Eight months after the first of three arrests of Plum teachers who stand accused of having sexual relationships with high school students, the Plum school board is considering a policy that would limit social media contact between students and teachers.
In each of the incidents, criminal affidavits indicate the teachers used some form of social media, including texting, Twitter and cell phone game applications to contact their alleged victims.
"The crisis and the and the egregious acts that happened in our district, it all began with social media," school director Tom McGough said during a board policy committee meeting Tuesday.
Mr. McGough pushed for a policy to be enacted by the end of the month but board president Sal Colella and other members said that was not enough time for thorough research and implementation. Instead the board pledged to have a policy in place by the end of December.
School director Michelle Stepnick said the district also needed to make sure education and training regarding social media policies are in place for staff and students.
In addition, solicitor Lee Price said the district should consider educating the staff to recognize predators. "The education component is more important so that others can recognize the behavior," Mr. Price said.
After the meeting, Mr. McGough said the board did not discuss a social media policy earlier because there was not a consensus to do so.
In recent weeks, the district has stepped up its efforts to prevent future inappropriate relationships between teachers and students by reactivating publicity about an anonymous tip line that had been left out of the student handbook for several years. Superintendent Tim Glasspool said last week it was an oversight. It is now advertised on the district's website.
In February, high school teachers Jason Cooper and Joseph Ruggieiri were charged with institutional sexual assault for what authorities say were sexual relationships with female high school students. Both teachers also face witness intimidation charges. In April, another high school teacher, Drew Zoldak, was charged with intimidating the witness in Mr. Ruggieri's case. His attorney said the incident did not occur.
In September, former substitute teacher and baseball coach Michael Cinefra, was charged with institutional sexual assault, statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in connection with a sexual relationship with a female student that started when the student was 15, according to court documents.
Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1590.
First Published: October 14, 2015, 2:21 a.m.
