Woodlawn Board Allows Coach to Return

WOODLAWN - Woodlawn High School head softball coach Kyle Thaxton is being suspended without pay for the fall semester but will return to his duties in the spring semester after the Woodlawn School Board decided last Thursday night to modify Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock's recommendation to terminate his contract. Hancock gave Thaxton a "Notice of Termination" on July 13 after Hancock came across video of Thaxton saying he did not have to play the daughter of the new Woodlawn Elementary principal after Thaxton's fiancee did not get a vacant teaching position at the school. His finacee has since received a job from another school district. The hearing that lasted more than four and a half hours. Thaxton said afterwards that he was happy with the board's decision and looked forward to returning to coach the Lady Bears softball team in the spring. He also thanked those who came out to support him at the hearing, which Thaxton requested be made public. Hancock said in an interview after the meeting that he respects the board's decision. "That's a school board decision," he said. "I respect their decision. It's a tough decision." More than 50 people attended the hearing held inside the Woodlawn School cafetorium. The audience included several softball players and their parents as well as fellow teachers and other school district staff. Thaxton requested the hearing under the Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act after receiving the "Notice of Termination" from Hancock in July. Hancock recommended the termination after Thaxton was heard on video tape saying he did not have to play Woodlawn Elementary Principal Heather Cox's daughter on the softball team after the decision was made to hire someone other than his fiancee for the vacant teaching position at the elementary. In addition, Hancock also accused Thaxton of insubordination for leaving about 30 minutes early on May 31 (the last day of the 2022-23 school year). Hancock said ...