Mixed reviews
Public response to Crandall’s return

VOORHEESVILLE – Emotions among students and residents are mixed about Robert Crandall’s return to Clayton A. Bouton High.

The long-time coach and gym teacher will be returning at the end of January after a two-year absence and a 60-day suspension.
"He doesn’t belong here," Elaine Barone, the mother of a student hurt by Crandall, told the school board Monday.
"I look up to him," said a student at that same meeting, as other students also voiced support.

Crandall had numerous complaints against him between the years of 2001 and 2004, according to papers filed with the State Education Department.

The school board wanted to dismiss him and so followed procedures required by State Education Law, which dragged on for two years.
In October, Crandall was found guilty of four charges of "misconduct, insubordination, and conduct unbecoming a teacher" by a state-appointed hearing officer.
One of those charges states that in March of 2004, Crandall, while updating his records, asked a female ninth-grade student for her address. She questioned why he needed it, and he replied, "So I can follow you home and come to your house and murder you in your sleep."

Crandall saw it as sarcasm, while the school saw it as a threat to the student, according to hearing papers.

Elaine Barone is the mother of that student. She spoke out at Monday night’s school board meeting in opposition of Crandall’s return to the district.
No one has seen firsthand the aftermath of what Crandall has done, she said. "I have." She continued to say that her daughter’s biggest fear was that she would have to be in the same room with Crandall again.

Crandall has been given numerous chances, and yet he keeps harassing students, she said. He should not be allowed to have any contact with children, she said.
"We will do everything we can to make sure that no students are hurt," said board President David Gibson. "We are not happy," Gibson said of the suspension.

Barone said that she had a list of approximately 15 names of individuals with similar concerns that she would like to present to the board. She said she would type it up and submit it to the superintendent.

The board unanimously decided in June, 2004 to bring charges against Crandall. Until his unpaid suspension began on Oct. 21, Crandall was still paid his salary of $73,150 plus benefits. The district also paid $178,911 in salaries for substitutes to fill Crandall’s teaching and coaching positions, the benefits for these individuals, and legal fees.
The hearing officer, Ronald Kowalski, was agreed on by the district and Crandall himself. Kowalski deemed that Crandall’s actions were worthy of discipline, but that "his long and largely successful teaching career with the District and the nature of the misconduct do not make dismissal appropriate."
"I’m not pleased that he was found guilty of the charges and he is coming back to the district," board Vice President C. James Coffin told The Enterprise earlier in response to the ruling.
"He could never harm a child"

Barone’s statements in opposition to Crandall prompted a student, sitting just in front of her, to speak up in support of Crandall, saying he looked up to him. His support was met with agreement from other students present at the meeting.

Lynn Venditti’s son Dominic was present at Monday’s meeting. She later informed The Enterprise that he was upset by Barone’s comments regarding Crandall.
"He has the kids’ best interest at heart," Venditti said. "He was sarcastic, and he paid the price."

Greg Herzog, who graduated from Clayton A. Bouton High School in 2004, played soccer for Crandall for two years, and had gym class with him throughout high school, he told The Enterprise this week, in one of a series of unsolicited calls of support.
"He had a sense of humor, and anyone who knew him would understand that," Herzog said. "I have the most respect in the world for him.. I hope everything works out in his favor," he said.

Crandall has been working in the Voorheesville School District since 1978. Following his initial paid suspension, he took a coaching position at Mayfield High School, where he led the varsity boys soccer team to the state semi-finals.

Rick DiBlasi told The Enterprise that his three children all had Crandall as a teacher, and he found him to be a great teacher, and an even better coach.
"He always went above and beyond, and I have nothing but good things to say about him," DiBlasi said. Crandall called a college soccer coach on behalf of DiBlasi’s son to help him with his admissions process, he said.

In a letter to The Enterprise editor this week, Mary Ann Jones, the school nurse at the high school, said, "Bob always led his teams with honesty, fairness, competence, and taught the kids respect for each other, other coaches, and especially the referees."
Jones said that both her son and her daughter had Crandall as a teacher, and they "do not understand the hysteria and say he could never harm a child."

Frank Bode told The Enterprise that he has known Crandall for about eight years. He coached Bode’s son.

Bode said that, three years ago, his son was harassed over a two-week period by another student, assaulting him with snowballs. His son retaliated against the other student, and both students were reprimanded. Bode said that the administration was blind to what was going on and focused on the punishment, instead of the problem.

Crandall was the only one at the school who stuck up for his son, Bode said.
"I’m not defending his innocence or guilt," Bode said. "The man is paying his penalty. He deserves to go back to his job."

What’s next
School board Vice President, Coffin said yesterday that the board’s position on the matter has really not changed. "We’re not happy campers," he said.
Coffin said that the majority of the feedback the board has received has been from people who are angry, but the board is "bound by the decision of the process."
Matt Robinson was one of Crandall’s students. He graduated in 2004. Robinson said that most students were fond of Crandall, but there were some who didn’t like him. "There is no teacher at Voorheesville that 100 percent of the student body likes," he said.
"He loves the students," Robinson added.

Superintendent Linda Langevin told The Enterprise yesterday that the school board has made a decision as to what capacity Crandall will return, but, until a formal letter has been sent to him, she cannot disclose the decision.
"There is a plan," Langevin said. "We will keep the students safe."