April 9th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports the Allegany County school board in the first two months of this year nearly doubled the former board’s legal fees surrounding member Wayne Foote’s seat. The former school board in December passed a resolution that requested the Maryland Board of Education remove Foote from office.  Allegations against Foote include breaching the confidentiality of board discussions in executive session, and sexual misconduct and intimidation.  Attorney services for last year’s board over the removal of Foote reached $1,527.  In January and February, the current board spent $2,940 in legal fees for the Foote situation, according to Mia Perlozzo Cross, the school system’s public information officer. That number is expected to increase. State officials conducted an investigation and later voted to issue charges against Foote pertaining to his removal from the local board. Foote, via his personal attorney, denied the allegations and requested a public hearing on the matter. A public telephone prehearing conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 24 at the Office of Administrative Hearings, 11101 Gilroy Road in Hunt Valley, Baltimore County. During that discussion, a date for Foote’s public hearing, to be held in Allegany County, is expected to be set.