A lone member of the public addressed Porter County Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s County Council meeting, calling on him to release evidence that would bring clarity to allegations of inappropriate behavior toward students during his time as a teacher at Washington Township High School in 2019.
“If there is information that can bring clarity to these concerns – whether it’s personnel records, findings, documentations – then release it,” read Kathy Watts from a prepared statement. “Allow the public to see the full picture so that trust can be restored, one way or another.”
Simms retired from the school in 2023 amid rumors, but no charges were ever filed, nor was the Porter County Sheriff’s Office ever called upon to investigate. The state of Indiana does not require the release of personnel records of public employees.
Simms is seeking a third term on the council with a primary challenge by newcomer Jack Tipold to represent Democrats in the general election in November. He has said he will not resign or suspend his campaign.
Watts, a member of The Nasty Women of Porter County, started a change.org petition last week calling for Simms to address the allegations.
“Over the past several days, many in this community have heard from former students who have shared that their experiences in your classroom left them feeling uncomfortable,” Watts further stated Tuesday evening. “They have described concerns about boundaries – about words, interactions, gifts, and attention that, at the very least, did not feel appropriate to them as students.
“Whether every detail is known or not, what is clear is this: when multiple voices come forward to express discomfort from a place where they were supposed to feel safe, we have a responsibility to listen.”
A letter to Simms from East Porter County School Corporation Superintendent Aaron Case dated Feb. 12, 2019, states Simms was being placed on administrative leave after the district received “reports of inappropriate conduct in regards to female students.”
Simms confirmed the authenticity of the letter to the Post-Tribune. Meeting agendas available on the EPCSC website reflect that Simms resigned as varsity girls track coach on Feb. 28, 2019, and that he was placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 5, 2023, before resigning.
Before opening the floor, County Council President Andy Vasquez, R-4th, requested input from new County Attorney Adam Mindel, who was serving as counsel to the body for the first time on the Public Comment Rules of Conduct it had printed at the bottom of the agenda, one of which was that public comment is reserved for anyone from the public to speak on the council’s current agenda.
Watts had approached Vasquez before the meeting to share her understanding that the Indiana Attorney General had weighed in on the matter and said comments could not be limited to the agenda subject matter.
Mindel advised that members of the audience could speak “as long as they maintain relevancy and civility.” Vasquez asked what counts as relevancy and Mindel replied that that question is “somewhat of a gray line.”
Vasquez recounted the large crowds that addressed the council last year on the subject of data centers that “had strong feelings on it. It was still kept very respectful for all involved and that’s all I ask,” he said before allowing Watts the floor.
Simms did not comment on Watts’ statement nor did any of the other members of the council, who were in full attendance.
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Immediately following the meeting’s adjournment, when asked if he had any response to Watts’ statement, Simms, who posted a video to social media last week denying the allegations, said, “Zero.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.