Either they investigated and found no solid evidence, or they had no idea of the allegations when he retired.
Which is it?
September 4, 2008 - Stephen Shaffer, 55, a retired science teacher at Somerset Area Junior High School, has been charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and other related crimes againsts a former student in January, February and March of 2001.
"During that time period there was activity, we’re alleging on Mr. Shaffer's part that ranged from inappropriate touching all the way through to the act of rape," Somerset Police Chief Randy Cox said.The girl was 13 or 14 years old at the time. (Shaffer would have been 48 or so.)
Shaffer retired in 2005. In 2006 charges were filed with the PA Department of Education, alleging Shaffer’s misconduct and threatening to revoke his teaching license. Shaffer wrote to the state denying the accusations, but he agreed to no longer teach.
"I do not see myself returning to teaching and will voluntarily turn in my certificate rather than spending money defending myself," Shaffer wrote.
Oddly, the police commended the school district and superintendent David Pastrick for their help in the current investigation.
"It wouldn't have been surprising to walk into a school with a search warrant and experience resistance, but they really had the best interest of the victim at heart and showed us nothing but cooperation and openness," Cox said.However, from wjactv: (September 4)Parents Speak Out About Former Teacher Accused Of Rape
In e-mails that WJAC obtained, Shaffer's ex-wife claimed she told the past and current superintendents about her concerns and that nothing was done. She wrote, "If you can live with yourselves knowing that you did nothing while children were at risk and continue to defend such a position, I don't know what else I can do other than to warn parents of this weakness."WJAC learned that Shaffer took another job teaching in Maryland after his "supposed retirement" until his license was revoked.
Cumberland Times-News (Sept 4) Schools Superintendent David Pastrick said administrators had no idea of the allegations when Shaffer retired. [TT - No idea of these allegations or any allegations?]
From the Daily American (Sept 3) Pastrick said the school board responded to rumors of Shaffer’s misconduct by conducting internal investigations.He said they were unable to discover solid evidence.***
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TT - The above are contradictory statements. SOMEONE filed those charges in 2006 with the Pennsylvania Department of Education after learning he was still teaching. A voluntary surrender of a license is equivalent to a revocation and it is an action not lightly taken.
WJAC referred to the plural "students" found in the Dept. of Education report, suggesting there was more than one student with whom he was inappropriate.
They also report that Shaffer's ex-wife is currently working with local representatives to introduce legislation that would make schools criminally liable if they don't report potential abuse within 48 hours.
THE PROBLEM WE SEE with schools conducting their own investigation without contacting police is that the school districts don't have trained investigator or knowledge of rules of evidence. School districts are advised on the law by lawyers hired by the district whose primary purpose is to defend the school district from liability. So when school administrators find no solid evidence, it isn't surprising. What is suprising is that more people are not outraged that schools think they are exempt from reporting suspected abuse to law enforcement so child abuse can be properly investigated.
Mandated reporting laws require professionals in dozens of fields to notify police, or in some state, child welfare agencies, when they learn of or suspect child abuse. They may not have known about this 8th grader, but they knew enough to demand he retire.
