Ruth Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram

BIG SPRING -- Big Spring ISD trustees will consider taking action today on a complaint concerning Superintendent Michael Downes' performance and conduct his evaluation.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. in the Big Spring High School board room, 707 11th Place, Big Spring.

The complaint was lodged Nov. 7 with the State Board for Educator Certification. Downes referred calls to his attorney, Neal Adams, and school board President Alan Partee referred calls to Fred Stormer of Amarillo, the attorney representing the district.

The SBEC Web site said Downes is currently under review by the organization's Professional Discipline Unit. SBEC has 180 days to complete its investigation, Texas Education Agency spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said.

Adams said Downes is cooperating with SBEC and the school board.

"We have not been provided with the allegation that is the basis for this review," said Stormer, an attorney with the Underwood Law Firm. The firm has represented Big Spring ISD for about three years.

Adams also had not seen the complaint against Downes. Connected with the complaint, Tiffanie Carothers, a former student from when Downes was a math teacher in the Panhandle town of Lefors, alleges Downes had inappropriate relations with her and other girls. She stresses she did not have sex with him.

She said Downes was a youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Lefors and a UIL math coach. Most of the activities occurred at church or on UIL trips, she said. Some of the inappropriate behavior, she alleges, includes letters written to her, what in her opinion were inappropriate conversations and a lot of time spent in his personal vehicle. Carothers said she used to babysit for his children.

Perrytown ISD Superintendent Mike Jackson, who was principal at Lefors ISD's kindergarten-12 school in 1989-90, said Downes was a teacher there at that time and resigned at the end of that school year.

"I am aware and have been informed there is a state board TEA investigation related" to what happened during that time, Jackson said. He said he couldn't comment further because it is an ongoing investigation.

Adams said he has reason to believe the SBEC complaint was filed by a "former disgruntled employee with Big Spring ISD.

"We're aware of what was reported and are quite confident that it was factually incorrect," Adams said. "Michael Downes has not been inappropriate with any child -- ever."

"It's a shame Michael Downes' good name must be dragged through this kind of media scrutiny before somebody can corroborate a hearsay complaint," Adams said. He added that the alleged inappropriate conduct occurred 17 years ago.

"We haven't seen the complaint. He has absolutely nothing to hide. We're confident he'll clear his name," added Adams, an attorney with Adams, Lynch and Loftin in Grapevine, which is general counsel for the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Superintendents typically are evaluated by their school boards every January, Stormer said.

"I'm a parent of four children and I'm a social worker. I deal with victims of abuse every day," Carothers said. "All these things happened when I was a kid. The adults that were supposed to do something about it didn't. That's not my fault. ... I don't want to be a victim anymore. I don't want the other girls to feel like victims anymore," Carothers said.

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19184959&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6

SNAP Note: First Baptist Church in Lefors in shown as an SBC-affiliated church.