Jason Thomson, superintendent of the Baldwinsville Central School District, now faces disciplinary charges by the school board following his arrest for DWI after crowd-surfing through a high school’s student section during a football game in October.
After nearly two hours of discussion, the board voted 7-1 Thursday evening in favor of several charges against Thomson.
“It appears disciplinary action against the Superintendent of Schools for the behavior set forth in the proposed disciplinary charges and specifications is warranted,” the resolution reads. “The Board of Education hereby approves Charge 1 of the Charges and Specifications reviewed and considered in executive session for misconduct, incompetence, insubordination, neglect of duty, unprofessional conduct, and/or other just causes for disciplinary action.”
Thomson pleaded not guilty after his arrest on Oct. 7 and has been placed on administrative leave while continuing to receive his full salary. According to a police report, Thomson failed to follow a light without moving his head and was unable to walk heel to toe without losing his balance. His blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit at .15%.
He was originally pulled over for turning without signaling and driving without a front license plate.
Prior to his arrest, students took videos of Thomson as he crowd-surfed down the student section. After he was lowered to the ground, students then suspected he had been drinking and notified faculty members attending the game. By then Thomson had already left the stadium.
“At first, I couldn’t believe somebody in that position would do something like that,” said one grandmother of children who attend school in the district in an interview with CNY Central. “I mean, that’s irresponsible because you’re around children that look up to you and I… it was just wrong.”
The board is scheduled to announce further disciplinary actions against Thomson on Nov. 21.
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