|
Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Teacher texting student worries Galt mother
After-hours contact investigated
By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
-
Even though an investigation by the Galt Police Department determined there had been no illegal contact, a Galt mother is still worried that text and telephone communication between a Galt High School teacher and her 15-year-old daughter was inappropriate – at best.
The mother of the teen, who did want to be identified, filed a formal complaint with both the Galt Joint Union High School District and the Galt Police Department after discovering a series of text messages and phone calls over a six-month period to and from the teacher, at all hours of the day and night.
Red flags went up for the family a short time ago when they said the girl’s behavior started to change significantly. At that time, the mother confiscated the girl’s cell phone. Upon examination, she discovered a text message that frightened her.
“It was after 9:30 p.m. at night,” she said. “The message read, ‘I don’t want her to find out. I don’t want her to get hurt. I need to meet with you.’ Now, what kind of teacher asks to see a student via text message, at night? It wasn’t right, and I knew it.”
After the discovery of the text message, the mother checked the cell phone records to discover dozens of calls, over 50 pages, to and from a phone number that appears to be registered to a Galt High School teacher.
“He called her at midnight,” she said of one entry, “and they talked for 30 minutes.
What troubles the family now is an apparent inability to take any action in the incident without direct involvement, and indictment of the teacher in question, by the female student.
“I filed the complaint with the district in June and, after looking into it, they said all they could do was put a letter in his file that I had complained,” said the mother.
In the letter, dated June 18, District Superintendent Tom Gemma tells the mother that the teacher “did text message and communicate with your daughter at times of the day and night that was concluded to be unprofessional,” but that nothing a district investigation uncovered indicated “any sexual harassment had taken place.”
Gemma states that a “letter of concern” documenting the inappropriate behavior has been placed in the teacher’s personnel file and that he has “been put on notice” that, should any further unprofessional behavior and/or actions continue, “appropriate disciplinary action, that could include dismissal, will be applied.”
Gemma also goes on to say in the letter, “I apologize for this lack of professional behavior.”
Not convinced that professionalism is the issue at hand, and unable to get copies of the text messages because T-Mobil told the family records are only kept for 30 days, the family has continued the investigation on their own.
“That is not enough,” said the mother. “He needs to be punished for what he has done to my daughter, and kept from doing it to someone else’s daughter.”
The Galt Police Department confirmed on Thursday that they had conducted an investigation into the woman’s claims and had determined there was no evidence of any illegal communication or relationship.
“We conducted a complete and thorough investigation into the evidence we had and no criminal activity was determined,” said Galt Police Chief Loren Cattolico. “Should the evidence change that would be a whole new investigation.”
District officials said they could not comment on personnel matters.
GHS Board member Terry Parker-Owning said the board had no knowledge of the complaint or the investigation until recently.
“This is the first we’ve heard of it,” said Parker-Owning. “We are going to address this at the board level.”
Upon his discovery of the complaint late last week, board member Art Oelsner requested copies of all documents and that a meeting of the board be scheduled.
Whatever the intent the teacher claims he had in the communications, the teen’s mother said she feels the relationship has been damaging to her daughter.
“Her attitude has changed so much toward me,” said the mother of her teen daughter. “It’s like she’s trying to protect him and mad at me for interfering.”
The Galt Herald attempted to contact the teacher but was unsuccessful.
|
|
