PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – A teacher at a school in Southwest Parke Community School Corporation has resigned amid an investigation into a reported allegation of an “inappropriate relationship between a former teacher and a student,” according to a statement released on the school system’s website.
SPCSC Superintendent Phil Harrison said in the release that the school system was told of the relationship allegation on Monday. Indiana Department of Child Services was then told and the teacher was placed on leave. As the investigation progressed, a teaching assistant who did not report the relationship was fired.
The teacher in question resigned on Wednesday, though the release stated the dismissal process was already underway.
Parents were notified by the school system.
The statement, posted on the school website Friday morning, noted that law enforcement was involved in the investigation.
“Southwest Parke takes seriously its obligation to ensure the safety and security of its students,” the statement read. “Accordingly, Southwest Parke takes allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and will move quickly to investigate them. Southwest Parke has cooperated fully with the law enforcement investigation and will continue to do so in this matter.”
Keep checking WTWO/WAWV for more information on this developing story.
Read the full statement from the school system below:
IMPORTANT STATEMENT FROM SOUTHWEST PARKE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
PHIL HARRISON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2019
“On Monday, September 30, 2019 the Southwest Parke Community School Corporation was informed of an inappropriate relationship between a former teacher and a student. Southwest Parke immediately notified the Indiana Department of Child Services, placed the former teacher on leave, and commenced its investigation. Upon learning additional information through the course of its investigation, Southwest Parke terminated the employment of a teaching assistant who failed to report the relationship, and Southwest Parke also started the dismissal process—which is set by Indiana law—for the former teacher. Southwest Parke further notified the parents. The teacher resigned on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.
“Southwest Parke takes seriously its obligation to ensure the safety and security of its students. Accordingly, Southwest Parke takes allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and will move quickly to investigate them. Southwest Parke has cooperated fully with the law enforcement investigation and will continue to do so in this matter.”
