Registered Mail

STATEMENT OF CHARGES AND NOTICE OF HEARING

Pursuant to Sections 1122 and 1127 of the Public School Code of 1949, as

amended, professional employee Paul Hetrick (“Hetrick”) is charged as follows:

1. On or about October 20, 2022, Mr. Hetrick violated the Protection from

Abuse (“PFA”) Order his wife had against him, with the violation, and subsequent arrest,

occurring on District property;

2. On or about October 21, 2022, Mr. Hetrick pled guilty to the PFA violation;

3. On or about December 8, 2022, Mr. Hetrick again violated the PFA Order

his wife had against him,

4. Following the second PFA violation, Mr. Hetrick was arrested on District

property and incarcerated for several days;

5. On or about December 13, 2022, Mr. Hetrick pled guilty to the second

PFA violation;

6. Mr. Hetrick failed to report his second arrest for PFA violation to the

District in a timely manner, in violation of District Policy 317;

7. On December 13, 2022, following his release from jail, the District placed

Mr. Hetrick on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the District’s

investigation into his PFA violations;

8. In the December 13, 2022 letter placing Mr. Hetrick on paid administration

leave, the District stated to Mr. Hetrick, “[w]hile on leave, you are not permitted on

school property or permitted to attend any events either during the day and/or outside of

school hours, including events scheduled off of the school campus”;

 9. On December 14, 2022, at approximately 12:32 p.m. Mr. Hetrick left a

voicemail with the District acknowledging receipt of the December 13, 2022 paid

administrative leave letter, as well as his understanding of all the conditions set forth in

the letter;

10. On December 16, 2022, Mr. Hetrick engaged in insubordination by

violating the District’s order to him to not attend any District events, onsite or offsite,

during his paid leave, by attending the Punxsutawney Area Boys basketball game at the

Bradford Area School District;

11. On December 21, 2022, Mr. Hetrick provided false statements to the

District during the District’s investigation into his PFA violations. More specifically, Mr.

Hetrick stated that he did not receive the December 13, 2022 paid administrative leave

letter prohibiting from attending District events both on and offsite until after the

December 16, 2022 Boys basketball game at the Bradford Area School District;

12. During the Fall of 2022, Mr. Hetrick engaged in a pattern of behavior

which constitutes Title IX Sexual Harassment against a subordinate female employee of

the District in violation of District Policy 104. The pattern of behavior includes the

following:

(a) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, in a cafeteria full of

students and other co-workers, Mr. Hetrick, after unsuccessfully trying to get the

attention of the other principal told a subordinate female employee to “flash him,” adding

that “any man would stop and look at those things,” referring to the subordinate female

employee’s breasts.

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 (b) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick, during the

school day, made an unsolicited comment to the same subordinate female employee

about her appearance. More specifically you said, “you look good in red.”

(c) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick approached

the same subordinate female employee in the lunch room, placed your hand on her

shoulder and stated, “How’s it going, bimbo?”

(d) During the Fall of the 22-23 School Year, Mr. Hetrick engaged in

additional unsolicited flirtatious behavior with a subordinate female employee which

made her uncomfortable to the point of her leaving her employment with the School

District.

13. Mr. Hetrick violated District Policy 317 by engaging in the following

conduct:

(a) using profane or abusive language toward a subordinate female

employee by making sexual comments about her breasts and calling her a “bimbo.”

(b) Engaging in conduct toward a subordinate female employee which

obstructed and interfered with District operations.

The above-referenced conduct constitutes immorality, incompetency, willful

neglect of duties, persistent negligence in the performance of duties, persistent and

willful violation of and failure to comply with the school laws of the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania, all within the meaning of Section 1122 of the Public School Code of

1949, as amended, and violations of District Policy 104 and 317.

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 The Board of School Directors of the Punxsutawney Area School District will

conduct a hearing at the Punxsutawney Area High School, 500 N. Findley Street,

Punxsutawney, PA 15767, on February 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of

determining whether you should be dismissed from your employment. This hearing is

subject to postponement and rescheduling.

Pursuant to the express terms of Section 1121 of the School Code, 24 P.S. §11-

1121, your right to the above hearing is conditioned upon your submission of a written

request for the hearing. If you desire a hearing, your written request must be delivered

to the Superintendent’s office within ten (10) days after your receipt of this notice. Be

advised that you have the following rights if you choose a hearing before the School

Board:

1. The right to be represented by counsel;

2. The right to hear the witnesses and evidence against you and to cross-

examine said witnesses;

3. The right to present witnesses and evidence on your own behalf and to

testify on your own behalf;

4. The right to present evidence as to whether discharge or some lesser

personnel action is appropriate under the circumstances;

5. The right to have your choice of either a public or a private hearing; and

6. All other rights guaranteed to you by the Constitution and applicable law.

If you do not request a hearing, the above hearing will be canceled and action

upon the charges will proceed without a hearing.

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 If you have any questions, either you or your attorney may contact Attorney

Robert D. Zaruta, legal counsel for the District.

Punxsutawney Area School District

Attest: _________________________ By _________________________

Susan Robertson, Secretary Matthew Kengersky, President
Board of School Directors Board of School Directors
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