James Buss and Jeff Scheidemantel, both high school chemistry teachers, have had their problems.
Unlike Scheidemantel, the teacher accused of making meth in the school lab, Buss wasn't involved in drugs. He wasn't even charged for making what fellow teachers considered to be an online threat. But like Scheidemantel, he has had issues and a brush with the law.
Add another name to the list of science teachers behaving badly: Kevin Ball.
From TMJ4:
A teacher with Milwaukee Public Schools has been busted for running a drug house.
The suspect is a science teacher at Custer High School.
...Students at Custer High describe Kevin Ball as a good and dedicated teacher who truly seems to care about them. News that Ball was arrested for allegedly dealing drugs out of his house came as a huge surprise and disappointment.
“I believe that it’s not right, I mean, he's supposed to be an example for his students and why would he do that. He always tells other people about selling drugs saying that’s not right,” Custer student Carissa Burnett said.
Milwaukee police say they found cocaine, marijuana, scales and two guns inside his home.
Apparently, Ball is a "do as I say, not as I do" kind of teacher.
It's possible that Ball knows the difference between right and wrong, but he may have addictions that he needs to feed.
TODAY’S TMJ4 tried to get a comment from him, but he didn't answer the door. Ball doesn't have any felonies, but court records show he was convicted of misdemeanor prostitution 15 years ago.
So a misdemeanor prostitution conviction isn't a disqualifier to be an MPS teacher.
OK.
What's striking about Ball is that he's an educated man with a good job.
He's not running a drug house because he has no skills and no hope of being a functioning member of society. He's not a victim of poverty, helpless and despairing.
Whatever reason Ball ALLEGEDLY turned to crime, it can't be because he believed a bright future was out of his reach. He has a college education and is employed.
Milwaukee Public Schools face an uphill battle keeping students from becoming involved in drugs and making bad choices. The teachers should be serving as role models for the kids, especially those living in poor home environments and crime-infested conditions.
Ball, however, may have been involved, directly or indirectly, in his students' corruption.
Really sick. Really sad.
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UPDATE: Split decision for ex-teacher in drug trial
A jury found a former Custer High School science teacher guilty of a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana but acquitted him of the more serious charge of maintaining a drug house, a felony.
Kevin Ball, 44, was suspended after his arrest in December 2007, according to his lawyer, Gary Rosenthal, who said Ball is no longer employed by Milwaukee Public Schools.
Police searched Ball's home in the 3500 block of N. 48th St. Ball acknowledged that marijuana found in his home belonged to him but denied that cocaine, the MPS scale and a bullet-resistant vest found in the basement of the home were his.
Another felony charge of possessing more than 40 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver while armed was dismissed before this week's trial.
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