CONRAD - Paula Pace has been terminated as an employee in the BCLUW School District after 14 years of work.
Information has surfaced that the teacher's aide at the high school in Conrad served time in prison as a result of her involvement in a 1965 murder in Indiana, under the name Paula Baniszweski. She was convicted of manslaughter for the crime.
The BCLUW School Board held a special meeting Tuesday night that included a closed session hearing on the employment status of Pace. The board came out of that 30-minute closed session and voted 7-0 to terminate Pace.
Article Photos
T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTER
The BCLUW School Board voted to terminate the contract of Paula Pace during a special meeting Tuesday night in Conrad. Pictured is, from left, board member Shannan Callaway, BCLUW Superintendent Ben Petty, and Board President Brian Feldpausch.
BCLUW Superintendent Ben Petty made the recommendation to the board before the vote.
"I recommend that the Board of Education terminate the employment of Paula Pace, effective immediately, for providing false information on her application," Petty said.
Petty would not elaborate on what was falsified on Pace's application, citing it was a confidential personnel matter.
"I'm not making any further comments," Petty told the group of media in attendance following the board's decision.
Pace was put on suspension last week as rumors swirled throughout the community about her connection to the killing of Sylvia Likens, though the school district has never directly addressed this revelation publicly.
One lone member of the community was present in the audience at the meeting Tuesday - Balinda Wallen, of Albion.
Wallen said Pace's sons went to school with her sisters and she knew Pace for more than 30 years. It came as a surprise to her that this new information has surfaced about Pace.
"It was very shocking," Wallen said. "She's always been very nice."
While Wallen said she feels bad for Pace, she agreed the school employee should be fired. Wallen also thought it was unusual that she was the only community member at the meeting.
"It does surprise me," Wallen said. "I thought there would be a lot more parents here."