Teacher fired, $2 million tech bonds approved for LSC

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette School Corporation teacher is fired after authorities say he lied on his application.

The LSC School Board officially terminated the contract of Edward Ramos Monday evening.

Ramos was hired this summer as a math teacher at Jefferson High School after working there temporarily in the spring. Superintendent Les Huddle said Ramos passed a background and reference check, but made several comments to administrators that made them dig deeper.
    
Huddle could provide few additional details but said officials determined Ramos falsified information about previous employment.

Huddle said Ramos is a licensed teacher and it wasn't a criminal matter.
    
Ramos was removed from the classroom in late September.

"It triggered a further investigation, so as the corporation investigated that, things began to unfold and we felt there was enough information that the corporation had to do something," Huddle said.

The school board also approved a $2 million bond to buy computers and wireless technology for the district.  Most of that amount, $1.6 million, will go to wireless technology at Jeff High School. The remaining balance, $400,000, will purchase infrastructure for the entire district so other schools will be able to follow suit later.

Huddle believes the technology should be ready for next fall.
    
He said the school is currently limited, especially as more textbooks go high-tech. He believes the upgrade is important as both a recruiting and educational tool.

"When you wheel in 30 wireless laptops for a classroom, you need to have that capability for all the kids to get on," he said.  "You don't want four or five of them to be bumped off constantly."

Huddle said officials will later determine what schools will go next.  While there will be costs involved, this bond pays for much of the upfront costs.