone else."