We have to wonder if the recent division in the Douglas County School District offices isn't in some way responsible for the hiring of someone facing a felony battery charge stemming from his last job.
We recognize that Richard Darrington, Whittell High School's new dean of students, hasn't been convicted of any crime. We don't know anything about the charges he's facing or the likelihood he'll be acquitted.
But shouldn't the fact that he was facing criminal charges of battery on a student have been a factor in his hiring?
We have a hard time believing that Darrington's skill set was so great that he was hired despite facing criminal charges.
Is it true that no one between Minden and Georgia with similar qualifications, but without the pending criminal issue, was available to take this job?
Darrington told The Record-Courier on Friday that he disclosed the issue to district officials. We believe him, because if he didn't it would be grounds for termination.
We also know there was a great deal of turmoil in the district offices this summer.
We don't know which is worse:
That the political climate was so distracting that those responsible for vetting Darrington's background missed something, or that they thought it would be OK to hire someone who at best will miss work time to deal with the charges.
Either way we need to know those charged with our students' safety are paying attention.
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