Ohio Teacher Who Allegedly Called in Sick for 2 Days to Attend Concert Now Faces Termination
An Ohio teacher is facing termination for allegedly taking two sick days to attend an out-of-state concert. Eileen Washburn, a teacher at Lakota West High School, is currently on unpaid leave following a vote by the Lakota Local School Board, as per school district records.
The school board stated in its resolution that Washburn, a longtime educator, is accused of "falsifying sick leave" on Feb. 8 and 9, claiming she was ill while actually attending a show in Nashville. During a pre-disciplinary meeting, Washburn reportedly declined to provide details about her whereabouts or the reasons for her sick leave.
Washburn has been teaching at Lakota West since 2015 and previously taught at Princeton High School from 2004 to 2015, according to her bio on the Loveland District's website. She has held various roles, including varsity softball coach, student government advisor, and yearbook advisor, in addition to being a mother of two.
Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli recommended continuing Washburn's suspension until the board's vote on termination scheduled for April 22, unless she requests a hearing. Washburn, Lolli, and Lakota Local School Board President Julie Shaffer did not respond immediately to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The board's resolution to consider termination states that Washburn's actions violated several regulations and codes of conduct, including the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Board Policies on Sick Leave and Staff Ethics, as well as the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators.
Washburn has the option to request a hearing before the April 22 public meeting, as outlined in the resolution. While some individuals have expressed concern over the school board's decision, comments on the district's Facebook page and other platforms have been restricted due to violating social media terms of use.
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