As classes begin today in the Plum Borough School District, there will be a heightened awareness of district policies about harassment and mandated requirements for staff to report any types of child abuse, including sexual abuse.
According to a memo from superintendent Tim Glasspool, the teacher manual will include “explicit information about mandated reporting and additional refresher training on mandated reporting.”
Also, a new school resource officer — Plum police Officer Scott Ricketts — will be stationed at the high school, and the district’s harassment policy will be posted at the schools.
The district is also developing an anonymous tip line, though Mr. Glasspool released no further details on that.
The superintendent sent the memo to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after a parent at last week’s school board meeting questioned the board on what plans it is making to ensure that high school students will be safe this year in the wake of the arrest of three teachers during the 2014-15 school year.
English teacher Joseph Ruggieri and science teacher Jason Cooper both face institutional sexual assault and witness intimidation charges for what police said were sexual relationships with two female students who were seniors.
In addition, science teacher Drew Zoldak is charged with witness intimidation after prosecutors said he identified a young woman who was the alleged victim of Mr. Ruggieri during a class. Mr. Zoldak’s attorney has said the incident did not happen.
In April, the day after Mr. Zoldak was arrested, Allegheny County’s district attorney, Stephen A. Zappala Jr., announced he was launching an investigation into faculty and administrative knowledge of inappropriate sexual conduct between teachers and students at Plum Senior High School and the possible lack of reporting, which is required by state law.
A grand jury has been hearing testimony on the issue.
Mr. Cooper resigned from the district. Mr. Ruggieri and Mr. Zoldak are on unpaid leave while awaiting trial. In July, the board hired a replacement for Mr. Ruggieri.
But Mr. Zoldak’s name remains on the list of staff for the high school, and a long-term substitute was hired to teach his classes this fall.
Mr. Ruggieri is scheduled for trial Oct. 14 and Mr. Zoldak on Oct. 22. Mr. Cooper’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 17.
Diane Marold, who said she is the mother of a Plum High School student, asked the board at last Tuesday’s meeting what safety changes have been made and what plans are in place to keep order at the high school when the teachers’ trials start this fall and the topic is in the news on a daily basis.
“There needs to be absolutely no staff member left who was part of this perceived culture that apparently has existed in that school for years,” Ms. Marold said. “If so, they need to be removed immediately.”
No member of the board or administration answered Ms. Marold at the meeting. However, afterward, Mr. Glasspool emailed a list of safety improvements.
The new resource officer replaces Mark Kost, who was reassigned from the high school to O’Block Junior High after the teacher arrests. Mr. Kost retired in June.
Other safety changes listed for the coming year by Mr. Glasspool include, school-based outpatient therapy at all schools, upgrades to camera systems and door closures and the formation of the new Safe & Supportive Schools Committee of the school board.
Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1590.
First Published: August 31, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
