Mike Bishop

Mike Bishop

Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop won a reprieve of sorts from the Prince William County School Board Wednesday, but an investigation continues into allegations that he used school resources to send emails and do other work for the Gainesville-area youth baseball league he leads.

Before a crowd of about 75 people who showed their support for Bishop by wearing Patriot Pioneers’ red, the School Board voted 7 to 0 to rescind a June 6 “board poll,” that had placed Bishop’s contract on hold pending the investigation.

School Board Chairman Ryan Sawyers (At Large) abstained from the vote. 

Sawyers is being sued by Bishop for defamation of character relating to tensions between Bull Run Little League and the Gainesville Haymarket Baseball League. Sawyers is president of BLL, while Bishop is president of GHBL.

Bishop’s lawsuit, which was filed against Sawyers and Gainesville-area entrepreneur, Guy Morgan, originally sought damages of $3.35 million and was filed in February 2015, before Sawyers announced his plans to run for school board chairman in November of that year.

Morgan had previously sued the GHBL over allegations the league held an improper board election a few years ago. That lawsuit was dismissed and sought no monetary damages. Sawyers has never sued Bishop, despite erroneous press reports to the contrary.

Wednesday’s vote came after the board retreated into closed session for two hours, which pushed back the start of the 7 p.m. meeting until 9 p.m.

School Board members gave no explanation of what was discussed behind closed doors, but “certified” in an 8 to 0 vote that all matters before them were permissible under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

Bishop’s attorney, Jack White, confirmed for the first time Wednesday that Bishop has been accused of sending emails related to GHBL matters while on duty at school.

Still, White said he expects the school board will extend Bishop’s contract for the upcoming school year in the coming days. Patriot’s staff has been unsettled by the ordeal, he added.

“As soon as they issue his contract, he can go to his staff and say, ‘Relax… I can be here at Patriot and we can go on,’” White said.

Returning teachers and administrators typically receive their contract-renewal papers before the end of the school year, White said.

White had written a letter to the school board last week, charging that members violated both Prince William County school policy and state law by not allowing Bishop to speak to the charges against him before his contract was suspended.

Willie Deutsch, who first made the issue public via Facebook last week, admonished his fellow school board members for “abusing” the policy that allows school board members to conduct polls between meetings.

“I vote that the board stop abusing policy and actually conduct things in an open and fair manner,” said Deutsch, who represents the Coles District.

Lillie Jessie (Occoquan) pushed back against his remarks, although she acknowledged the poll about Bishop’s contract might have been a misstep.

“Abuse is not a word I would use. I think we’re just growing as board,” Jessie added. “…I think everyone up here has a good heart and good intentions… It’s an honor for me to serve Prince William County schools. I would never do anything to embarrass the system.”

Before the vote, Sawyers explained that he called for the board poll “to get clarification” about a closed-session discussion, presumably about Bishop, in which he did not participate.

Five Patriot parents and students came to the podium to speak on Bishop’s behalf, including Christina Daves, who has two children who attend Patriot.

Daves said she heard Bishop’s contract was in jeopardy at a graduation party over the weekend.

“It’s a great school. He’s a great principal,” Daves said. “If this is a [little league] baseball thing, it doesn’t belong in our schools. This is about [Bishop’s] job.”

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(5) comments

Lynne June

KrazyKyle, really? You ought to find a new monicker. One of the other posters from the previous article called you out.

Yes, leaking information from a closed session is egregious but more egregious is putting someone's contract on hold without due process when it wasn't deserved.

Lynne June

It's a shame that Dr. Bishop was put through the emotional stress and public humiliation of having this done to him, especially if it violated his due process rights. Perhaps whoever led the charge or supported it should be recalled?

Krazykyle

Give me a break. It was only a giant public issue because Willie D cares more about pleasing people on facebook, rather the public integrity of Dr. Bishop's name.

BTW- When has it become acceptable to leak closed session material to the media?

Fire storm

This situation is a personnel matter and should never be open to the public. Bishop is being treated like he is on trial for witchcraft.

Sawyers and Bishop need to keep little league out of our schools. Both are grown men and need to settle their differences far away from PWCS.

Ed Pa

It was only brought out in public because some on the school board wanted to withhold his contract even though he had not been through any disciplinary process.

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