Superintendent issues denial in molestation investigation

<pre>Galatia Superintendent Ron Driemeier has been at his home in Milstadt

on administrative leave since July 5. The school board has never

stated publicly the reason for its decision for the leave and the

hiring of an investigator to look into allegations involving

Driemeier.</pre>

<pre>Driemeier on Wednesday said he learned he was being accused of child

molestation from a former student of his at a Lutheran School in

Washington County 25 years ago and said he was told he had to clear

his name.</pre>

<pre>"I've spent a lot of time and effort with a sole focus on trying to

help kids. It hits you, hits like a ton of bricks," Driemeier said in

an interview in Okawville Wednesday.</pre>

<pre>Driemeier said he took a polygraph test and learned on Oct. 19 he had

passed when he denied any sexual contact with his accuser. Now, with

letters to newspapers and conversations with legislators, he is

hoping to raise awareness of false accusations made to get even with

teachers.</pre>

<pre>"If the accusation was I was too hard on them, that I was a strict

disciplinarian, or if the kid was an athlete I coached and I ran them

too hard, I'll tell you right now, I'm guilty," Driemeier said.

He denies ever engaging in sexual activities with any child, but

believes this is the only type of accusation that gains attention.</pre>

<pre>"If you charge it was some kind of sexual thing, put that word into

it, all of a sudden you're somebody," Driemeier said.</pre>

<pre>Since being placed on leave, Driemeier said he has no contact with

the investigator hired by the board or with any of the board members.

He said all he knew to do was take a polygraph and get an attorney

and wait and see.</pre>

<pre>"You wait and see and hope there are some fair-minded people out

there," he said.</pre>

<pre>The Galatia school board has denied a newspaper Freedom of

Information Act request for the investigator's report on the

investigation, stating the body has not received - and apparently

does not expect to see ever see - a report.</pre>

<pre>Driemeier said he and his attorney have not been provided a report.

The board had set a series of three meetings for this week for

hearings, but canceled them. The board set a special meeting for

Thursday. The agenda carries no direct reference to Dreiemeier.

Driemeier said he has heard of many teachers falsely accused, but

whose careers were destroyed.</pre>

<pre>"When the standard that is supposed to be innocent until proven

guilty has flipped over into guilty until proven innocent, how do you

do that?" Driemeier said.</pre>

<pre>He takes heart in the case of an Alton teacher accused of misconduct

with a student who cleared his name through a polygraph and who was

reinstated as a teacher.</pre>

<pre>In Driemeier's first year at Galatia, the district settled a

seven-year court battle with American Coal and he was preparing to

look into possibility of funding a new grade school, he said.</pre>

<pre>He hopes he can continue the grade school project. "I'm ready to go

back to work tomorrow. We have done a lot in a year and we have a lot

more to do," he said.

DeNeal can be contacted at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com</pre></group><group id="C86C04B4-FF1D-48A2-8171-A5323545A9E9" type="seoLabels"><seoLabels></seoLabels></grou