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	Ex-Student Names Fired Math Teacher By Brad Dicken Chronicle-Telegram March 28, 2007 http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/03/28/open-door-school-faces-sex-lawsuit/ Elyria — A former Open Door Christian School junior high student is suing the school, the superintendent and her former math teacher because the teacher sexually abused her. The girl, who attended the school run by the Church of the Open Door from 2001 through 2003, claims in the lawsuit, filed in county Common Pleas Court, that even though the abuse was reported to church officials as far back as 2001, nothing was done until the teacher was fired in May 2002. The only other sanction the teacher, Travis Mulanax, faced, according to the lawsuit, was being told he could not go on a school outing. Mulanax — who had also served as the school's junior high principal and athletic director — was convicted in March 2003 of sexual imposition and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in county Juvenile Court. He was sentenced to six months in jail and two years of probation, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said Mulanax was observed touching the girl several times, once in a pool in the summer of 2001. He also was spotted making inappropriate contact in January 2002 and at a school dance a month later, according to the suit. According to the lawsuit, when Superintendent Michael Bova was told about the behavior, he allegedly responded, "We are just huggy-feely in our youth group." School officials and other students reported that Mulanax pursued the girl trying to get her to be his girlfriend, hugged her at church and spent a lot of time at her locker. The lawsuit accuses the church and school of failing to protect the girl and of trying to cover up the abuse, and asks for more than $50,000 in damages. Bova declined to comment Tuesday, saying only that Mulanax had been fired. Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.
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