Langley teacher disciplined

A Langley Secondary teacher has been disciplined for using school equipment for a private business he started in 2012.

Murray Charles Howes, a physical education teacher, started using the LSS weight room to run a crossfit business in 2003.

A consent resolution agreement drafted by the B.C. Commission for Teacher Regulation shows that in 2012, Howes was required to start renting the weight room as Howes’ crossfit classes were operating as a for-profit business.

He rented the weight room for July, then in the middle of the month he opened his own business, Campus Crossfit.

“As equipment for his new business had not yet arrived, Howes removed equipment that he needed for Campus Crossfit from the school’s weight room,” said the consent resolution.

Howes borrowed a digital timer, weight lifting bars, and step-up boxes. He later returned the equipment to the school. Howes has apologized for his actions.

The teacher also avoided paying the July rent on the weight room until the end of September 2012, the day after he was told he was under investigation by the Langley School District.

Howes inappropriately included a link to his business from a school website. He removed the link the day after the investigation began.

Howes was suspended for two days without pay in April last year by the district.

In 2013, Howes was the subject of a second investigation. In April, he asked for day of “professional development leave” in early June to volunteer as a Crossfit Regional judge.

The leave request was denied, and on June 7, Howes was “sick.”

The district determined he was not ill that day, and was in fact judging at the Crossfit event. Howes admitted to wrongdoing and the district has ordered him suspended for two weeks starting on Sept. 1, without pay.

Howes has also agreed to accept a reprimand under the Teachers Act.