Suspended Howard School band director to return to work

Dexter Bell
Dexter Bell

Suspended Howard School band director Dexter Bell will return to his position after agreeing to a seven-day suspension without pay for insubordination, records show.

Students and parents had rallied in support of Bell, who was reinstated after meeting Tuesday morning with Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith. At that meeting Bell agreed that he had served a seven-day unpaid suspension from May 1 through May 11, waiving his right to pursue legal action and to any further due process concerning that suspension.

Bell admitted to refusing to meet with Howard School Principal Zacery Brown, which constituted insubordination, according to a letter in Bell's personnel file. Bell and Smith signed the letter.

Bell said he did not intend to be insubordinate and that he would not repeat the behavior. His pay status was reinstated May 12 after his suspension.

Smith directed Bell to adhere to the code of ethics defined in Tennessee law and told him that any further incidents of misconduct could result in a recommendation for termination, the letter states.

photo Howard School Executive Principal Zac Brown speaks about funding and the success of his students while in his office on Monday, May 11, 2015.

Howard students protested outside the school on Bell's behalf on May 5. Dozens of students, parents and Howard supporters attended a Hamilton County Board of Education meeting May 21 to support Bell.

This is the time of year that students would have been raising money to attend summer band camps and practicing for scholarship auditions, but all of that was put on hold during Bell's suspension.

Band supporters say they will start up immediately trying to raise funds so youth can attend regional band camps.

Bell was suspended one day before Chattanooga's Armed Forces Day parade, making it the first time in more than a half century Howard's band did not participate.

Howard School Hall of Famer and alumnus William Cotton said reinstating Bell is the best decision school officials could make. Cotton's granddaughter played in the band and graduated from Howard this year.

"He plays a major role in students' lives, in helping kids get jobs, go to college, do something other than joining a gang," Cotton said.

Jessica Cummings, a Howard 2015 graduate whom Bell helped to get a college scholarship, called Bell a father figure.

"He stays at school until 11 at night helping kids with anything, math or music," she said.

Band assistant and Chattanooga Police Department Sgt. Cheryl Bryant said "Bell is a pillar you want to keep in the community instead of tearing apart."

Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at 423-757-6431 or yputman@timesfreepress.com.

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