News
Teacher caught with porn
Published: Jun 06, 2003 - 12:59 PM
An American Fork Junior High School teacher resigned after pornographic videotapes were discovered in his classroom Tuesday, June 3.
Maintenance crews discovered 30 tapes hidden above the ceiling tiles in the classroom.
Maintenance crews discovered 30 tapes hidden above the ceiling tiles in the classroom.
"We're still conducting a portion of our investigation," said John Spencer, administrator of personnel in the Alpine School District. "Right now, we're continuing to see if there is material that we have not been aware of, and we continue to make sure that there have beel no children that were exposed to this material."
Spencer said thankfully they have not been able to find any evidence that students were exposed.
American Fork Police said they would not release the name of the teacher, but have concluded their investigation.
Officials at Alpine School District said the police are still investigating whether the images contained children and whether any students had been exposed to the material.
"There is nothing we are going to pursue from the legal standpoint; his problems will be dealing with the administrative issues with the junior high," said Lt. Darren Falslev of the American Fork Police Department.
The Alpine School District said although pornography is not illegal, their policy does preclude any person from possessing pornography on a school campus.
"There is nothing illegal, but a teacher would generally be in violation of their contract," said Randall Merrill, Provo School District superintendent. "Teachers can do things that are illegal but still be in violation of their contract."
Generally, information from a school district's investigation is turned over to the Utah Prodessional Practices Advisory Commission, an arm of the State Board of Education.
According to its Web site, the UPPAC is charged with the mission to promote and maintain the high degree of professional ethics and practice required in the field of education.
"There is a rule whenever you have an employee terminated for serious cause, you are required to refer that [case] for license review," Merrill said.
The advisory commission has the power to suspend or even revoke a teacher's license.
The Alpine School District is not releasing the teacher's name but official said they are saddened by his actions.
"It's just very, very unfortunate," Spencer said.
Falslev said the teacher has worked at the school for a number of years and was a good teacher.
"Some select items were found on his school district computer, meaning Internet sites, none of them appeared to be illegal either," Falslev said.
Merrill said a teacher could confiscate material from a student, but added that anytime a teacher is found to be in possession of pornography, he or she would need a good explanation.
"I am always sad when an employee makes a decision that negatively affects the profession and their own family," Merrill said. "It reflects badly on lots of things."
Spencer said thankfully they have not been able to find any evidence that students were exposed.
American Fork Police said they would not release the name of the teacher, but have concluded their investigation.
Officials at Alpine School District said the police are still investigating whether the images contained children and whether any students had been exposed to the material.
"There is nothing we are going to pursue from the legal standpoint; his problems will be dealing with the administrative issues with the junior high," said Lt. Darren Falslev of the American Fork Police Department.
The Alpine School District said although pornography is not illegal, their policy does preclude any person from possessing pornography on a school campus.
"There is nothing illegal, but a teacher would generally be in violation of their contract," said Randall Merrill, Provo School District superintendent. "Teachers can do things that are illegal but still be in violation of their contract."
Generally, information from a school district's investigation is turned over to the Utah Prodessional Practices Advisory Commission, an arm of the State Board of Education.
According to its Web site, the UPPAC is charged with the mission to promote and maintain the high degree of professional ethics and practice required in the field of education.
"There is a rule whenever you have an employee terminated for serious cause, you are required to refer that [case] for license review," Merrill said.
The advisory commission has the power to suspend or even revoke a teacher's license.
The Alpine School District is not releasing the teacher's name but official said they are saddened by his actions.
"It's just very, very unfortunate," Spencer said.
Falslev said the teacher has worked at the school for a number of years and was a good teacher.
"Some select items were found on his school district computer, meaning Internet sites, none of them appeared to be illegal either," Falslev said.
Merrill said a teacher could confiscate material from a student, but added that anytime a teacher is found to be in possession of pornography, he or she would need a good explanation.
"I am always sad when an employee makes a decision that negatively affects the profession and their own family," Merrill said. "It reflects badly on lots of things."
