Lawmakers are trying to eliminate a time gap in reporting teacher sexual misconduct that has allowed educators to resign in one school district and quickly find employment in another. The legislation would require courts to promptly notify local school districts when a teacher is convicted of felonies, sexual offenses, physical abuse or drug charges.
The local school districts would have 10 days to inform the state Board of Education when a teacher is terminated as a result of such violations.
The state Board of Education also would be required to explain its guidelines for denial, suspension, cancellation and revocation of teachers’ licenses.
The Virginia Department of Education supports the legislation as an attempt to keep repeat offenders away from children, such as Michael Wayne Allee of Lynchburg who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of sexual battery and assault. Del. Kristen Amundson, D-Mount Vernon, chief patron of one of the bills that has been introduced, said the main idea is to open communication to protect children. Amundson, a former school board member, said she remembers a case in Fairfax of a teacher inappropriately touching students.
“I know that it’s a very, very tiny minority of teachers,” Amundson said of teachers acting inappropriately. “But there are some.
“It’s opening communication and it’s making sure a person doesn’t bounce from school division to school division,” she said. “We have to do everything we can to keep children safe.”
Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick, R-Prince William County, and Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, are sponsoring identical bills.
A closer look
The bill would:
» Strengthen reporting requirements for sexual misconduct of teachers
» Make it easier for local school districts to find out what is going on with teachers and cases
» Make sure local school boards have policies in place that clearlyaddress the issue
