J . l BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON 3 In the Matter of the Teaching ) License of: ) STIPULATION OF FACTS AND 4 ) ORDER OF SUSPENSION PAUL ALLEN SKONES ) 5 ) ________________________________) ' 6 7 On or about December 2, 1997, the Teacher Standards and 8 Practices Commission (the "Commission") issued a Notice of 9 Opportunity for Hearing to Paul Allen Skones ("Skones") in which 10 the Commission proposed to suspend or revoke his teaching license 11 or otherwise impose discipline under ORS 342.177 based.upon certain 12 conduct that occurred during his teaching tenure and his criminal 13 conviction for Attempted Kidnapping II. The Commission and Skones ~ 14 have now reviewed the matters alleged and agree that their 15 respective interests, together with the public interest, are best 16 served by a stipulation to certain facts and the imposition of a l7 six (6) month suspension, four (4) years’ probation, and the 18 imposition of certain conditions for reinstatement of Skones’ 19 license. This agreement sets forth the facts upon which the 20 parties have agreed and the sanctions to be imposed. In entering 21 into this Stipulation, Skones waives his right to a hearing to 22 contest any of the findings set forth below. i 23 FINDINGS OF FACT 24 Skones agrees and stipulates that evidence in the record exists l 25 to support the following Findings of Fact by the Commission: 26 /// ‘ \ PAGE l — STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION . L- l I. . ' ‘ l 1. Skones holds a standard teaching license with a music 2 endorsement that expires on December l4, 1999. 3 2. During the 1996-97 school year, Skones was employed as a 4 music teacher at Marshfield High School in the Coos Bay School 5 District. 6 3. On December 9, 1996, Skones was arrested for assaulting 7 his wife in Coos Bay, Oregon. A Restraining Order was issued 8 against him on April 7, 1997 restraining him from having contact 9 with his wife. 10 4. On April 10, 1997, the Coos Bay School District placed 11 Skones on administrative leave for failure to report for his 12 teaching duties on April 8-10, 1997 and for his failure to provide 13 any notice to the District of his absence. Skones was placed on ‘14 leave without pay by the District on April 22, 1997. 15 5. On April 14, 1997, Skones was arrested for violating the 16 Restraining Order. 17 6. On April 19, 1997, Skones was arrested and charged with 18 Contempt of Court (violating the Restraining Order), Burglary I, 19 Menacing and Kidnapping II. The charges were based on allegations 2O that he entered his estranged wife's home, threatened her with a 21 hammer, and tried to force her to accompany him against her will. 22 Ultimately, on June 19, 1997, Skones pled guilty to the charge of 23 Attempted Kidnapping II, a felony. 24 7. Skones was sentenced to 3O days in jail, 60 months 25 probation and a fine of $5,967. 26 /// l ‘PAGE 2 — STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION .1. ... "’ 1'. ‘ 1 8. On June 12, 1997, Skones resigned his teaching position 2 with the Coos Bay School District. 3 Skones enters into this Stipulation of Facts with the 4 knowledge that TSPC will adopt an Order of Suspension and place him 5 on three (4) years’ Probation and impose additional conditions for 6 the reinstatement of his license. This Stipulation is contingent 7 upon the approval and adoption of the Order by the Commission. If 8 the Commission does not adopt this Order, neither Skones nor the 9 Commission are bound by these stipulations and he retains all 10 rights to a hearing on the allegations. ll IT IS SO STIPULATED: y‘ 9 (1| M i l\3 >801,“ " " which‘? M If“??? .14 Pa Allen Skones Day/e i 15 @ 4 flvt .. HAWK / 6%» 7/” 2i David V. Myton, Executive Secretary Date 17 Teacher Standards and Practices Commiss1on 18 l9 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 20 The conduct described in the Findings of Fact 4 constitutes 21 gross neglect of duty as that term is defined under ORS 342.175(l) 22 and OAR 584-20-040(4). The conduct described in the other 23 paragraphs in the Findings of Fact constitute gross unfitness as 24 that term is defined in ORS 342.175(l) and OAR 584-20-040(5). 25 /// 26 /// 'PAGE 3 — STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION A} ... i‘. "' ‘ 1 ORDER 2 BASED ON THE FOREGOING STIPULATIONS, IT IS ORDERED: 3 1. The teaching license of Skones is suspended for a period of six (6) 4 months commencing from June 11, 1998. 5 2. The Commission shall place Skones on probation for four (4) years 6 from the date of this Order. While on probation, Skones shall: 7 a. Conduct himself as a law abiding citizen and notify TSPC 8 within 30 (thirty) days if he is arrested or charged with any 9 crime; 10 b. Provide documentation required by TSPC, including submission 11 to a psychological evaluation by a mutually agreeable 12 psychologist, so that TSPC can ensure he is not a danger to 13 himself or others; .14 c. Comply with the terms of the sentence imposed for his felony 15 conviction; and 16 d. Abide by all Commission requirements, including but not 17 limited to, those articulated in OAR 584, Division 20. 18 /// l9 /// 20 // 21 /// 22 /// 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// ‘PAGE 4 — STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION ll‘ f‘. ‘I’ ". ‘ 1 Violation of any terms of probation shall constitute a basis for the 2 Commission to revoke Skones’ license, after first providing to Skones 3 notice and an opportunity for hearing. 4 DATED this [5 day of June 1998. 5 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION 6 . 7 By: 7/7 757 David V. gyton, Executive Director 8 Approved as to Form: 9 . 1° W _(Q ,fiéL Margar Olney Dat 11 Attorney for Skones l2 l3 ‘14 15 16 . 17 18 19 2O 21 22 23 24 25 26 tjh/JGG11D44 ‘PAGE 5 — STIPULATION OF FACTS AND ORDER OF SUSPENSION