A phone call from the Springfield News-Sun to Pennington and his attorney, James Owen, weren’t returned.
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Pennington has been accused of inappropriately touching two students. A police affidavit says the alleged incidents happened during school hours at Warder Park-Wayne Elementary School. It also says “The (defendant) placed his hand on the side of the child … at two different school locations.”
“Springfield police arrested a Springfield City Schools employee on charges related to inappropriate contact with two 12-year-old school girls,” a Springfield Police Division news release says. “He is accused of inappropriate contact with two female students during the course of his duties as an information technology employee with the city schools.”
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The Springfield News-Sun filed a public records request for Pennington’s personnel record and found two letters sent to him informing him that he under investigation. The first letter was sent Feb. 9.
“This letter is to confirm your status as being placed on paid administrative leave as of Feb. 9 pending an investigation into improper physical conduct with a student,” the letter says. “You will remain on leave until such time as all investigations into this allegation of misconduct has been closed.”
A letter dated March 20 from Springfield City Schools Superintendent Bob Hill tells Pennington he’s to report to Hill’s office for a termination hearing because “allegations of misconduct have been presented to me relative to improper physical conduct with a student, violations of Springfield City School District policy and violations of the licensure code of professional conduct.”
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Pennington resigned from his position before the termination hearing, a school spokeswoman previously said.
Also in his personnel file was a 2014 evaluation that says Pennington either met or exceeded standards in a number of areas related to his work in information technology, including knowledge of work, skills and safety practices.
No comments were left on the review.
Parent Alexis Murray has three children who attend Warder Park-Wayne Elementary. The news of Pennington’s arrest surprised her, she said.
“I was a little bit shocked that I heard it happened at Warder Park,” Murray said.
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