The Garden City Telegram
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Acceptance of teacher's resignation put on hold
Published 11/17/2009 in Local News
By MONICA SPRINGER
The USD 457 Board of Education took no action on the resignation of an elementary school teacher accused of fabricating a story of being stabbed in August while working in his room at Alta Brown Elementary School.
The board on Monday removed the resignation of Michael Blanks from its consent agenda.
Rick Atha, USD 457 superintendent, said Blanks voluntarily submitted his letter of resignation to the board but that a decision on whether the board will accept his resignation has been put on hold.
Atha said he couldn't comment on whether Blanks, who currently isn't teaching at Alta Brown, would return to the classroom because it is a personnel matter.
A group of parents and children attended Monday's board meeting and read a letter defending Blanks.
Monica Turrentine, whose daughter was taught by Blanks, said the teacher is an asset to the school system.
"The students really look up to him," she said, adding that her daughter has more confidence and has improved academically.
Blanks was cited and released earlier this month on an allegation of falsely reporting a crime.
Garden City police were dispatched to Alta Brown, 1110 E. Pine St., at 10:14 p.m. Aug. 9 and found Blanks, 23, with what appeared to be a stab wound to his right lower leg.
Blanks told police two Hispanic males forced their way into the school and beat him and stabbed him in the leg.
Three months later, though, police believe Blanks made the story up.
Garden City Police Sgt. Michael Reagle has said police believe Blanks suffered the wound to his leg after he fell off a desk while stapling things to the wall in his classroom.
On Monday, Turrentine said Blanks should be punished by the law and not have to pay for his mistake with his job.
The group of parents said it should be a teachable moment, that a person can make a mistake and learn from it.
"He stands out," said Misty Richters, whose child also was in Blanks' classroom.
"There's just something about him. I really like him," said Christopher Soto, another parent whose son was in Blanks' classroom.
Soto added that his son loves going to school and has all A's while being taught by Blanks.
"It's the kids who are being punished," said Jill Regalado, also a parent with a child in Blanks' classroom.
Blanks said this morning that he didn't want to comment.
Found 4 comment(s)!
Blanks
Let's see. The man commits a crime on company time and at the company location. He causes the police to start an all-out search for, well, nobody, costing taxpayers considerable resources which were needed elsewhere. Then, he is charged with making a false report.
Now, the school district wants to re-assess his resignation? Look, he resigned. Accept it. There is now a glut of teachers looking for jobs. Pick one.
This Blanks person needs to go somewhere else. I wish him well, but he needs to move on.
Posted by: Perspective on 11/26/2009
hmmmmm
Maybe the kids were getting all A;s cause they were being fabricated also!!!
Posted by: bob on 11/18/2009
can he be trusted
How can a person that lies and makes up a story to make our community members look bad be a role model. what can be expected in the future from a person like this? would these parents really trust him being alone with their children??? who knows what lies he could make up
Posted by: becky on 11/18/2009
what about the others teachers i do not think this is fair for them he needs to go to the other school , you need to do the same with the other teacher you suspend with pay until her trail, if that is the case then you will let a rapist teach also since the kids are getting good grades and i did not like the fact he said the guys were mexicans
Posted by: mary gutierrez gallegos on 11/18/2009
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