A former superintendent of the Fouke School District in Arkansas is appealing a three-year suspension of his teaching license. The suspension was due to ethics violations, including personal relationships with students.

Background

James Buie, who served as superintendent for nine years, worked as an educator and a minister. He claims the Arkansas State Board of Education’s decision was an arbitrary and capricious abuse of discretion and not supported by substantial evidence.

The Board of Education found Buie violated the code of ethics for Arkansas educators by kissing two male students and telling them he loved them, as well as allowing a student to live with him. He also used personal funds to give students gifts, including over $1,000 and vehicles, and paid for multiple trips for students.

Appeal

Buie’s complaint describes the Fouke School District as a small, rural, and economically disadvantaged community. The complaint claims the Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Hearing Subcommittee took over 180 days to take action in the investigation after it was approved.

The complaint also claims the word ‘inappropriate’ is insufficiently defined, rendering the resulting findings arbitrary and capricious. Buie denies that he kissed two male students while saying ‘I love you’, stating that the witness who made the accusation described a gesture to the top of the head.

Buie learned about the students’ circumstances through their grandparents and began bringing them and others to church with the approval of the mother and grandparents. The complaint states that the personal relationships with Buie’s students existed in his ministerial capacity.

The multiple trips took place with the approval of the students’ parents and were generally church trips with various other adults present. Buie occupied a separate bedroom within the cabin during a cruise with students.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.