Manawa School Board ends ban on felons
Softball coach’s contract renewed at special meeting
By Holly Neumann
The Manawa School Board acted on only two agenda items at its special meeting Tuesday, March 1.
The board voted 5-2 to rescind an earlier directive against hiring any a staff with felony conviction. It also approved a contract to hire Todd Zielke as head coach for the softball team.
At its Feb. 15 meeting, the board did not renew Zielke’s contract, although it approved all other spring sports’ contracts on the agenda.
“Penalizing someone for the second time was double jeopardy for me,” said Helene Pohl at the March 1 meeting. “Anyone who has been convicted has paid their due to society in one way or another. I really believe that a felony, although it is a serious mistake, needs to be assessed by the administration or the board. To have a blanket denial of someone’s right to serve students, particularly when the felony has nothing to do with children, is problematic for me.”
Russ Hollman agreed.
“Looking back at the decision, I would think that it really reduces our options if we have that policy in effect,” he said. “I think it ties our hands, for the possibility of hiring someone with a felony record, who may be an excellent person for one of our jobs available.”
Hollman added that if the district said they were not going to hire felons, they were automatically judging all felons as not acceptable.
Zielke was convicted of causing death by OWI on April 18, 1991.
He was 20 years old when his truck slammed into a motorcycle shortly before 3 a.m. on April 21, 1990, on State Highway 54 in New London. Martin Young was killed in the crash.
Joanne Johnson noted that she received many phone calls on the issue. She said 11 of the 12 people she spoke with believed that the district should not hire anyone with a felony record.
Charles Hebert said he received calls as well.
“What do you say when you are asked the question, do you guys really hire felons?” he asked. “People have said I cannot even believe this is a topic, that we should set our standards higher.”
Board President Scott Rice said he did not want to sit in judgment of people.
“The only place I have a problem is that I am uncomfortable making those judgments about people,” he said. “Saying that your past is better than this person’s, is a little difficult.”
The motion to rescind the ban on hiring felons passed with Bobbi Jo Pethke, Russ Johnson, Pohl, Rice and Hollman voting in favor, while Joanne Johnson and Charles Hebert voted against.
Good thing my kids r out of that school who the hell wants felons in our schools?
This is a very tough call. You want to protect your children but I also agree with Ms. Pohl. Not all felons are automatically not worthy of employment. We’ve all made mistakes. There are many exemplary prior felons that have repented and changed and can be very instrumental in guiding young adults.
That’s terrible!! With children you should extremely careful who you hire..
It should depend on the felony
A felon is a felon it doesn’t matter what type they should not be allowed to work in a government or state position.
This is touchy. These r kids looking up to someone! Being mentored.
It depends on the felony and how long since it was committed people cant reform if you don’t five them the chance
I would have thought the school would have error ed on the side of caution
Ridiculous. Each one is different.
Felonies are serious crimes. Huge difference between petty crime and a felony. I don’t want my child alone with someone who committed a crime serious enough to warrant a felony conviction. Go get a job a McDonald’s. Not in a school with my child.
Depends on what the felony is and time passed since it happened. Anything sexual or violent should be automatic disqualifyers.
For all those who want to judge saying “felon” period should be treated the same across the board thats pure b.s.
The classifications for “felonies” were dropped not so many years back. Wich meand your very own son daughter brother sister cousin etc could easily make a mistake a moment of weekness poor judgement or evan. Be hanging around the wrong person and get a felony charge with ease and for things thst are not very serious see if you actually do a little homework
You find that things thay you may have been scolded for years ago are now things wich are classified as felonies
I know many “felons” who because of there mistakes are much more solid they know there limitations they know what happens when you cross those lines and have alot of respect in general. Also. Many many of your friends and coworkers have done things that could have put them in the same types of classifications but by chance they didnt get caught or what have you
just keep in mind when your pasding un educated judgement on people and classifieng them keep in mind that could easily be your very own son..or daughter and to the ignorant woman who said felons shouldnt be working with our children they should be working at mcdonalds this id a classic example of ignnorance and quite hypocritical id say since many of our children start there first jobs ever at these types of fast food places
Im a felon and raised 2 great kids who are not felons
This “felony” happened in 1991. He was a child himself who made a terrible decision to drink and drive. I am not down playong his actions. However, there are many people who make that decision every single day that don’t get caught. He has to live with that decision for the rest of his life, that is punishment enough. He has no other convictions and obviously has changed his life since this happened. I agree with the school board on this. “Felony” comes in many terms in my opinion and this man is not a “felon” just because some court document 1991 says he is. The only thing I disagree on is, airing this man’s past conviction everyone to be judgemental about.
First of all, do any of you have any idea how many people are charged with a felony but plead not guilty so they are then offered a deal where they plea guilty to a lesser charge considered to be a misdemeanor? Take domestic violence or harming a child as an example I know plenty of people who were later offered a deal of battery so that they are still able to own a firearm… Obviously those who were convicted of sexual assault or violent crimes CAN NOT be hired to work with children (federal law)…. Just because someone made a mistake at twenty does not make them a bad person at forty…. The human brain is not even completely developed at twenty, things like decision making are not sound until twenty-five (approximate)
http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/18/at-what-age-is-the-brain-fully-developed/
Yes! Exactly