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Coach Forrest returned to MHS following tense hearing

“Bring Back Forrest”

Those words began showing up on T-shirts at Mathews High School basketball games and around the community soon after a Jan. 5 incident involving two MHS students left one seriously injured and caused physical education/health teacher Charles Forrest subsequently to be placed on administrative leave.

Last week, Forrest’s supporters got their wish as the gym teacher and coach was allowed to go back to work.

Following a tense 10-hour hearing last Thursday, the Mathews County School Board overruled the objections of school administration that had alleged the tragic incident involving the student was merely the latest in a pattern of inadequate supervision of students in Forrest’s classroom.

By a 4-0-1 vote, with chairman Linda Hodges abstaining, the board voted to deny the administration’s recommendation that Forrest be dismissed from MHS.

While such personnel matters are normally handled behind closed doors, Forrest had requested tha...

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