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Selma School Board president arrested
Published Thursday, October 23, 2008
The president of the Selma City School Board faces misdemeanor charges after being arrested following an altercation with her sister Wednesday afternoon.
Selma police officers, responding to a domestic dispute call at the Selma-Dallas County United Way building, 115 Vaughan Memorial Drive, arrested Barbara Stapp-Hiouas after a disagreement with her sister, Kathy Needham, allegedly became physical.
“[Stapp-Hiouas] was arrested after an altercation with her sister,” Chief William Riley III said, adding that the incident occurred about noon Wednesday afternoon.
Officers charged Stapp-Hiouas with domestic violence assault third degree. She was held at the Dallas County Jail under $500 bond.
Needham, who went to the hospital after the altercation, said the argument stemmed from a personal, family issue.
“When she hit me, I fell back and hit nerves in my back,” said Needham, who added that she underwent back surgery several months ago. “My legs went numb, and I fell down.”
Prior to the incident, Needham said Stapp-Hiouas called her.
“I told her not to come to my work,” Needham said. “When she got to my office, I told her to leave repeatedly, but she would not leave.”
At press time Stapp-Hiouas remained in the Dallas County jail. It is procedure that those arrested in domestic violence cases be held for 12 hours at the jail before being released, authorities said.
Stapp-Hiouas teaches at Dallas County High School in addition to serving on the city school board.
Don Willingham, the assistant superintendent for the Dallas County School System, said he was not aware of the arrest at the time he was contacted by the Times-Journal. He declined further comment.
Selma City Schools Superintendent Austin Obasohan declined comment through a school system spokesperson. It is unknown if Stapp-Hiouas will preside over the next scheduled city school board meeting Nov. 13 or what, if any, effect this will have on her position with the city and county school systems.
Assault third degree is a class-a misdemeanor under the Code of Alabama.
Conviction of a class-a misdemeanor means possible jail time up to one year and a fine up to $6,000.
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Comments
Posted by allenes (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She should be setting a better example for the children. My opinion is I think that she should be releive from her duty. They always stay that we should set example for our children, well hell look at her she give our children and example that it is okay to fight(even though some kids fight regardless). She should be very ashamed of herself.
Posted by thiftychick (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She should be releive from her duty TODAY! How in the H... can she represent our children in Selma City School System? Start Calling Today (selma city board office 874-1600) to ask that Barbara be removed. She stired up a lot of funk on the board, during the hiring of the new supt. She did not want Jefferson.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I firmly agree she should step down from her position. This is just another fine example of how incompetent this board is. How embarrassing for her sister's name to be thrown in the middle of this ordeal. Going to start a fight with her at work...and the United Way Office at that. Sit in jail and think about it for a bit.
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the Selma Times for publishing this article. Except for her brother-in-laws connection with Mayor Perkins, it was hard to understand how someone who was just recently part of this community got on the school board, especially since they attended private school when they grew up in Dallas County. A background check on the character of all involved in this incident(ordeal) would not be out of order and could possibly help cultivate a healthier community instead of glorifying the self interest of the phonies who were given power by Mayor Perkins.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously a background check isn't part of the process for the School System or Board. Look at their track record of hiring.
Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can you believe that this lady (and I use the word "lady" loosely) was at school today trying to teach my child? All of the children knew about the arrest and assault. What is the Dallas County School System thinking?????
Posted by crazyinal (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ladybug334 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 2:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Dallas County School Board and the Selma City School Board are TWO different things.
Posted by dixiengc (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 3:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think dallas county high school should terminate her. she should not be teaching our children spanish. what if she gets mad at one of the students? I fear for them. she should not be in a classroom at all.
Posted by jmhjr11 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Selma School Board needs to listen to the people. It is not a matter of being a part of one school system or another, it is a matter of doing what is right and what is wrong. If the Selma School Board doesn't react accordingly, they're giving their approval on that woman's actions. Wrong doings without consequences...when caught by the public...gives the wrong message to everyone...children included!!
Posted by countrygirl08 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with everyone. My child does not attend DHS yet but will in two years and I would not want my child to be taught by someone who has "domestic violence" issues. If she can hit her sister, who says she won't hit a student if made angry. She needs to be removed NOW!!
Posted by nuttall810 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a student at dchs and i think mrs. hiouas should be removed. the last thing we need is a violent teacher that is out getting arrested and fighting. What we need is someone to set a good example for us. not someone like her we need teachers that we can look up to. Its just my opinion but i think that they should fire her that is just not exceptable from a teacher.
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OK Everybody listen up, don't be so cold and hard on this teacher.This was a personal matter. This woman was off duty, she was not at work. It is not like she came to work and hit everybody. We all need to set an example for our children. Not just this teacher but parents too. Especially those parents at home that are fighting and fussing in front of their children. Before everybody throw rocks, beer bottles, wine bottles, and cooler bottles at this teacher check yourself. Make sure that your child is getting the example from you at home, and for the citizens in public, make sure when you are in public, that you are setting a good examples of morals. So again we all are teachers. THINK ABOUT IT
Posted by sharon (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it amazing how quick people are to judge someone else. She is a bad person because she got into an argument with her sister? You have to spread ugly rumors about her because she had a argument with her sister? It is just too easy these days to say ugly things without facing the person. "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not."I Timothy (ch. V, v. 13) I was in jr. Miss with Barbara, long time ago and I found her to be very nice. What she is accused of is a misdemeanor, not a felony. And as to your children having someone to look up to and emulate why not try being that person instead of expecting teachers and others to be their role-models. You should be that role model.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She was arrested for ASSAULTING her sister, sweetheart. Not arguing. Did you read the article, Sharon?
“When she hit me, I fell back and hit nerves in my back,” said Needham, who added that she underwent back surgery several months ago. “My legs went numb, and I fell down.”
What about that makes her a bad person.....EVERYTHING!!
Posted by sharon (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG!!!!!!! You are so right, eyeonyou, that was assault, what you are doing is trying to argue.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No...that's not arguing. That is pointing out the stated fact. There's actually nothing to argue.
Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If this teacher so much as "goes off" and assaults any children at school, then the school board will be held liable for her actions. They know this. Whether they have the guts to do anything about it is a DIFFERENT STORY. Maybe she can teach the students how to conjugate verbs in Spanish. How do you say "I hit my sister...You hit your sister...We hit our sisters" in Spanish?
Posted by HuntsvilleGamer (anonymous) on October 25, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When one agrees to work in the world of education, that person is always on the clock. Everything that he or she does is a reflection of their career as a educator. This is one reason why I myself will not move back home to join this circus of what is referred to as a school system. Educators today do not value their position and understand the value they hold. As for the incident, if it is identified as a personal matter, then why resolve it in public? The idiocracy of Selma and Dallas County has done nothing but make me shake my head in bitter embarassment. I felt like the area was going in the right direction after i graduated from high school in 2002 but it took a turn for the worse. Everytime I read this website it contains several articles of negativity or comments of the same. Someone asked me, "When are you coming back to try and help us out down here?" If I came back to the area, I would have to bring about two hundred of my own people from my area to help me because the leaders of the community there now are more of a cancer than a cure.
Posted by jmhjr11 (anonymous) on October 27, 2008 at 5 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To "McCrary", why the use of so many alcoholic bottles?! Are they your arsonal of choice?
Sharon, "long time ago and I found her to be very nice" speaks for itself, a long time ago. We're talking a resent
Wednesday.
Let's throw out the trash and recycle the reusable.
By the way, I'm not a tree hugger.
Posted by Educatingchildren (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People are so quick to pass judgment on others. I am quite sure if someone peaked into each of our windows they would find something that was improper. it was a personal issue!! adult to adult, doesn't make her a child abuser. Don't use her personal issue, for most of you to use as a personal attack on her. As far as your children go, they probably have worst going on in your own homes, at your hands and mouths. STOP BEING SO JUDGMENTAL!
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