UPDATE: Teacher under investigation

10 PM UPDATE:

The Orangefield School District tonight says it is cooperating with a criminal investigation involving one of its employees, and one of its junior high students.  That statement was released this afternoon, along with confirmation from Child Protective Services and Orange County authorities.

The first confirmation today came from a spokesperson from the Department of Family and Protective Services stating the agency was investigating a possible abuse and neglect case of a student, by a teacher, at Orangefield Junior High School.

C.P.S Spokesperson Shari Pulliam tells KFDM the investigation began Monday.  The Orange County District Attorney's office is the lead agency on the case.  The sheriff's office is assisting with witness interviews.  The employee has since been placed on administrative leave with pay, until the investigation is over.  KFDM has information indicating the teacher and the student are both female.

In the statement, released by the district, Superintendent Philip Welch says because a criminal investigation is ongoing, the district is unable to comment further on the nature of the complaint.

The superintendent said, "Every step will be taken to assure students are educated in a safe and secure school environment."

Pulliam says C.P.S. has not taken custody of the student at this point.  She says it's sad to have to investigate a case like this one.

KFDM placed repeated calls to the Orange County District Attorney's Office this afternoon for a comment on the investigation.  None of those calls were returned by news time. 

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The Department of Family and Protective Services confirms to KFDM that it's investigating a case of possible abuse and neglect of a student by a teacher at Orangefield Junior High School.

The school district also confirms an investigation in this statement released at 3:20 p.m.

ORANGEFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT: On Monday, March 30, 2009 the Orangefield Independent School District received information from legal authorities that an investigation involving an employee of the school district had been opened by that office.  In response to that information, the school district has placed the employee on administrative leave pending further investigation.  Orangefield ISD is cooperating fully in the investigation.  Because the criminal investigation is ongoing and no findings have been made, the District is unable to comment further on the nature of the complaint.  Superintendent of Schools, Philip Welch, stated:  "Any allegation against a public servant is taken very seriously by Orangefield ISD and investigated thoroughly.  Every step will be taken to assure that students are educated in a safe and secure school environment."