PARMA, Ohio — Parma schools will pay $95,000 to a middle school teacher who has been suspended with pay since March for inappropriate behavior and comments directed toward young girls in his class.

In exchange, the teacher, Joseph Porach, will resign from the district.

The school board Thursday voted 4-1 to approve the separation agreement with Porach, who admitted during an outside investigation that he tugged on girls’ ponytails, “bopped’ them on the head, gave them nicknames and sang songs to them in class.

Board president Steve Vaughn defended the agreement in a statement at the start of Thursday’s meeting.

“Our foremost goal is to ensure that this individual does not teach in a Parma schools classroom again,” Vaughn said. “With this resignation, that goal is completed.”

Vaughn ci

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