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Clark-Shawnee teacher fired for acting inappropriately with female students

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 8:21 AM Monday, November 9, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A Clark-Shawnee school teacher has been fired after an Ohio Board of Education-appointed referee determined that he acted inappropriately with female students.

Clark-Shawnee board members unanimously voted at a special meeting Sunday, Nov. 8, to terminate Dennis B. Dahlberg, 35, effective immediately.

He was not at the meeting, though he had been invited, but a union representative was present, said Superintendent Debbie Finkes.

Dahlberg submitted a letter of resignation, but the board rejected it.

Instead officials agreed with the recommendation of Ohio Department of Education-appointed referee John Butz.

The recommendation — which was based on hundreds of pages of testimony from witnesses — was summarized in a 15-page resolution read aloud by board president David Dehart.

The resolution stated that Dahlberg’s “conduct (with students) was hostile to the welfare of the school community” and justified grounds for termination.

It further stated that Dahlberg’s conduct fell within state law’s definition of immorality.

In May 2008, one female student reported that Dahlberg sent her unwanted text messages.

In December, another female student reported that he directed sexually-charged questions to her twice during a class. She said he also searched her purse in the classroom.

Also in December, a third student told school officials he touched her on the back inappropriately during class.

Dahlberg said that the situation was a “witch hunt” by students and Finkes, but Butz did not find merit in that claim.

Finkes commended the students who came forward in the case and said she’s “pleased with the resolution of the case for their sake.

“It’s very nice that the students’ voices were heard and respected,” she said.

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