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Schools

Their teacher put on leave, students are left in limbo

The principal says he's not sure if the school paper will report on the investigation of its journalism teacher.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published August 13, 2005

WESLEY CHAPEL - After they got over the shock of their teacher being placed on leave, the journalism students at Wesley Chapel High began to wonder what they would do - what they could do - in his absence.

Would they have a yearbook this year?

Would they be able to put out the school newspaper? And could they write about the investigation of their teacher, journalism instructor Joseph Geier?

The answers are yes, of course, and, well, maybe.

Wesley Chapel principal Andy Frelick said Friday that even though Geier oversaw the award-winning yearbook and newspaper staffs, there will be a yearbook and a newspaper this year.

As for the possibility of a story in the school newspaper, Frelick is withholding judgment.

"It depends," Frelick said. "We don't know what's going on with the investigation yet. You need all the facts."

Facts surrounding Geier's administrative leave and his removal from the classroom are scant.

This much is known: School officials received allegations about Geier just before the start of school. He was placed on paid administrative leave while the allegations are investigated. Neither school officials nor Geier are saying what the allegations may involve. Interviews are being conducted. Computers have been removed from Geier's classroom.

Students in Geier's journalism classes are working with a substitute teacher and wondering when or if their instructor will return.

"Everything's very complicated now," said Julie Eibert, 17, a senior at Wesley Chapel High and a member of the school newspaper staff. "The computers aren't there, so we can't do layout" of the paper.

Eibert said she and her fellow journalism classmates have discussed the possibility of writing about the biggest issue at the school: Geier's absence.

"Somebody brought up the question about writing about it," Eibert said. "Some people thought it was a good idea. But some thought Mr. Frelick wouldn't allow that."

Frelick said he understands that students might have an interest in pursuing the story, but said no one had approached him about a possible article.

Geier, who was involved in a car accident on the first day of school, has not commented on the allegations.

Terry Rhum, director of employee relations for the Pasco County School District, said that teachers generally are removed from the classroom as a precaution in any case where allegations involve students. For instance, if a teacher was accused of financial impropriety, he or she might remain in the classroom while the investigation proceeded. But any allegations involving students likely would result in removal from the classroom.

Lauren Sommer, a 2004 Wesley Chapel graduate, said that she has spoken with Geier and that her former teacher hadn't been told the nature of the allegations. She said Geier was worrying about details such as how students hadn't been able to start selling advertisements for the school newspaper.

"He is most concerned about his current students," Sommer said. "A lot of kids in those classes just wanted to be in his class. The yearbook and school newspaper are two things that need to hit the ground running."

Geier has worked at Wesley Chapel since 2000. He oversees the publication of the PawPrints student newspaper and the Wildcat Pride yearbook. Both publications took first place from the Florida Scholastic Press Association for work last school year. Both publications also won national awards.

[Last modified August 13, 2005, 01:22:17]