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Thursday, May 24, 2012
2008 Marshall teacher firing case

In 2008, while Don Quick was acting superintendent of the Marshall Public School District, allegations were made against three elementary school teachers that they had inappropriately copied standardized test materials and had inappropriately coached students taking the test. Quick investigated the accusations and after a public hearing requested by the teachers, the school board voted to terminate their employment. The teachers appealed in Saline County Circuit Court and sued in federal court. These stories track the progress of the case.

Appeals court upholds ruling in Marshall teacher case (11/03/10)
The legal challenge filed by three Marshall elementary school teachers whose employment was terminated in July 2008 came closer to a conclusion Tuesday, Nov. 2, when the Western District Court of Appeals ruled to uphold an earlier ruling in Saline County Circuit Court...
Lawsuit inches forward (06/22/10)
A lawsuit filed by three Marshall teachers continues to move through the judicial system. When the firing of Crystal McGraw, Nathan Reeder and Dawn Plummer was upheld by Circuit Court Judge Dennis A. Rolf in a decision issued Nov. 25, 2009, the teachers filed an appeal with the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals on Dec. 29, 2009...
Judge makes ruling in Eastwood teachers' appeal (11/27/09)
Judge Dennis A. Rolf handed down his ruling Wednesday, Nov. 25, in the case of three Eastwood Elementary School teachers who were fired by the Marshall school district for breaching standardized testing rules. The ruling supports the school board's decision and denies claims by the teachers that their rights were violated during the termination process.
Judge dismisses 9 of 12 counts in teachers' lawsuit (08/20/09)
The pending federal lawsuit brought by former Marshall teachers Crystal McGraw, Nathan Reeder and Dawn Plummer against Marshall's school board, administrators and individual teachers suffered a setback Tuesday, July 18, when U.S. District Court Judge Gary A. Fenner dismissed nine of 12 counts in the suit...
Arguments made in teacher firing case (07/28/09)
Attorneys for former Marshall teachers Crystal McGraw, Dawn Plummer and Nathan Reeder and for the Marshall School Board and district staff presented oral arguments in Circuit Court before Judge Dennis A. Rolf, Tuesday, July 28. At issue is whether the school board acted improperly by firing the three teachers for "immoral conduct" when they were accused of inappropriately helping students improve their scores on the Missouri Assessment Placement test...
3 former Eastwood teachers file federal civil lawsuit / Suit names Marshall school district, school board members, current and former staff members (02/06/09)
Three Marshall elementary school teachers who were fired in July 2008 have filed a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit seeking compensation for back pay, front pay and benefits; compensatory damages; and punitive damages. The three teachers were terminated after district officials concluded they had engaged in improper use of standardized testing material...
3 Eastwood teachers file appeal of firing (08/08/08)
The attorney for three Marshall elementary teachers who were fired July 28 filed an appeal Thursday, Aug. 7, in Saline County Circuit Court on behalf of his clients. Dawn Plummer, Crystal McGraw and Nathan Reeder were fired after former Interim Superintendent Donn Quick accused them of violating standardized testing security protocols and inappropriately preparing students for the Missouri Assessment Program test...
Marshall school board votes to terminate contracts of 3 teachers accused of cheating (07/29/08)
Marshall Board of Education announced that teaching contracts have been terminated for three elementary school teachers accused of violating standardized testing security protocols.
Results of Marshall school board meeting to be announced later today (07/28/08)
Marshall residents eager to find out how the Board of Education will rule in the case of three elementary teachers charged with violating standardized testing security protocols will not have to wait much longer. Board President Anita Wright said Monday morning, July 28, that the board plans to release its findings sometime Monday afternoon...
Following defense witnesses, two sides in Eastwood cheating case find one point of agreement: Someone's lying (07/10/08)
After 4 1/2 hours of testimony from defense witnesses and rebuttal from school district witnesses, the opposing attorneys agreed on one thing: The case of three Eastwood Elementary School teachers accused of violating standardized test security and cheating on tests comes down to credibility...
Attorney presents Marshall school district's case against 3 elementary teachers accused of cheating; Hearing continues Wednesday night (07/08/08)
The five-hour public hearing for three Eastwood elementary teachers accused of breaching test security began Tuesday night, July 8, with a moment of silence in honor of two teens killed last week in a car crash. After that, the words flowed freely as Stephen Wright, attorney for the school district, called six witness to testify that Crystal McGraw, Dawn Plummer and Nathan Reeder had violated Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test security protocols and the attorney for the three teachers, Mark Nasteff, called one witness.. ...
Marshall school board to hold special session, 2 hearings next week (07/06/08)
The Marshall Board of Education announced Thursday afternoon, July 3, the schedule for a series of meetings next week, including a special meeting Monday, July 7, and two public hearings for elementary school teachers accused of being involved in a breach of standardized test security, including the identities of the teachers involved...