Former teacher and coach denied reinstatement by Ottawa High School Board

Shouts of “shame on you” and “how do you sleep at night” were heard amidst boos and jeers as the Ottawa High School Board of Education voted 4 to 3 to dismiss Tim Burgess and reject his reinstatement as a teacher.

After a half hour closed session, board members Tim Creedon, John Levy, Don Harris and George Shanley all voted against bringing back Burgess. Burgess was let go earlier this year for alleged disparaging remarks and having a history of disciplinary actions against him. His dismissal happened when the school dealt with accusations of bullying by administrators and was still facing public unrest over building trades being dropped.

Before the board made its decision, six speakers supported Burgess getting his job back including his daughter and 2012 Ottawa High graduate Erica Burgess. She says her family has suffered both financially and emotionally and that her dad was being treated like a criminal. Burgess asked board members to “lift the heavy cross from my family’s shoulders”.