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Newton Jewish day school places teacher on leave amid investigation into alleged inappropriate touching
School officials say a young student who tested positive for an STI reported inappropriate contact; multiple agencies are investigating.
The Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton has placed a teacher on leave after a young child who tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection reported being touched inappropriately by the instructor, school officials said.
The teacher was placed on leave Oct. 31, the same day the student’s family shared additional information with the school, including a report of inappropriate touching, according to a statement the school released Wednesday.
Solomon Schechter Day School is the largest Jewish day school in Greater Boston, serving more than 450 students from 15 months through eighth grade, according to the school’s website.
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In a Jan. 15 email to parents, school officials said a lower school student had “described inappropriate physical contact by a teacher at the school during the previous years.”
The student was diagnosed with an STI in early October, Head of School Rebecca Lurie and Board of Trustees’ President Eytan Shamash told The Boston Globe.
“This information was immediately reported to the police and child safety authorities, who opened investigations,” they said in the email. “Given the child’s age and the STI involved, abuse was determined to be very likely.”
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Rachel Stroup, an employment law attorney representing the teacher, said the teacher “vehemently denies the allegations.”
“We expect the evidence to show that our client did not engage in any misconduct with any child at the school,” Stroup said.
The school said it reported the matter to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, the Office of Early Education and Care, and the Newton Police Department.
The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating, a spokesperson confirmed. No criminal charges have been filed as of Friday, the spokesperson said.
“It is our understanding that multiple external investigations are ongoing and that they have not reached any specific conclusions regarding how the infection occurred or who may have been responsible,” the school said in its Wednesday statement.
Schechter said it has reinforced and expanded student safety policies and consulted with outside experts to review the school’s approach to student protection.
“Throughout this effort, we have worked to balance transparency and student safety with respect for the integrity of the various investigations and the privacy of those involved,” the statement reads. “We recognize how painful and unsettling this situation has been for many in our community and we remain committed to learning from this moment and continuing to strengthen our practices.”
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