Paul Hetrick Proposed Amended Statement of Charges

Registered Mail
STATEMENT OF CHARGES AND NOTICE OF HEARING

Pursuant to Sections 1122 and 1127 of the Public School Code of 1949, as
amended, professional employee Paul Hetrick (“Hetrick”) is charged as follows:
1. On or about October 20, 2022, Mr. Hetrick violated the Protection from
Abuse (“PFA”) Order his wife had against him, with the violation, and subsequent arrest,
occurring on District property;
2. On or about October 21, 2022, Mr. Hetrick pled guilty to the PFA violation;
3. On or about December 8, 2022, Mr. Hetrick again violated the PFA Order
his wife had against him,
4. Following the second PFA violation, Mr. Hetrick was arrested on District
property and incarcerated for several days;
5. On or about December 13, 2022, Mr. Hetrick pled guilty to the second
PFA violation;
6. Mr. Hetrick failed to report his second arrest for PFA violation to the
District in a timely manner, in violation of District Policy 317;
7. On December 13, 2022, following his release from jail, the District placed
Mr. Hetrick on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the District’s
investigation into his PFA violations;
8. In the December 13, 2022 letter placing Mr. Hetrick on paid administration
leave, the District stated to Mr. Hetrick, “[w]hile on leave, you are not permitted on
school property or permitted to attend any events either during the day and/or outside of
school hours, including events scheduled off of the school campus”;

9. On December 14, 2022, at approximately 12:32 p.m. Mr. Hetrick left a
voicemail with the District acknowledging receipt of the December 13, 2022 paid
administrative leave letter, as well as his understanding of all the conditions set forth in
the letter;
10. On December 16, 2022, Mr. Hetrick engaged in insubordination by
violating the District’s order to him to not attend any District events, onsite or offsite,
during his paid leave, by attending the Punxsutawney Area Boys basketball game at the
Bradford Area School District;
11. On December 21, 2022, Mr. Hetrick provided false statements to the
District during the District’s investigation into his PFA violations. More specifically, Mr.
Hetrick stated that he did not receive the December 13, 2022 paid administrative leave
letter prohibiting from attending District events both on and offsite until after the
December 16, 2022 Boys basketball game at the Bradford Area School District;
12. During the Fall of 2022, Mr. Hetrick engaged in a pattern of behavior
which constitutes Title IX Sexual Harassment against a subordinate female employee of
the District in violation of District Policy 104. The pattern of behavior includes the
following:
(a) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, in a cafeteria full of
students and other co-workers, Mr. Hetrick, after unsuccessfully trying to get the
attention of the other principal told a subordinate female employee to “flash him,” adding
that “any man would stop and look at those things,” referring to the subordinate female
employee’s breasts.
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(b) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick, during the
school day, made an unsolicited comment to the same subordinate female employee
about her appearance. More specifically you said, “you look good in red.”
(c) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick approached
the same subordinate female employee in the lunch room, placed your hand on her
shoulder and stated, “How’s it going, bimbo?”
(d) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick engaged in
additional unsolicited flirtatious behavior with a subordinate female employee which
made her uncomfortable to the point of her leaving her employment with the School
District.
13. Mr. Hetrick violated District Policy 317 by engaging in the following
conduct:
(a) using profane or abusive language toward a subordinate female
employee by making sexual comments about her breasts and calling her a “bimbo.”
(b) Engaging in conduct toward a subordinate female employee which
obstructed and interfered with District operations.
The above-referenced conduct constitutes immorality, incompetency, willful
neglect of duties, persistent negligence in the performance of duties, persistent and
willful violation of and failure to comply with the school laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, all within the meaning of Section 1122 of the Public School Code of
1949, as amended, and violations of District Policy 104 and 317.
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The Board of School Directors of the Punxsutawney Area School District will
conduct a hearing at the Punxsutawney Area High School, 500 N. Findley Street,
Punxsutawney, PA 15767, on February 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of
determining whether you should be dismissed from your employment. This hearing is
subject to postponement and rescheduling.
Pursuant to the express terms of Section 1121 of the School Code, 24 P.S. §11-
1121, your right to the above hearing is conditioned upon your submission of a written
request for the hearing. If you desire a hearing, your written request must be delivered
to the Superintendent’s office within ten (10) days after your receipt of this notice. Be
advised that you have the following rights if you choose a hearing before the School
Board:
1. The right to be represented by counsel;
2. The right to hear the witnesses and evidence against you and to cross-
examine said witnesses;
3. The right to present witnesses and evidence on your own behalf and to
testify on your own behalf;
4. The right to present evidence as to whether discharge or some lesser
personnel action is appropriate under the circumstances;
5. The right to have your choice of either a public or a private hearing; and
6. All other rights guaranteed to you by the Constitution and applicable law.
If you do not request a hearing, the above hearing will be canceled and action
upon the charges will proceed without a hearing.
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If you have any questions, either you or your attorney may contact Attorney
Robert D. Zaruta, legal counsel for the District.
Punxsutawney Area School District
Attest: _________________________ By _________________________

Susan Robertson, Secretary Matthew Kengersky, President
Board of School Directors Board of School Directors
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STATEMENT OF CHARGES AND NOTICE OF HEARING

amended, professional employee Paul Hetrick (“Hetrick”) is charged as follows:

occurring on District property;

his wife had against him,

property and incarcerated for several days;

District in a timely manner, in violation of District Policy 317;

investigation into his PFA violations;

school hours, including events scheduled off of the school campus”;

10. On December 16, 2022, Mr. Hetrick engaged in insubordination by

Bradford Area School District;

which constitutes Title IX Sexual Harassment against a subordinate female employee of

shoulder and stated, “How’s it going, bimbo?”

additional unsolicited flirtatious behavior with a subordinate female employee which

(a) using profane or abusive language toward a subordinate female

(b) Engaging in conduct toward a subordinate female employee which

obstructed and interfered with District operations.

The above-referenced conduct constitutes immorality, incompetency, willful

neglect of duties, persistent negligence in the performance of duties, persistent and

1949, as amended, and violations of District Policy 104 and 317.

subject to postponement and rescheduling.

1. The right to be represented by counsel;

examine said witnesses;

testify on your own behalf;

4. The right to present evidence as to whether discharge or some lesser

personnel action is appropriate under the circumstances;

upon the charges will proceed without a hearing.

Robert D. Zaruta, legal counsel for the District.

Punxsutawney Area School District

Attest: _________________________ By _________________________

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