Fairfield teacher accused of racial slur loses job
FAIRFIELD The Fairfield teacher accused of slurring an African -American student lost his job Thursday in the wake of a labor hearing that concluded with that recommendation.
Freshman science teacher Gil Voigt has been on unpaid leave since December.
After the Fairfield Board of Education received a state referee's decision that "there is good and just cause to terminate the teaching contract," the board voted 4-0 Thursday evening, with one board member absent, to end his employment with the Butler County school system.
Voigt has declined to comment but told The Enquirer on Friday he plans to appeal the referee's ruling with the Butler County Court of Appeals.
Fairfield Superintendent Paul Otten also recommended the board discontinue the veteran teacher's employment contract.
"The district felt that the evidence was sufficient to support the termination of Mr. Voigt's employment. The referee recommended such termination, and the board has concurred," said Otten in a statement released Thursday evening.
Voigt is alleged to have told an African-American student at Fairfield Freshman School, who had professed his desire to follow Barack Obama as president, that "we do not need another black president."
Voigt has previously said he was misquoted by the student, whom he described as troublesome.
His suspension has drawn national attention and the condemnation of officials in the Butler County school system as well as area NAACP officials.
He later told Fairfield officials that what he said to the teen was, "I think we can't afford another president like Obama, whether he's black or white."
The Ohio Department of Education will conduct its own investigation after being notified of Voigt's employment status.
The department's investigation will determine whether Voigt should have his teaching license limited, suspended – from one day to up to five years – or revoked entirely, prohibiting him from teaching in Ohio.
Voigt now has the option of appealing the referee's decision to Butler County Common Pleas Court within 30 days.