Today Houston State Senator Paul Bettencourt filed a bill that if passed would require school districts to adopt written policies concerning electronic communication between a school employee and a student.
It also suggests expanding reporting requirements to include not only superintendents, but principals as well. As the bill starts it’s journey through the system Vernon ISD announces the investigation into the possibility of just such a relationship.
According to Interim Superintendent Gary Harrell the district is looking into an alleged inappropriate relationship between an employee and a student.
Harrell says that employee is now on paid administrative leave while the district along with the Vernon Police Department conduct an investigation so far no charges have been filed in the case.
Data shows the Texas Education Agency looked into 222 cases concerning inappropriate student-educator relationships between 2015 and this year.
So far this school year, the TEA has already looked at 49 more.
