District 1 to hold special meeting

Yuma Elementary School District 1 has called a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at their district offices to consider legal advice concerning the possible dismissal of a certified teacher due to a video on YouTube.

Legal issues relating to the dismissal of Darla Dreesen, a Gila Vista Junior High School art teacher. The school governing board will consider the employment of Dreesen and a statement of charges seeking her dismissal, according to a District 1 press release.

In September, the Yuma Sun reported a concerned parent sent a link to the paper of a video posted on YouTube.com. It showed several male students engaged in what appears to be roughhousing with one another for several minutes as some peered directly into the camera.

The parent who forwarded the video said she was concerned the teacher in the classroom appeared to make no effort to settle down the students. The Yuma Sun was unable to make further contact with the parent.

The public may attend the meeting but as soon as the board convenes, they will go into closed executive session that could take up to an hour, according to Darwin Stiffler, superintendent. If any action is taken, it must be conducted publicly, he noted.

Some of those actions may include discussion of hearing procedures and whether to appoint a hearing officer, and whether to delegate that appointment to the superintendent and the district legal counsel.

District 1 offices are located at 450 W. 6th St.

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.