Science Teacher’s Case Now in Arbitration

The arbitration case for former Mission Valley science teacher Ryan Haraughty began Monday at McEachen, the main Shawnee Mission school district building where Board of Education meetings were packed earlier this year. Arbitration means the case will have only one judge and no jury. The arbitrator is from Minnesota and new to the case.

Haraughty was fired last November for comments deemed explicit by Mission Valley Middle School principal Susie Ostemeyer.

Agitated parents in support of Haraughty backed him immediately after his firing, but were unable to move any board members despite rallies and protests. Haraughty appealed his firing, a process which took him all the way to his current state of arbitration.

Today is the last day of the case, but a decision is not expected right away. Parents, students and other teachers have testified all this week for Haraughty. Along with the testimonials in his defense, supporters have rallied outside Mission Valley for their former teacher for a portion of the week.

A final decision is expected within the next month.