Inappropriate Behavior by Administrators

[BrandyS]

I have had no luck going through regular channels as far as our school board our local Intermediate School District and the Michigan Dept of Ed. There is an administrator at our school who has been accused of having had sexual relationship with a student back in 1999. At the time of the relationship the student was 16 (age of consent) so the State police say there was no crime committed. However, everyone, including the Michigan Department of Education say that it is and always has been unethical and if he's guilty, should have his certification revoked. The problem for the parents in the community is that the school board says that they investigated the allegation and found them to be untrue and the Administrator exonerated. Unfortunately, they have never even contacted the girl who made the claim. The claim by the way came out in a civil dispute between another teacher and this same administrator dealing with defamation of character. Other people who are no longer working for our school gave depositions for this trial that said this Administrator also behaved inappropriately with respect to discipline: swearing and physically manhandling or striking students. He has also been accused by members of the community of changing grades, doctoring attendance records and other items of this nature for his athletes. Again our school board is keeping very quiet except to say that they have not heard any official complaints only gossip. The president of the board, the superintendent and the Administrator are all quite close as they are with members of our small community's police force. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN! If there is any advice for us we would be incredibly greatful.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

The injured party could make a complaint, but if she consented or declines that she is under no obligation to talk to anyone about it.

 

[dallas702]

Until someone who was a "victim" or has first hand knowledge of these infractions files a complaint there's not much you can do. Hearsay isn't going to get him fired, and making accusations without proof can get you sued. I can tell you from experience that revoking a certification isn't that easy....even after a criminal conviction.

 

[BrandyS]

New info on the Administrator question

Since reading your replies, I have spoken with the former student who says that the school board never contacted her to "investigate" the situation, and she says she'll come to a board meeting in March when she is home to testify in the civil trial. Would it be inappropriate or could it get me into trouble, if I tried to round up some of the other people that I've heard may have complaints and get them to come to the board meeting as well. I have a cousin and a friend of my younger sister who both have stories about his less than ethical behavior. I appreciate your input.

 

[dallas702]

It would be completely appropriate. If the "stories" can be verified you have an obligation to expose the perpetrator. Just be sure the accusers have truth and proof on their side.

 

[BrandyS]

More Questions for Dallas 702

You've been very helpful, and now we are working on getting more information from the school and the people in the community. A new question has come up though. As I mentioned before, the school has said that they did an investigation and that the perpetrator has been exonerated but when asked for a copy of the investigation under the FOIA, a reporter for a local paper was told that it was protected under attorney-client confidentiality. My question about that is how could this confidentiality apply to an employee of the school? Shouldn't the school board have separate legal representation from this man? Or do you think that the investigation of the allegation would be part of the school boards defense in the upcoming tenure appeal for the teacher who was suspended. If I didn't make it clear before, the teacher who is involved in the legal dispute about defamation of character was suspended and eventually terminated by the school board for not reporting the illeged affair when the student told her about it back in 1999. She only brought it up as support for her defamation case when she looked up this girl and asked her if the man ever said anything to her while they were involved. The supporters of this teacher have started petitions to have specific school board members recalled, but their focus seems to be getting this teacher her job back rather than taking out the trash that surfaced along the way. I was told by Michigan Dept of Ed. that we are entitled to see a copy of this man's personnel file as it is a matter of public record (all except his medical information), we were told they needed a written request that sited FOIA and they would comply. If the report isn't in there, do you know if there is something illegal about that? I know this seems gossipy and somewhat tedius but I do appreciate your input.
Thanks