MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The Marion County School District told Channel 9’s Myrt Price that it plans to talk to every teacher about what is and is not appropriate contact with students.
The reminder comes after a Dunnellon High School teacher was arrested Monday on suspicion of inappropriately touching a student.
School leaders told Eyewitness News that there were no red flags in Chester Pacana’s past when he was hired two years ago as a math teacher. Leaders said he had great references and passed a background check.
"Teachers are professionals. They subscribe to a code of ethics. They know when and where to draw the line when it comes to relationships with their students,” said Kevin Christian, a spokesperson with the Marion County School District.
Pacana is facing chargesthe he inappropriately touched a 15-year-old student on her breast and thighs on Feb. 8.
"We actually put this teacher on paid administrative leave on Friday, Feb. 10. That was the same day the allegation was brought forward. So he's been out of the classroom for more than a week now,” Christian said.
Pacana posted bail Tuesday and is out of the Marion County Jail.
Eyewitness News learned he is married and has two children.
The victim says the alleged incident happened at Dunnellon High, inside the teacher's classroom. While other students were in the room. pic.twitter.com/soIZwTo3za
— Myrt Price (@MPriceWFTV) February 21, 2017
School officials say the suspect is on paid leave and was removed from the classroom, the day the allegations came to light. pic.twitter.com/ciBmVfg0T8
— Myrt Price (@MPriceWFTV) February 21, 2017
Officials say Pacana's been on the job since Nov 2015. They say he passed a back ground checks and there were no red flags in his past. pic.twitter.com/R98j5pkcxf
— Myrt Price (@MPriceWFTV) February 21, 2017
School officials say teachers need to know where to draw the line, on interactions they have w/ students. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/gBe6GH3LXc
— Myrt Price (@MPriceWFTV) February 21, 2017
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