Administrative hearing Thursday surrounding principal fired at Sussex Central High
GEORGETOWN, Del. – A hearing held surrounding a Sussex Central High School fight that ended in the school principal’s firing.
Dr. Bradley Layfield claims his firing was unfounded. Thursday an administrative hearing was held at the CHEER Center in Georgetown.
It wasn’t a courtroom, but a judge will soon be making a recommendation in the matter. “It was a fair hearing, the judge was fair, we both got a chance to present our case. It was a donnybrook, it was a battle, but that’s what lawyers do. You gotta fight hard for your client,” said Thomas Neuberger, Bradley Layfield’s council.
That client, Dr. Bradley Layfield, is the former principal at Sussex Central High School. Layfield was fired following an incident back in May of 2023. During a fight, a student’s breast was exposed and surveillance video was shared of the incident. A video that administrator Matt Jones is accused of using to create a meme.
Thursday’s administrative law hearing was held because Layfield is disputing the dismissal. Witnesses testified that the former principal called them to his office to watch the fight video. “He asked me if I wanted to see something funny. He pulled up a tab on his computer and proceeded to start a video that was in the hallway outside of the cafeteria. He rewound and played it four times,” said witness Renee Jerns. Layfield’s attorney, Thomas Neuberger argues that specific policies aren’t in place on how to properly handle school surveillance. “The whole policy of what you do with surveillance videos in fights or incidents of violence is that they have to be investigated for the issues of student safety or discipline that’s the custom in the practice, that’s not in writing,” said Neuberger.
Layfield argues he was only doing what he was taught by current Indian River Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens. However, Dr. Owens says the way Layfield conducted himself was not upstanding and in a professional matter for the safety of the students. “Reflected a respect for the basic dignity of our students,” asked the Indian River School Districts Council. Not that day,” answered Dr. Owens. Did it exercise proper care to protect our kids,” asked the Indian River School Districts Council. No,” Dr. Owens answered.
Neuberger says he believes his client is being attacked because of politically motivated school board members. Now, that both parties have had their say, it’s up to a judge to make a recommendation. “We’re waiting about two weeks for the decision in writing from the judge on his recommendation to the board of education, then it goes up to them to either adopt it or reject it or to come up with his own thing. We’ll probably have an opportunity to say something to the board at that time,” said Neuberger.
To change the decision on Dr. Layfield’s firing, the school board would need at least six votes in his favor.
The Indian River School District says they do not have any additional comment on the matter.
