Principal requests medical leave, By Emily Gallagher Times West Virginian Feb 2, 2016

 A Fairmont Senior High School principal who was suspended for his behavior at work has requested medical leave.

During the regular meeting, Monday night, the Marion County Board of Education approved FSHS Principal Tyson Furgason’s request for a medical leave of absence from Jan. 11 to Feb. 10 without pay after exhausting sick leave. Furgason, 37, has not been at the school since being asked to leave work early in January.

The BOE approved Furgason’s four-day suspension during the last regular meeting in January. On Jan. 4, Furgason left work after he and Gary Price, superintendent of Marion County Schools, discussed rumors regarding Furgason. Furgason did not return to the school the rest of that week and has not been present since he left. At the time, Price cited “work behavior” as the reason for Furgason’s absence.

Price said Furgason’s four-day suspension was for Jan. 5-8 with pay. Price said he has the authority to suspend personnel, but it must be approved or disapproved by the BOE at a meeting.

According to reports from the Fairmont Police Department, which the Times West Virginian requested through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the department investigated an incident regarding Furgason on Jan. 4.

The report states that Cpl. Donnie Neal with the Fairmont Police Department investigated complaints regarding Furgason at FSHS that day. Neal wrote in the report that he had received four videos of Furgason’s actions that were apparently taken by students at FSHS.

While investigating the incident, Neal reported on Jan. 4 he observed Furgason exhibiting “signs of an impaired individual” while interacting with the principal in the school. According to the report, Neal had a similar incident with Furgason in December.

Price said Monday that he reviewed four videos that were sent to him regarding Furgason’s actions at the school. Price said the videos were brief and he was told they were of Furgason impaired while at school.

“The videos were brief and did not show any actions on behalf of Mr. Furgason that would cause any concern or alarm,” Price said. “He was simply interacting with students in the cafeteria.”

Neal wrote that he contacted Price and Andy Neptune, administrative assistant with Marion County Schools, about the incident on Jan. 4. Price said he was contacted that day and arrived at FSHS as soon as he could. Upon Price’s arrival to the school that day, he spoke with Furgason, who was going to walk home and leave his vehicle at the school, according to the report. When asked why Furgason had walked home that day from work instead of taking his vehicle, Price had no comment.

Lt. John Murphy with the Fairmont Police Department wrote a report regarding the incident on Jan. 4. In his report, Murphy wrote that assistant principals attempted to “sequester Furgason from the students until someone from the board arrived.”

Chief Steve Shine with the Fairmont Police Department said Monday that the investigation into the incident involving Furgason is closed and no criminal charges will be filed against him. He said after presenting information to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, no prosecution would take place.

As for Furgason returning to FSHS, Price said it had not been determined as of Monday.

BOE approves transfer of FSHS principal, By Leah Nestor | Times West Virginian, Jan 10, 2017 Tyson Furgason, Fairmont Senior High School principal.

The Marion County Board of Education approved the transfer of Fairmont Senior High School Richard T. Furgason to a new assistant principal position at Rivesville Elementary and Middle School.

Nearly a year ago, the BOE approved a four-day suspension for Furgason, citing work behavior as the reason. In February, the board approved an extended unpaid medical leave for the former principal.

Just after the board meeting began at 6 p.m. Monday, board member Blair Montgomery made a motion to go into executive session.

The packed conference room at the Board of Education began discussing amongst themselves their concerns of the possible- now confirmed- transfer.

During executive session, parents were called in to voice their concerns on the matter.

After the meeting resumed at 7:37 p.m., board member Richard Pellegrin made a motion to accept the transfer of Furgason from FSHS to Rivesville. Board President Thomas Dragich seconded the motion via conference call. Board members Montgomery and Dr. Babette Simms opposed the motion. However, the motion passed 3-2.

The approval was met with whispers and frustrated voices from the audience.

Jessica Frankhouser, a Rivesville parent, said she attended the meeting because she was concerned for everyone’s health and well being.

“I don’t think it would be good for his health ... he’s got to take care of 400 plus kids all the time,” she said, noting what she called were rumors of drug addiction.

She said that she hopes all the best for Furgason, but “I just don’t think that my kids well being should be where he starts.”

Frankhouser mentioned that the assistant principal is a new position and there were other candidates who applied for it.

“I would not be one of the parents that don’t give him a chance, but I think it would be in everybody’s best interest if he doesn’t get it,” she said prior to the vote.

Montgomery said that during the executive session where the parents were called in one by one to address the board, he listened to the parents’ concerns and frustrations which were a part of the reason for his “negative vote.”

“That’s something we’re supposed to do, listen to what the public has to say,” he commented.

However, he also said that he thought the board made a “good decision tonight.”

“I think we’ll be OK. I think we’ll be alright. And I think our children will be safe,” he said.

Amber Cinalli, a parent of two children at Rivesville, was visibly upset by the decision.

“I think it’s a very poor decision on their part,” she said.

She commented that the conditions of the school are not great, noting that the current principal is new and the building is “falling apart.”

“We need renovations. We don’t need an assistant principal,” she stated. “That money needs to go towards renovations.”

She said parents had previously been asked to come in to paint the school with their own supplies.

“Where’s the money coming from for an assistant principal?” she asked.

Let’s Make a change Marion County Our Kids Depend on Us!

 It hasn't been long enough to put him in this high stressful situation with our young children Furgason himself told 5 news "I understand a little bit of where they're coming from, I do."