Professor sues to stop presidential evaluation

CHARLESTON – A professor at New River Community and Technical College has sued the college to stop what he says in an illegal evaluation of its president.

Gerald B. Hough, a tenured professor of business at the college, filed a lawsuit March 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Robert Farley, chair of the college's board of governors; Ted Spring, the college's president; the college itself; David R. Perkins; and Educational Enterprises, a company for whom Perkins is a consultant.

Hough, of Gilmer County, says in his lawsuit that the board of governors contracted with Educational Enterprises to perform a required evaluation of Spring, who is in his third year as president.

Hough said the situation is illegal because Perkins is the one performing the evaluation process, which includes interviews with the various constituencies at the college about Spring's performance.

The trouble is, according to Hough, Perkins also teaches at the college. Hough, who represents faculty at the college, says this is a conflict of interest under state law.

Hough claims he's complained twice to the individuals named in his lawsuit about the arrangement but has been ignored.

Hough is asking Kanawha Circuit Judge Irene Berger for a temporary and permanent injunction against the arrangement.

Hough is representing himself in his lawsuit.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-467