Maria DeVito

Reporter

NEWARK - A man will not work again in Newark City Schools after joking he would cut students' heads off, district officials said.

The man, who does not reside in Licking County, made the claims Wednesday when he was a substitute teacher at Legend Elementary School, officials said. This was the man's first year working as a substitute in the district.

District Superintendent Doug Ute said the district investigated the incident and found that the man was trying to make a joke, but it went too far. The district did not find out about the incident until Wednesday evening. A statement from the district said the man will not work in Newark City Schools again.

"Our kids have to feel safe at school," Ute said. "We take that seriously."

District officials were at the school Thursday to answer any questions from students, staff or parents.

"We apologize to the students who heard the alarming phrase, and to their parents," district spokesman Seth Roy said in a statement. "We encourage students and parents to contact building principals or the district superintendent with any information related to student safety or other educational concerns."

mdevito@gannett.com

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