Plum School Board Comes Under Fire By Angry Parent In Teacher Sex Case

PLUM (KDKA) -- The Plum School Board met Tuesday night for more than three hours with members focusing on, among other things, bus transportation, district finances and lights for the school gym.

But, as the meeting was wrapping up, a member of the audience spoke out about the ongoing teacher sex scandal.

Bill Chapla, whose son attends Plum High School, stared directly at Board President Sal Colella and Superintendent Timothy Glasspool and said, "Four teachers arrested, and a grand jury investigation, and you have nothing to say?"

Chapla asked, "Is it a safe environment today for these students, is it?"

Board member Tom McGough, who is chairman of the board's Safe Schools Committee, responded, saying, "Do we have a safe environment? I believe we do."

School Solicitor Lee Price then read from a prepared statement on steps that the district has already taken to hopefully prevent future teacher inappropriate behavior with students. Click here to read the School Board's statement.

The effort includes setting up an anonymous tip line that is expected to go live as early as next month, and refresher training for staff members on mandated reported of any inappropriate activity involving employees and students.

A substitute Plum teacher was arrested last week, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Earlier, two other Plum teachers were arrested on similar charges. A fourth teacher was charged with attempting to intimidate one of the teenagers who had claimed a teacher had had sexual contact with her.

A grand jury that charged substitute teacher Michael Cinefra last week is continuing to meet.

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