( CNN ) -- School administrators in Ohio voted Friday to begin the process of firing a middle school teacher accused of burning a cross into a student 's arm and refusing to keep his religious beliefs out of the classroom . The Mount Vernon School Board passed a resolution to terminate the employment of John Freshwater , an eighth-grade science teacher for the past 21 years . Freshwater , according to an independent report , used an electrostatic device to mark a cross on the arm of one of his students , causing pain to the student the night of the incident and leaving a mark that lasted for approximately three weeks . According to the Ohio Department of Education , the student 's family has filed a lawsuit . Freshwater was also reprimanded several times for refusing to move his Bible from his classroom desk and teaching creationism alongside evolution , according to the 15-page independent report . The report also cites evidence that Mr. Freshwater told his students that `` science is wrong because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin and so anyone who is gay chooses to be gay and is therefore a sinner . '' The Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District met in special session Friday to address the case . Freshwater has the option to contest the process by requesting a formal hearing before the Board of Education . Neither Freshwater nor his attorney could be reached by CNN for comment .
Ohio teacher accused of branding cross on student 's arm , teaching creationism . John Freshwater was reprimanded for refusing to move his Bible from his desk . School board passed resolution to terminate Freshwater 's employment .