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The Lima News: Your Hometown News Source Since 1884
12.15.09
William McKinley High School Teacher Cleared in Tabloid Scandal
The Lima Apollo School Board Disciplinary Committee voted unanimously yesterday to abandon any investigation of William McKinley High School Spanish teacher William Schuester and officially clear him of all accusation of wrongdoing. The proposed investigation stemmed from a shocking tabloid article published two weeks ago which falsely accused Schuester of engaging in lewd acts on school property with hometown celebrity Norah Castle, as well as having inappropriate contact with female students.
According to Los Angeles attorney Levi Cohen, who represented Mr. Schuester at Ms. Castle's behest, "There was never any evidence for the false identification of my client, which has led the tabloid in question, Keeping Tabs, to agree to a defamation settlement. In light of these facts we were certain the board would clear my client's good name."
"When the article first appeared, of course we felt the need to investigate," board member Christine Larsson stated. "Any accusation of a teacher harming students must be taken seriously. But it was apparent very quickly that these accusations had no substance whatsoever. Our preliminary investigation showed Mr. Schuester to be nothing less than a dedicated teacher with his students' best interests at heart."
William McKinley High School Principal Raheem Figgins agreed wholeheartedly. "Mr. Schuester has always been one of our most trusted staff members, and continues to be. This is a man who has been named Teacher of the Year three years in a row, and who even took a pay cut to help fund the glee club, which he directs. There was never any doubt in my mind of his innocence."
The same is undoubtedly true for his students, especially those who participate in glee club. "Mr. Schue is awesome," Finn Hudson, football star and soloist, enthused. "He's always willing to give a kid a second chance, and he's a great role model. None of us believed a word of that article."
"I understand why the board had to consider an investigation; the safety of students is paramount. But I'm just glad it's all over," William Schuester stated after the unanimous vote. "My main focus now is to get the glee club ready for Regionals."
As for the woman who started the scandal, Norah Castle issued this statement through her representative: "I was pleased, though not surprised, to hear that any investigation has been dropped. Despite never having met William Schuester, I have the greatest respect for all educators, and was outraged that Keeping Tabs would harm an innocent man just to add interest to their story."
Castle was fined $20,000 last week for committing lewd acts in a public building, but her partner in those acts has yet to be identified.
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