Hays-Lodge Pole president suspended

The Hays-Lodge Pole School Board's controversial chairman John Doney is suspended until criminal charges against him are settled.

Blaine County Commissioners held a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday to discuss what to do after County Attorney Don Ranstrom filed seven misdemeanor misconduct charges against Doney.

The commissioners heard from a few of the dozen community members, parents and school staff who attended the hearing.

Doney, nor any of his board except George Horse Capture Jr., came to the hearing and no one spoke in favor of him.

A few teachers said that they were speaking despite fears that doing so might cost them their jobs. They recounted threats of termination that Doney had made to them earlier in the year.

The suspension will last until District Court Judge John McKeon hears and rules on the misconduct charges.

A school board meeting was scheduled for this evening at 6 p.m., but Horse Capture said that, without a sitting vice chair to take Doney's place, the meeting would probably be cancelled until an interim could be found for both the chair and vice chair positions.