Friday, September 13, 2024
By Press Times Staff
SUAMICO – Victor Murphy, a popular physical education teacher who abruptly resigned last week from Suamico Elementary School in the Howard-Suamico School District, released a statement Monday, Feb. 24.
“My family and I want to express our thanks to the Howard-Suamico community for their love and support,” the statement reads. “I have truly enjoyed my 26 years with the district and will continue to support HSSD. Teaching and coaching has been an absolute joy. I will honor my decision to resign from the school district. Bringing closure to this will allow me to look forward to other opportunities.”
An online petition signed by more than 5,800 people as of Monday afternoon calls for Murphy to be reinstated to his job at Suamico Elementary School.
Murphy also served as the head coach for the Bay Port girls track and field team.
“Teacher/Coach Victor Murphy was forced to resign his positions with the Howard-Suamico school district, due to what most would consider a minor incident involving a student in one of his classes,” reads the petition started by Doug Gronski of Suamico. “I believe most people would be astonished at the lack of channels that were not followed in making this decision, the severity of the punishment and the ease and carelessness in which this decision was made by the school district’s human resources department.”
Gronski did not return a message when contacted for comment.
The district said in a statement it will not share any further details regarding Murphy’s resignation.
“Out of respect for the privacy of all parties involved, the district is not sharing any further details regarding Mr. Murphy’s resignation,” the statement reads.
Murphy began his employment with the district Aug. 25, 1994.
He resigned from his coaching and teaching positions around 12:30 p.m. Feb. 17.
The resignation was approved by the Howard-Suamico school board without any discussion as part of the consent agenda at the Feb. 17 meeting.
