OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The following is a statement from the Shawnee Mission School District regarding the termination on Nov. 9, 2009 of Mr. Ryan Haraughty, former science teacher at Mission Valley Middle School:

"Mr. Haraughty has communicated to students, parents and the media that the decision to terminate him was based on one specific incident. The termination of Mr. Haraughty's contract was not based on one incident. The decision was based on numerous incidents over an extended period of time. Mr. Haraughty has failed to communicate this in his statements to parents, students, and the media. We are sorry that we can't get more specific regarding the incidents but the school district wants to be clear that what has been communicated by Mr. Haraughty is not a true representation of his situation.

Mr. Haraughty has also alleged that the decision to terminate his contract was based on a personality conflict with the principal at the school. The decision to terminate Mr. Haraughty was not connected in any way with a personality conflict with the principal. The final decision to terminate Mr. Haraughty was not made by the building principal but by administrators at the district level.

It has also been communicated that a process was not in place regarding the decision to recommend the termination of Mr. Haraughty. There is a specific process in the school district that can lead to termination, and it was carefully followed. This process is outlined in the negotiated agreement between the Shawnee Mission School District and Shawnee Mission National Education Association. The Shawnee Mission Board of Education was provided with all of the investigative data prior to the Nov. 9 board meeting and the vote to terminate Mr. Haraughty. Unfortunately, someone has mischaracterized the details of his termination to students, parents, and the media. As much as the school district would like to correct the specifics of the incidents over time, this cannot be done publicly.

We take the education of every one of our nearly 28,000 students in Shawnee Mission very seriously. When accusations are leveled and substantiated, school district personnel have a duty to recommend appropriate action to the Board of Education."