Fired instructor hired, then fired again

PERKINS TWP.

The instructor's behavior was making Stanley Niedbalski increasingly uncomfortable.

Niedbalski was no longer in Robert Miller's math class at Terra Community College in fall 2008, but he encountered Miller frequently in the halls.

Miller brushed against his body and made sexual comments, Niedbalski reported to administrators and to Fremont police. Other incidents were also detailed in the complaints.

Terra investigated the complaints and suspended Miller indefinitely for sexual harassment.

According to a letter in his personnel file, the school also gave him a 30-day notice that he would be fired. He retired in January 2009, a week into his suspension and 32 years after arriving at Terra.

Niedbalski was satisfied. He thought Miller wouldn't be able to get another teaching job.

But a few weeks ago, he found out Miller was teaching at Ohio Business College.

"He could be at anybody's school," said Niedbalski, who lives in Bellevue.

"I don't want him to keep getting fired and then rehired."

He said he called Ohio Business College director Theresa Fisher on Feb. 2 and told her about the incidents at Terra.

Fisher allegedly told Niedbalski she didn't know about the sexual harassment situation at Terra. Niedbalski said she called him back that afternoon and said she'd fired Miller.

Ohio Business College would not make Miller's personnel file available because it is a private institution.

"Anything that happens is between us as the school and an employee," Fisher said, declining to discuss the matter further.

Retiring from a job after 32 years doesn't, by itself, raise any red flags on a rsum. Neither, apparently, did anything in the history of Amy Bishop, the Alabama professor accused of shooting up a faculty meeting on Feb. 12.

Representatives for local colleges said they try to screen job applicants carefully to ensure they will perform their job duties well and not cause any problems for the college.

"If we hire someone who has violated policies concerning appropriate behavior or academic integrity, the college places the integrity of its programs and services in potential jeopardy of loss of the community's trust and confidence," said Jerry Webster, Terra's vice president for student and administrative affairs, in a statement. "The risk of future litigation for inappropriate conduct or performance also may be an issue."

Melissa Warner, vice president of human resources for Tri-State Educational Systems, Ohio Business College's parent company, said there is a hiring process campuses should follow, but decisions are up to the staff at each campus.

She did not answer questions about the specifics of the hiring process by press time.

BGSU Firelands dean Bill Balzer said people in hiring positions check applicants' references and perform background checks for relevant jobs, though not usually for faculty.

"You always want to protect your students and have strong academic programs," he said. "They're always looking at best practices."

Balzer said university officials are considering using background checks more often.

Webster said Terra's policy requires reference checks for all job candidates and documents them with a special form. Background checks are conducted for positions including fiscal officers and early childhood education instructors.

The "closeness of community" in higher education provides another check, he said.

"(I)nformal discussion among colleagues at different institutions regarding a candidate who is being considered for employment often occur outside of any formal interview process," he said.