CHARLESTON PRINCIPAL REINSTATED

CHARLESTON -- More than 30 weary teachers and others whooped for joy when the Charleston Board of Education finally ended a closed meeting at 2 a.m. Friday.

"Joe Forrest has been reinstated as principal at Charleston High School," announced Board of Education president Eddie Barnhill at the close of the meeting, which began early Thursday night.

The announcement ended a month of confusion and anger within the school district that began when board members fired Forrest by a split vote in February. The simple majority needed to retain Forrest was denied when one board member abstained and the six others split their votes evenly.

Board members said the main reason Forrest's contract was questioned was because he was unable to build camaraderie with his faculty. Board member Rosetta Bradley said there were other concerns given but she would not identify them.

About 50 people spoke in Forrest's behalf for three straight hours during Thursday's meeting. High school faculty members said that contrary to statements by board members Forrest worked well with students and faculty and deserved to be reinstated as principal.

"We have a good thing at the high school, the best it has been in years," said faculty member Cathy Brown. "These people are my second family, and Joe is the head of that family."

Board members went into closed session to discuss personnel matters at midnight. Although faculty had to report to school by 7:30 a.m. Friday, they refused to leave until the meeting had ended in the hopes of learning the results of the vote.

Barnhill would not reveal specifics about the second vote other than the outcome. He said he had never seen a larger show of support for anybody in six years as an elected official.

Bradley, the single board member who abstained from the February vote, said she appreciated the people who told how Forrest had affected their lives personally. She indicated before the closed session that she and another board member had considered requesting a second vote.

"They spoke about how (Forrest) was a Christian man and how he would be able to sleep at night," she said before the closed session. "Well, I am also a Christian woman and I also have to be able to sleep at night."