A high school teacher in Ohio was fired after a student alleged he make a racist comment, WLWT-TV reported.

The Fairfield School Board of Education voted 4-0 to terminate Gil Voigt, a science teacher, who has been on unpaid leave since December.

A student told school officials Voight said "The country doesn't need another black president."

However, Voigt claims he said the U.S. does not need another president like Barack Obama, whether he/she is black or white.

"I said, as the individuals were leaving the class, and I heard one of the individuals talk about wanting to be president, I said, 'Let's hope we don't need another president like Obama, whether he's black or white. We need somebody in the White House who can lead us in a different direction,'" he told the station in March.

The school board released a statement following their decision.

"The referee having duly considered all of the evidence submitted at the hearing hereby recommends that there is good and just cause to terminate the teaching contract of Gil Voigt," the statement read.

"Voigt repeatedly engaged in conduct that is harmful to the well-being of his students. He has made race-based, culturally based and insulting comments to students over a period of years. He was warned on multiple occasions that if his behavior continued that he would be subject to termination. Unfortunately, for both Voigt and his students, he did not alter his conduct."

The fired teacher told WLWT he is relieved the ordeal is finally over, though he intially fought the decision to place him on leave.