BOURBON - A former teacher who left Bremen Schools last year in a swirl of controversy will no longer serve as a subsitute teacher for Triton despite a strong show of support Tuesday night.

Between 30 and 40 supporters of Mel Trowbridge attended the Triton School Board meeting.

Trowbridge, who was part of core of substitute teachers working regularly at Triton, was recently dismissed by the school corporation.

Trowbridge resigned last year as a Bremen Elementary teacher after allegations of improper activities surfaced. Those allegations, which were never publicly disclosed, never led to any formal investigations or charges.

Dave Gould, pastor of The Country Church, acted as spokesman for the group and read the following statement:

"I come tonight as a friend of this board and am grateful for this opportunity to speak. I also plan on being a friend no matter what the outcome.

"I come tonight as pastor, a father and a friend of Mel Trowbridge to ask that he be rehired as a substitute teacher realizing the controversy involved in this request. As Mel's pastor, I have spent many hours in counsel and prayer with him since this unfortunate situation developed a year ago. There has been much said about what took place, some of it true, a whole lot untrue. Mel was not accused of molesting children. He was found to have used poor judgement about certain things and he has counseled with me and others to help deal with that. Remember nothing was found by the police or social services to be wrong.

"Mel is not a dangerous person for our children. If he were, Mr. Roth wouldn't have hired him and we wouldn't be here. If anyone in the community has questions, please talk to Mel or talk to the teachers that Mel has subsituted for and worked with."

"Gentlemen, I respectfully ask that you consider placing Mel back on the sub list. Let's stand up and be counted as a community that cares about its people. Yes, Mel will benefit, but so will our children. Thank you."

A petition with a statement of support for Trowbridge bearing 167 signatures was presented to the board by Judi Weissert.

Trowbridge addressed the board near the end of the meeting saying, "I know everyone here, most of you very well. There are two things I'd like to address. This matter should have been handled at Bremen, but it wasn't. I'm bothered that people go to Rex (superintendent Roth) and not to me to talk about their concerns. I'd like to talk to people about their concerns. I don't feel that it's many at the school. When I resigned at Bremen, I was told to get in some place as a substitute and then have a chance for a teaching job after proving myself. I got a letter from Rex inviting me to talk after he conferred with Bremen. I taught every grade here from kindergarten through seniors during the first nine weeks. I felt I was doing a good job. I don't know what your options are, but please reconsider."

Terry Alderfer said he thinks (Trowbridge) should be given another opportunity to teach because "no facts were discovered and no charges brought. If he's done something, someone should press charges."

Superintendent Roth responded to the statements by saying this was a personnel matter and he would not speak publicly about it.

In other business, Roth presented a fixed assets management policy. This policy is a means of keeping track of the schools larger assets.

Roth noted the school's annual casualty/liability insurance premiums are dropping $3,500 to $53,557.

The next meeting of the board will be 7 p.m. Dec. 3. [[In-content Ad]]