POINT PLEASANT — On Thursday evening, concerns about Cameron Moffett’s employment with Mason County Schools were discussed once again.

During open session, Morty Gilley spoke to the board in regards to Moffett’s arrest and the charge of felony child abuse, and posed several questions. Before Gilley stated his questions, he made clear this was only his opinion, and not the opinion of anyone else in his family, or who he works for.

Gilley stated he wasn’t there to judge anyone and that he felt this situation has been too much in the public’s eye. His questions regarding Moffett included the following:

• Why do we still have a principal that has been charged with child abuse still in the system?

• Why hasn’t he be put on administrative leave?

Gilley went on to list several other individuals from the school system who had been arrested and/or charged with a variety of offenses, and stated those individuals had been placed on administrative leave. Gilley also had some questions regarding the child, Zachary Plants, and the actual incident on the school bus. Those questions were as follows:

• Why wasn’t this child put in an alternative school if he was considered to be a problem?

• Was there a PRO officer present the day of the incident, and if there was, why wasn’t he called instead of Mr. Moffett?

Gilley also addressed Superintendent Suzanne Dickens regarding an email she had sent to her administrative staff, claiming that in the email, she had asked her staff to attend a board meeting to show support for Moffett.

Immediately following these questions and statements in open session, the board adjourned into executive session with Gilley to discuss personnel matters. After a return to open session, board members continued with the business portion of the meeting, approving several agenda and personnel items. Following adjournment of the meeting, Gilley said the board had answered his questions, and that he was satisfied. Dickens also spoke exclusively with the Point Pleasant Register, and commented on Gilley’s questions that were made in open session.

“I’m glad that we could answer his questions and that he was satisfied with our answers,” Dickens said. “There’s so much misinformation being given out in the community by persons who do not have first-hand information, as well as the media.”

Moffett was arrested in March on a charge of felony child abuse by the Point Pleasant Police Department. A preliminary hearing for Moffett is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 23, in Mason County Magistrate Court. At this hearing, it will be determined if there is probable cause for the case to continue into Mason County Circuit Court.

In addition to Superintendent Dickens, board members present were Michael Cottrill, Thomas Nunnery, Randy Searls, Dale Shobe, and Matthew Thompson. The Mason County School Board will meet again for a regular business meeting at 6 p.m. on April 24 at the Mason County Career Center.