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Shepherd school board finalizes superintendent firing

Carter blew .227 BAC at school, board chair says
Posted at 3:00 PM, Sep 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-20 17:00:52-04

The Shepherd School Board voted 7-0 to officially terminate Scott Carter as superintendent.

Carter did not appear for at a appeals hearing on Thursday night in Shepherd.

The board initially voted on Aug. 25 to terminate Carter after he was put on paid administrative leave following reports from staff members that they could smell alcohol on his breath at work.

During the hearing, Board Chairman Carl Openshaw said Carter blew a .227 blood-alcohol content on school grounds, nearly three times the legal limit for driving. Carter had previously stated that he had been drinking the night before but had never drank at school.

"I asked our superintendent if he would subject himself to a breathalyzer." Openshaw said. "He did. So we had our on-staff SRO, the Sheriff's officer, give that breathalyzer. It was about 9:00 in the morning and he blew a .227 which is about three times the legal driving limit. So at that time when we got that information, I placed him on administrative leave."

Carter was inebriated at work on Aug. 22 and he stated in a letter that he did not drink at work.

He lalso stated in a letter posted on the district's website and Facebook page, that he "violated the trust of the community by showing up at work...smelling like alcohol."

Q2 has left messages for Carter, but have not yet heard back.

Drea O'Donnell, Shepherd's school district curriculum director, has been working as the interim superintendent.

Openshaw said the board will talk about the superintendent position in October.