Popping up again like a bad rash, Lee Livengood, the West Virginia assistant principal fired for harassing a transgender student, just got his job back.
The Harrison County Board of Education voted to reinstate Livengood to his role after voting unanimously to fire him in late March. District Superintendent Mark Manchin said that the move came after much discussion and deliberation–and the threat of a lawsuit from Livengood’s attorney. “I commend this board for taking the time and getting the input,” Manchin said. “We just felt it was best for the school system and best for the school that we move forward and hopefully, after today’s action, we can put this behind us and move forward, and hopefully everything will be OK.” Attorneys for Livengood had threated to hit the district with a lawsuit over Livengood’s firing, arguing that it violated his contract by terminating him.
Related: Asst. Principal suspended for following trans student into bathroom
Not everyone found the reinstatement of Livengood a sign of progress. “In light of today’s actions by the Harrison County Board of Education, we want to reaffirm our demand that Mr. Livengood not be allowed any contact with (the student) or any children,” the ACLU of West Virginia said in a statement. “Mr. Livengood has demonstrated he is incapable of conducting himself in a professional manner in any environment with children, and he has shown a troubling lack of remorse for his actions. We will be actively monitoring the situation to ensure Michael [Critchfeld, the student in question] and the students of Harrison County are protected moving forward.”
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The controversy over Lee Livengood began last December when he followed a transgender teenager into the men’s bathroom and berated him to use a urinal to prove the student was actually male. When the student tried to leave the restroom, Livengood blocked his way and continued his verbal harassment saying “you freak me out.” The school board suspended Livengood for a time, before reinstating him on a probationary contract after he issued a handwritten, insincere apology note to the student.
Bowing to the threat of lawsuits from the ACLU, the board later terminated Livengood’s contract and held several sensitivity training sessions for the school faculty.
Brian
I feel like if I did this to some random child in some random restroom, I’d be arrested.
Polaro
You got that right. What makes this worse is that this “man” is supposed to be acting in the best interest of ALL the children under his care. How he could believe his behavior in any way met the level of care he is required to provide is jaw dropping. Regardless of one’s thoughts on transgender science, this is not how you treat a child.
DCguy
This is what happens in racist or bigoted areas. They first try to do nothing, then, if there is backlash they pretend to do something, then hope the attention dies down and put everything back in place.
A threat from his attorney?? Nice try when the guy harassed a minor in a bathroom.
Mick406
Nah, not racist or bigoted. It’s just like when I grew up 7 decades ago. Men were men and women were women. If you had to sit down to piss, you were a girl. Boys stood and flopped their peckers out for all to see while pissing. Wasn’t any of this psychological bullshit we see today. None of us saw anything wrong with it back then and don’t see it wrong now. A coach would have come into the boy’s room and stood by the urinal to make sure you had a dick. “Now . . . back in MY day . . . somehow, every boy had a dong and every girl had a slit . . . “
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Mick406: Can you be anymore of a totally ignorant repulsive, abhorrent troll???
Ukin Blome
Mick406, after 7 decades it looks like we’ll be done with you soon enough. Maybe tonight in your sleep you’ll make this world a better place.
DCguy
@Mick406
It’s adorable that you try to say “Not racist or bigoted. It’s just like when I grew up 7 decades ago”.
It’s cute that the point of your argument is that the 1950s weren’t racist or bigoted.
rand503
So now they just have to worry about a lawsuit from the ACLU? The school’s attorney must not be very good. If you can’t fire a guy for harassing a student, there is something very wrong with the employment contract.
Geeker
He looks like a raging alcoholic.
DCguy
I think that swollen red nose used to be called a Gin blossom right?
Polaro
I was thinking the same thing.
Polaro
People like this should not be allowed within 300 feet of a school.
Evji108
That man looks rough in more ways than one
Evji108
Back in Mick406’s day the little boys were getting molested by “respected “ teachers, boy scout leaders, priests, and gym teachers by the thousands. Guys were guys, girls were girls and dirty secrets were kept secret.
Lean over in that shower son I have to check if your crack has been washed properly.