Granite City schools investigate allegation of relationship between teacher, student

For the last week, Granite City District 9 has been investigating allegations that a teacher had a relationship with a 2018 graduate of Granite City High School, according to the superintendent.

“Rumors came to me about that alleged situation,” District 9 Superintendent Jim Greenwald said in an interview Friday.

“I got wind of this and I would say within 10 seconds started making phone calls,” he added. He described the district’s investigation as “extensive.”

Greenwald declined to name the teacher. “I have to be extremely careful due to the fact that this is a confidential, personnel matter,” he said.

Greenwald said a letter of resignation would be on the agenda for the next school board meeting. A special meeting is scheduled for June 22, according to the superintendent.

According to Maj. Ken Rozell, Granite City police are not involved in the investigation. Rozell is the assistant chief of the department.

Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Jackie Matthews said the agency cannot comment on a specific investigation into a teacher.

Matthews said generally the state board’s role is to monitor an investigation.

Illinois will revoke teachers’ licenses if they are convicted for certain criminal offenses. But the state cannot take action pending an investigation, which is something Matthews said the board is looking to change through the legislature.

The state board wants to have the authority to suspend teachers’ licenses as soon as an investigation begins into allegations such as possible abuse or neglect of a child, according to Matthews. The concern is that a teacher in that situation could leave a district, before there is a conviction, to teach in another location, where the allegation is not known.

This story was originally published June 15, 2018 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Granite City schools investigate allegation of relationship between teacher, student."