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Omaha, NE (KETV) — A paraeducator in the Council Bluffs Community School District has resigned following allegations that he inappropriately touched students.
The school district confirms the employee was working at Wilson Middle School. KETV Newswatch 7 is not naming the paraeducator because he has not been arrested or charged with anything.
Officials say the alleged contact happened in class during the school day in early December.
The district would not say what age or grade the two female students involved are in, only that they are middle school students. The two female students involved reported the case to administrators.
District spokesperson Diane Ostrowski said an internal investigation by the school district found the students’ reports to be valid, but said no charges were filed on behalf of the school. Instead, she said the families would have to file.
Council Bluffs police tell KETV NewsWatch 7 no reports have been filed related to these incidents.
A woman, who wishes not to be identified, said the paraeducator inappropriately touched the teenage girls’ thighs and chest over their clothing. The woman is friends with a member of a family who said their daughter was violated.
Ostrowski said the district did not send out a note to all parents because the behavior was isolated. Instead, the families of the students involved met with administrators and investigators. However, parents of Wilson Middle School students received a recorded message from the district just before KETV Newswatch 7 broke the story Tuesday night.
The message said:
“Good evening. This is a call for Wilson Middle School parents. It may be reported on the news tonight that a Wilson paraeducator resigned following reports of inappropriate behavior in a classroom.
“We want to assure you that an immediate and thorough investigation was conducted and it revealed that the behavior was isolated. Since this is a personnel and student privacy matter, no other details can be shared.
“However, we wanted you to know that we take all student reports seriously and will not tolerate inappropriate behavior by any staff member of the Council Bluffs Community School District.”
Parents said everyone should’ve known about the incident far before Tuesday night.
“It should be brought to people’s attention that that did happen,” the woman said. “It was investigated and obviously something was found.”
The woman fears that because parents have not filed reports with Council Bluffs police, the paraeducator will be able to work at other schools in the Metro.
“My concern is that he could go anywhere and work again in a school system, in a day care — anywhere,” the woman said.
Ostrowski said the paraeducator won’t be able to work for the Council Bluffs Community School District again.
The district said it placed the man on leave during its investigation and that he did not return to work anytime after that.
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