Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 27, 1993 TAG: 9303270249
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Lon Wagner
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Keen met Friday afternoon with Assistant Superintendent Florella Johnson and high school Principal Ben Gibson. Twenty-five or so people gathered at the school's administrative offices to show their support for Keen.
After a 30-minute meeting, Keen emerged to say, "I will be in the classroom Monday." Beyond that statement, however, she said she would need some time to digest the meaning of documents Gibson and Johnson gave her during the meeting.
Gibson and Johnson were not available for comment following the meeting.
Keen is a black English teacher who accused high school math teacher Lari Scruggs of using the word "nigger" in referring to a Black History Month program. Scruggs, making a statement for the first time Thursday, denied using the term.
Scruggs apparently was also suspended with pay for several days, though school officials have not confirmed the specifics of Scruggs' suspension.
Keen said she was originally placed on leave because of rumored threats against her. Superintendent Leonard Gereau said in a statement Thursday that Keen's "change of heart is confusing" because her visibility in the media would have compounded her safety concerns. Keen later objected to being placed on leave.
After the meeting Friday, she expressed disappointment that Gereau did not attend.
"When he said `we,' I assumed the `we' included him as well," Keen said, "but he was not there." - LON WAGNER
by CNB