NBC5i
July 27, 2007
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/13766668/detail.html
Dallas — Officials at a Dallas private school said they are investigating allegations that a student had an inappropriate relationship with a teacher.
A 17-year-old girl told police in June that she had a sexual relationship with one of her male teachers at the Ursuline Academy of Dallas all-girl Catholic prep school on Walnut Hill Lane near Inwood Road.
"We took action immediately," school President Margaret Ann Moser said. "We suspended the individual and he is no longer in our employment."
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Dallas police are investigating the incident to see if criminal charges should be filed. A 17-year-old is old enough to consent to sex with an adult, but Texas law criminalizes sex between students and teachers regardless of age.
"This new law says if you're a student and the person you're having sex with is a teacher or works in that school, then that is against the law," former prosecutor Toby Shook said. "It's an improper relationship and it's a second-degree felony."
The school is conducting its own investigation and sent letters to parents and students asking for information.
"The core of our mission is the care and concern of our students and that's why this is really heartbreaking for us," Moser said.
School policy requires background checks on all employees, which is why some administrators are stunned.
"I don't think there's anything more devastating than this, and I mean that," Moser said.
Police haven't released the identity of the man because the case is still under investigation and he hasn't been charged with a crime.
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